The Riverland to Queensland

The Riverland … the mighty Murray

A new age lawn mower sighted near the first weir/lock.
Flood level of the Murray in 1956 … pretty impressive.
Lots of weirs and locks along the river to control the release of water.

Lots of pelicans along the river.

All those specs are pelicans.
Lots of pretty views.
Paddle steamer ride up the Murray.

I’m assuming this is the paddle?

Now this is what I always thought the Murray would look like.
Broken Hill

Spent a couple of days exploring the Broken Hill area.

Did a drive out to Silverton … miles of nothing.
Old buildings and things.

A scooter?

Whacky art galleries.

The most photographed hotel in Australia and Mad Max’s car.
Finally a camel on the side of the road.
Only 1453km to go before we are back in sunny Queensland … 533km before we have to make a turn … groan!

Still no sign of the sun.
Finally made it to Queensland, stayed overnight in Goondiwindi and look at the surprise that we woke up to … the first cloudless sky in 56 days and it was an absolutely beautiful day!!!
Now safely back in Queensland and that means an end to Lorraine and Jane’s little adventure.

Adelaide ... City

Adelaide City ... shopping at last!

Hit the shops at Rundle Mall.
Things you see whilst shopping … pigs?
There’s that ball again.
Girls having lunch after a successful morning of shopping.
After lunch we spent the afternoon exploring other parts of the city.

Adelaide is the city of churches … so yep we saw a few of them.
University of Adelaide … some very nice looking old buildings.

Walked down to have a look at the Torrens River and to take a closer look at the church.
The church up close.
Now surely these girls are exhausted by now … nope still got the energy to chatter, chatter, chatter.

Well lots of fun was had by one and all but now back to the road and the not so luxurious accomodation ... the wet soggy tent ... and yep water was still raining off it when we put it up that night.

Adelaide ... Clare Valley

Off to Clare Valley again but this time with the girls … once again Adelaide turned on another glorious day … not!

Clare Valley
A photographer in training … now is that me or Loretta.
Visited Mintaro … 1850s historic village

First stop was morning tea and a little wine taste at Rielly’s winery and then a drive around the village.

How odd umbrellas are hanging in the trees … South Australian living art week … the town had a Merry Poppins moment.
The first Methodist church in Australia.
Lots of nice looking cottages and gardens.

Interesting slate walls
Lots of old relics and old buildings being restored.
Martindale Hall … this was used as the girls school in the movie Picnic at Hanging Rock

The coach house and believe it or not there was an old coach inside.
After having lunch at the Salt and Vines winery we went on to Seven Hills winery.

Seven Hills was the first winery in the Clare Valley .. the monks set it up to make the altar wine.
Local gargoyles or friends just being twits?
The church that has very large quantities of nice altar wine.
Beautiful setting.

Yep this sums up the last 7 weeks ... maybe the boggy should be soggy!