Swan Hill-Nyah-Lake Benanee

Since my last blog we spent a couple of nights at Swan Hill doing the usual clean up and stock up. On Saturday we rocked up to the Swan Hill bowls club and had a social game, 4 beautiful greens that they play on all year. The grass matting was so thick I thought it was synthetic. I was in a winning team getting a $6 voucher to spend at the bar, Bazza wasn't so lucky.
Wayne is coming along well is off the crutches now so taking things very easy not to aggravate the hip !
We stopped at Nyah for one night a free camp area behind the race course, unfortunately we were unable to have fire so we had to retire early to the warmth of the caravan. The days have still been sunny and warm but the nights are still on the chilly side. We then had a big trip of around 120k to another campsite beside a lake, we spent last night here and will stay again tonight then moving on to Mildura. Last night we had a great fire cooking our vegies in camp oven and our meat in fry pan over the fire.

Koondrook

Currently at a campsite 2klm before Koondrook spent last night here and will stay again tonight.
Well after being told that my last blog was boring we have certainly had a very eventful day today. This morning started off well until Wayne was stepping over his draw bar and fell, he managed to get up but the pain was so bad that he passed out ! He had a replacement hip a few years ago so an ambulance was called and we were lucky they were in the area and arrived within a short time, more time had been spent on the phone trying to explain to the call centre where we were. After xrays and a trip to Bendigo, nothing broken or badly damaged but will need rest and physio he is still in a lot of pain so hopefully we can get them to Swan Hill tomorrow so he can rest up.

Echuca

We have just spent the last two days at Echuca, catching up on washing and replenishing our supplies etc. We have made great use of our bikes as the town has delegated bike lanes making it easy to cycle around. Bazza still gets a bit nervy on the round-a-bouts and you have to keep a good look out for the reversing cars from the angle parks. The temperature during the day is very pleasant usually around 18 degrees but the nights have been very chilly, have really enjoyed being at the caravan park so I can run the fan heater, as when we are free camping we are without power !!
Sharmon and Jack along with their friends Lyn and Wayne arrived at the park today, we will all head off tomorrow possibly spending a night or two camped along the Murray on our way to Swan Hill (no power !!).

Tocumwal Free Camp

We are having an enjoyable relaxing time here on the Murray River we were going to move on today but decided to stay another day. We have been able to scronge enough fire wood to have a fire the last couple of nights and enjoy our vegies cooked in foil, yum ! The last 2 mornings we have woken to a light fog moving down the river once that lifts the day has been sunny and warm.

Tocumwal

While we were at Cobram we went to a nearby Retirement Village for the biggest morning tea, where we were entertained by the local secondary school choir. It was a successful fundraiser raising over 1K for breast cancer.
Today we did a big trip from Cobram to Tocumwal a whole 25klms or there abouts ! We are at a free camp along the Murray at Finley Beach. This morning we had some fog but later the morning was lovely and sunny, but as soon as we set up at the campsite it clouded over and cooled down, had thought I would be sunny myself beside the river. It was a very restful day reading my book and chatting with another camper near by.

On the way again - Home to Cobram

We had an enjoyable trip up to the NW Coast beautiful warm day and sunshine ! We went over to Ulverstone & caught up with Shelley & Damian whom we had met on our travels last year and popped into the rose garden to say hello to dad. The boat trip over to Melbourne on the Spirit was a nice calm sailing and then it was on the road to start our travels. The first stop was at Seymour for our breakfast then onto Shepparton when we visited the SPC factory outlet, we could have gone mad there but with limited space held ourselves back. Since being here at Cobram we have caught up with our stalker friends Bridget & Don that we kept bumping into last year. Today it was off to the dr for me as the last couple of days had low abdo pains, glad to get the news it was a bladder infection as the mind had me with much worse. Just resting up today as the weather has been showers but not too cold just damp, the autumn leaves are very pretty this time of year.

Heading for Home

Since we have been here at Cowes, Phillip Island the weather has not been very kind. Yesterday we filled part of our day by going to the Panny's Chocolate Factory at Newhaven where they produce Belgium style chocolate. They offered us one measly sample as we entered the shop, just enough to wet our taste buds, so hence we left with quiet a large amount to sample later. We then returned to Cowes for a fish and chip fix and went down to the foreshore to eat. After lunch we went back to the van and watched a DVD from Caravan and Motor Home on Phillip Island to Wilson Promontory which helped us in deciding where to go today, which was to the Coal Creek Village at Korumburra. The village consists of old buildings, that have been replicated or relocated from around the district to give a small town atmosphere. The village is run by volunteers and the entry is free which is a big change, everything in the village has been donated and well worth a visit. The trip took us past some spectacular coastal scenery and the return trip through some beautiful farming land with very hilly county side.

Tomorrow it is our last pack up before our return journey back to Melbourne, where we will catch the Spirit of Tasmanian to take us home until our adventures next year.