Spirit of Tasmania

When we were at Swan Hill we had plans for going along the Alpine Highway and down to Lakes Entrance and then Melbourne and home, but the weather forcast said there was a MASSIVE low coming across Victoria, and that night there was snow in the Alpine highlands, so we decided to go down to Shepperton then book the boat and come home.

Shepperton is quite a nice little town, has some canning factory outlets that we go to. Only 2 hours from Melbourne. It was just as well we booked and arrived home yesterday, as the boat is fully booked for the next 2 weeks!

This is it at Melbourne, before we got on. Tony, of course, had to sneak into the photo.

So it is good to be home, done heaps of washing, but also walked on my own beach here!

Fishing in the Murray River

This is taken at Swan Hill, where we stayed a couple of nights. Where Tony is sitting should be part of the river bed, but the Murray is low, very low. River water gets taken out for irrigation upstream, yet all the vineyards and orchards and towns have green grass and are lush looking, so they haven't got dried up gardens like we have back down in Tasmania!!

Tony managed to catch about 11 fish, but they were all too small so had to be thrown back, except for a couple that Joey ate. She just loves fishing. Even stood with a neighbouring camper when he went down fishing.

I took this photo from our camper, we were camped right on the edge of the grass that went down to the river.

Even at Swan Hill there were still locusts around, flying around like butterflies!

P.S. Joey lost 1/2 kilo in weight while we were away!! Still on a diet though, needs to lose more!

Locusts on the car! And the Murray River

Here as promised is the photo of the front of our 'white' car after going through the first locust plague. After that we covered the inside of the engine with mesh - like everyone else, but still had to wash the front again before returning to Tasmania.

Also the photo of the Murray River from Headings Cliffs lookout - brilliant, isn't it? There was even a picnic/camping spot down on the river here, but we were already camping at Berri.

But there will be artworks coming out of this image!! Yay.

Locusts and possums

Hi everyone,
We are at Swan Hill now, using the most terrible computer, as my sim card died. So posts are going to be intermittant and photos added when I get home.
We had a few nights at Mildura, all on the Murray River, and one night a possum came and ate a whole packet of crumpets from our camper, so there were no crumpets for us that morning!
We have been back in the locust plague - all of us now have mesh on the front of our cars to stop them getting into the air filter and radiator - but what a mess they are on the outside of the car. I also went over a dead kangaroo which splashed up on the underside of camper and car! Yuk.
This keyboard is too difficult to continue on. We are on the banks of the river, getting good photos for paintings, Tony is fishing.
love to all,
Liz

Murray River

I have seen the most beautiful place ever!! We popped into Renmark, from Berri, which is also on the Murray River, then just along was Paringa, a little town, with a sign that said to Headings Cliff. So off we went, found a lovely camping spot right on the river for another time, but coming back we stopped at a lookout, with the most magnificent view of the Murray River. The high red cliffs with the river winding around the corner, magic - so many photos - I will put one on blog when I have my own internet going again (grrr) but am on the caravan parks computer, which is fine.
This area, Riverland, along the Murray River has lush grass, vineyards, lots of roses in the gardens and down the middle of the streets. Renmark particularly is quite picturesque.
Its very windy here today - don't think Tony will go and fish. He put some mesh on the front of the car to stop locusts getting into the engine and air filter!!
Off to Mildura tomorrow. Will stay there a few days. Oh, yes - those who know me will understand - I got a little bag of this red sand to take home for in my paintings!!

Locust plague

Wow, what a day we had!! We left Murray bridge and arrived at Berri yesterday, but on the way we went through the locust plague! They were hitting the windscreen like hail stones, and you could see them on the road, looking just like autumn leaves as they blew up on to the car as you drove along.
When we arrived, the front of the car, and the engine and radiator were covered. I did take a photo to put on here, but I am writing from the caravan park computer, as I just don't seem tobe able to bring up the recharge part of the telstra wireless broadband. So if you don't hear from me for awhile, this is why, I am out of hours!! It gets used up quickly when I put a photo on.
Today we drove into Barmara, to the bakery of course, and then Tony did try fishing in the river across from the caravan park, but the only notable thing that happened was that Joey fell in the river!!

Tomorrow we will pop in to Renmark.

Hans Heysen

This pic is of Hans Heysen's studio that he built at Hahndorf. We visited there this morning, seeing the houses, the garden, the studio, and all around were the gum trees that he painted. Then we went into Hahndorf village to meet up with Tony's sister Di and her husband, Tony and we wandered around again. At this time of year, autumn all the trees are losing their leaves, and are the most brilliant colours.

Tomorrow we leave Murray Bridge and start our way up the Murray River. We will go through Mannum and stop at Berri for a few nights, and there, visit Renmark, Barmara and Loxton. Hopefully Tony will catch some fish - he has just said there is a good bakery at Barmara so gotta go there! I hope to do some painting, or sketching, and lots of walking.

I have also, if I haven't already talked to you, set up a hotmail address that I can write to you through. Its lizart@live.com.au - I think it has the au on it!!