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!!

Hahndorf

Hahndorf is a German settled town in the Adelaide hills, and we visited there today to meet up with Tony's mother, aunt and uncle. Tomorrow we go there again to catch up with his sister Di. It is a picturesque little place, especially now in autumn. The leaves are blowing all over the place.
Well, didn't we have fun last night!! Two stray bulldogs wandered the caravan park, setting off all the little dogs in the vans, as they scavanged around. They wanted to get into our camper!! Anyway this morning the dog catcher took them away. So we are tired tonight - Tony is already asleep, as we were awake with all this barking!! Lets home tonight is a quiet night!

Beachport

This is Beachport. The view that I tried, very badly to paint. I wanted to get the red seaweed that is in front of the rocks, but I didn't think of aerial perspective etc - just went ahead and painted! Duur. It is a lovely spot nevertheless!

Port Fairy - settled by Irish whalers from Tassie! How about that!

This is Port Fairy with the boats tied up in the river. We saw a really huge sting ray here when we arrived - at least a metre in length without its tail. Also along the way we have seen eagles and some emus!!