Journey to the ‘Outback’

Just returned to Kerang from my trip to Wentworth where we rented a house for five days. There were eight of us: Mandy & Peter; Leanne & John; Colin & Rosie and Janice and I. From there we travelled around the area seeing what we could see…

First stop was the Perry Sand hills at sunset to get some great pictures of the red sand of the area. I did try to slide down one on cardboard but it wasn’t steep enough – not as much fun as on snow!

We then headed out to where the Murray River and Darling River meet; in the picture you can see the dark water of the Murray and the muddy water of the Darling blending together. Both rivers are huge and the source of water for many farmers and communities from Queensland to South Australia.

We took a trip out to Mungo National Park where they have found evidence of human habitation for 50, 000 years. The area used to be a series of lakes which dried up 18,000 years ago and the remaining white sand dunes are beautiful and very much felt like holy ground. The area is very important to the Aboriginal people and you can only access certain parts with an Aboriginal guide, our guides were Robert and Ricky and they were really good. I think this was my favourite spot so far…

Access to Mungo is by road, but it is very ‘corrugated’ or just plain bumpy! It is about 110 kms from the main road and 90 of those kms were outback roads so the trip to the park is half the adventure.

Footy training...

At Easter dinner they felt the need to teach me to kick a footy ball...I didn't do too bad once I figured out I was a natural lefty. I think I will stick to hockey!

Best Dead Tree Yet...

Okay, here is my best dead tree photo yet...at McDonald's Swamp near Koondrook. Still looking for one with nothing in the background...

Kow Swamp & Footy

We had a relaxing day on Good Friday, just went hunting pictures of dead trees…here is one I took at Kow Swamp. Trust the Canadian to want pictures of dead trees, but they look beautiful with the sunset behind them. Got a few good ones of the Ibis as well just as the dark clouds were approaching.

I went to my first footy match on Saturday, it was a small country match and it is a real community affair, lots of people out ‘barracking’ for their team. Reminded me of going to the rink to watch hockey in the small prairie towns of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

I am heading out this morning to a Uniting Church in Kerang for Easter Sunday and then for a big gathering where food will be the focal point (and the strange Canadian girl who doesn’t say ‘eh’ nearly enough :-)

Kookaburra

This kookaburra decided to pose for me while we were having lunch in Echuca. They are very common birds here, this is the closest I have seen one though.

We went for a ride on a paddle steamer up the Murray River, it is quite high now compared to the drought conditions before the floods earlier this year. I even got a chance to drive it...what they won't let the tourists do.

Ficken's Farm

I have arrived in Kerang, my home for the next two weeks. Here I am visiting Mandy & Peter and Janice. Janice and Mandy visited our family in Canada in 2008 so it is great to see them again.

So far I have had a few firsts...saw my first kangaroo and kookaburra, ate my first lamb roast, and had my first taste of damper (cake cooked in an Auzzie version of a dutch oven) and bush tea. I am hugely relieved that I like lamb roast - did not want to have to spend the rest of my trip explaining that I didn't like it!

Today we went to Ficken's farm and had a 'barbie' at their 'shack' on the river. John and Judy were very kind and went out of their way to make me feel welcome. John also chased down kangaroos in the Landrover so I could get a good picture. Then we went for a punt ride down the river, which was a beautiful experience, especially since only a year ago the river had almost dried up from the 15 years of drought.

The weather has been really great here, even though they are preparing for winter, shutting down air conditioners and bracing for the 'cold', I am cooking from the heat - suppose it is all relative :-)