Winter Blues

Saturday

Well our short winter break kicked off on Saturday morning. Off after breakfast and through town up the Hume. We stopped off at Kilmore for break and had a cuppa at the local bakery. We got into a chat with a local, about 70, who was bemoaning how busy it was these days. After checking out the local market and buying a couple of books we were back on the road.

Got to Echuca at about lunch time. The sun was shining but it was old. The Winter Blues festival had taken over the old part of town and parking was a slight challenge. We managed to get a parl and wandered in for some lunch at the pub. We then wandered around checking on bits of music here and there. We managed to check out three or four acts in bits and pieces and we managed a whole set for the band at the Start Hotel. We did not know any names so we just soaked it in regardless of who they were.

Late in the aftenoon we headed to our accommodation across the river. Moama on the Murray. A modern corrugated iron arrangement of small to medium bain/houses around some water and by the river. We wandered to the river and spotted a Little Eagle (perhaps Whistling Kite) nest and two birds in it. Right over the water.

After settling in we headed back to town for some dinner and more music. We tried a couple of places but they were packed and we were not going to get fed. Oh Horror. In the end we settled into the local Indian place. Not bad but the service was inexperienced and slowish. Still we got a sit down feed. After that we checked a couple of places but decided it was indoors or we would freeze. We found a spot at the Echuca Hotel and the band were playing pretty straight enjoyable blues, so there we sat through a couple of sets and a dessert.

Sunday

Got up early....surprise and walked down to the river to check out the birds. Awesome watching them getting ready for their day. I don't have photos as I have lost my memory card reader and cannot get anything off the Nikon till I get home.

We headed in to a market at Moama. Quite large and diverse. We had some of the best hot doughnuts we have eaten in a while. Bought some dinner stuff and generally wandered.

Went into Echuca and booked a riverboat cruise. An hour on a riverboat with Lisa and the Moneymakers (or something similar) doing some softish blues. Not a bad way to spend some time. The sun was mostly shining and the cold could be warded off with a visit to the engine area which was nice and warm.

The afternoon got really cold but after buying me a beanie and warpping Marjan up in a blanket we managed to hold off and watch Fiona Boyes for a set at the outdoor stage at the Star. Frozen solid we retreated to the warmth of our room and our home cooked steak with a book.

Monday

Another boat trip. We had booked this one from home. A wander through teh narrows and the Barmah Forest. It was a brief drive up to Barmah and we ended up being the sole participants in the trip. Our captain, John, was quite knowledgeable and was very interesting. We were particularly taken with the fact that the Murray along this section is actually higher than the surrounding countryside and lakes and that the tributaries flow out not in.

Even better we got a great view of an Azure Kingfisher, as well as egrets, cormorants, darters, whistling kites, a white bellied sea eagle, ibis, pelicans etc etc. We were on the water for a couple of hours with a short break on land to visit a beautiful huge River Redgum that is invisible from the water.

We got back pretty cool, but managed to sit by the river munching our picnic for a while anyway.

We then had a bit of a drive through the Barmah spotting brumbies, very shaggy, as well as roos and emus.

A nice time was had by us. 

We headed back and I had a huge nap whilst Marjan walked along the river.

Dinner at the bowls club was interesting for the palatial nature of the place

Tuesday

A final visit to the Little Eagles before we set off for Mildura.

The initial part of the drive was through 3 degree frost and fog. Not a lot to see.

As we got to Swan Hill it opened up and we got the views of the irrigation agriculture up here. Huge it is .........huge. We even spotted an Australian cricket bat willow plantation.

We spent a fair bit of the day driving, but a break at Gol Gol with some local citrus, a view of the river and some lovely parrots was very pleasant.

We booked into the Grand for the night, so we could go to Stefano's downstairs for dinner. nHope it is worth it. We had a bit of a walk around Mildura and cheked into the Information centre for some info on Mungo.

A transition day really.