Chris & Shirley's 2021 Trip North: Chapter 2

Day 1 - Sunday 23 May 2021 - Melbourne to Swan Hill

It was a cold and sunny morning as we left home and headed north to central and northern Victoria. We left home around 10:20 am. The Calder Motorway was our first country road of note. The usual headwind as we left Melbourne was missing - rare for us. But we did not mind.

As Ray Charles sang:

Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road, Jack....

So we did................

The camera was loaded and raring to go, 160 litres of diesel loaded the two tanks on the Prado, and the car cabin was loaded with "on the go lollies". The lawn was cut and the leaves picked up. The mail was re-directed. The thermos was full, but Shirley hoped for a 'real' coffee, maybe an extra hot Cappuccino.

Shirley's prayers were answered when we stopped at a service centre near Keilor - not all that far from home.

The sun continued to shine and the temperature slowly crept up to a pleasant level, as we experienced excellent driving conditions. Maybe even a slight tail wind.

A sandwich for lunch occurred at Bridgewater, before we pressed on. We had an unscheduled stop at Kerang to cook apples, when we found out that we could NOT take take fruit any further - or risk a $600 fine.

Not long after we booked into the Big4 Riverside Caravan Park in Swan Hill. We had been impressed with the amount of water in the many lakes between Kerang and Swan Hill.

My first photo of the trip was an estuary of the Murray River - around 30 metres from the caravan.

At the photo shows the water was nowhere near the top of the bank.

There was a slight hiccup when we went to mash the spuds and realised that the margarine was still in the fridge at home. It seemed to have been my fault.

We travelled around 362 km for the day.

Day 2 - Monday 24 May 2021 - Swan Hill to Popiltah Lake

It was a casual start to the day and we headed off in time for mid morning coffee in Robinvale. We were amazed at the number of almond trees along that road. There were also plenty of grape vines, citrus trees and olive trees.

Then we crossed into NSW and headed to Mildura - for which we had to cross the border again. We shopped for the goodies that we could not take beyond Kerang, such as fruit and vegies. We also topped up the diesel.

We re-crossed the border again, and were surprised at how high the water level was compared to Swan Hill. We arrived in Wentworth about the right time for a pie for lunch. This is where the mighty Murray and Darling rivers meets - and both were nearly to the top of their banks. I could not get a photo that does the scene justice.

At Wentworth I added to my catalog of interesting signs. See the sign from the Wentworth Tourist Information Centre below.

I could not help wondering if you were allowed to smoke in one, or two or maybe more buildings - as long as you did not smoke in ALL buildings.

We originally were going to stop in Wentworth but decided to press on. There was an excellent free camp at a place called Popiltah Lake - around 137 km south of Broken Hill. So we joined four other caravans in a peaceful location. Two more caravans came in after us, and then two motor-bike riders.

Popiltah Lake from our caravan.

It has apparently been dry for eleven years.

We made a coffee and relaxed. Then had a ZOOM session with great friends. Yes, there is mobile reception here! During that session I had to leave the caravan and get my first sunset photo of the trip - from the other side of the caravan.

Sunset at Popiltah Lake

We covered around 390 km today. It was a balmy clear night with the near-full moon competing with the zillions of stars for attention.

Day 3 - Tuesday 25 May 2021 - Popiltah Lake to Menindee

A number of trucks went passed overnight but not enough to ruin our sleep. I started the day with my first sunrise photo. Not my best, but my first.

Sunrise at Popiltah Lake

The dark clouds set the scene for the day. As we headed north towards Broken Hill we encountered probably the strongest head wind we have ever encountered. it was hard work. We should have stopped and burned some of the wood and drank some of the red wine onboard.

We did stop temporarily to get a photo of the "Brassiere Tree" a tribute to a 'lost' friend.

The Brassiere Tree

We arrived in Broken Hill and topped up on diesel, then bought a well earned coffee. It was excellent.

The recent COVID news out of Melbourne encouraged us to get COVID tests to avoid any issues as we head north. That was promptly done without fuss. We are now in isolation until we get the results - on the banks of one of the Menindee Lakes.

In Isolation at Menindee Lakes - Pelicans circled

We have wood, a fireplace, plenty of food and drink and great friends 10 metres away. We have agreed the 'isolation' rules until the results arrive. My main activity will probably be sunrise and sunset photos.

The drive to Menindee was pretty boring but a tail wind partially made up for the terrible drive this morning.

Broken Hill to Menindee road

It was a mere 249 km today, for a progressive total of 1001 km.

It was a chilly and windy evening and I kept ducking out to get a sunset photo as the sun appeared then went behind the clouds. The following was the one I chose - taken from beside our caravan.

Sunset at Menindee Lakes

Day 4 - Wednesday 26 May 2021 - Menindee Lakes

The day started sunny and breezy and demanded that we sit and admire the view - so that is what we did. The following photo was taken in June 2014 and shows the water level NOW and where our caravan was THEN. The caravan is maybe 10 metres to the right at the moment, and the water is 1.2 to 2 metres higher. As the photo suggests I was standing in the water to get the photo in 2014. The same spot would now be over my head.

Kelly Caravan in 2014 and Current water level

The pelicans put on a fishing and synchronised swimming display for us.

So it is time to introduce two of our fellow travellers - Kay & Darryl - long time fellow caravanners. Kay is the one on the right.

Above: Kay & Darryl on the "Love Yacht" Swing

Below: Our first fire

After dinner it was time to watch the "once in a blue moon" blood moon phenomena. Luckily it was a fairly cloudless sky - although pretty chilly.

First photo was at 6:54 pm, then 7:58 through to 8:46 pm.

Day 5 - Thursday 27 May 2021 - Menindee Lakes

The day started chilly, but sunny and cloudless. We had a quiet morning then around lunch time we were advised of our negative COVID tests. So we were able to go to for a drive.

We headed into Menindee, which is uninspiring so we headed out to the Menindee Weir - of which there seemed to be a few. The amount of water moved from A to B was amazing. The photos below show three different locations..........

On the way back to camp we saw our first emus of the trip - and they were big - and camouflaged.

Emus

Kay and Darryl had a leg of roasting lamb so a fire and camp dinner was all the go. The recent COVID turmoil in Victoria and the reaction of the Queensland government meant that we needed to revise our plans - so we chatted about that over dinner. The sunset was a magnificent backdrop.

Above: Happy Hour, with the food cooking

Below: Camp oven roast lamb and vegies

Backdrop for dinner. Note the cast iron kettle bottom left.

Day 6 - Friday 28 May 2021 - Menindee Lakes

We started the day with the sight of many pelicans congregating on the lake behind the caravan. It was spectacular.

Pelicans

Instead of drowning our sorrows at all of the COVID hype that is overwhelming the country we made scones and discussed our plan over scones, tea and coffee. At the moment we are not sure if and when we can get into Queensland.

Plain and Date Scones

It was another restful day with a couple of walks and a few coffees, and another photo of our campsite - from another angle.

Our caravan circled

We had soup and damper for dinner beside the campfire.

Day 7 - Saturday 29 May 2021 - Menindee to Wilcannia

We broke camp and headed towards Wilcannia via Broken Hill. It is the longer version but is a sealed road versus a much shorted gravel road.

Wilcannia is a small town with some magnificent old buildings, as shown by the photos below.

Wilcannia Post Office

Wilcannia Police Station

Wilcannia Hospital

We are now (again) camped near the Darling River. It was amazing to hear how much that the Darling River has risen, then fallen, over just the last three weeks. Needless to say there is lots of mud nearby - a lot of it is on my shoes - my fault.

Our home for two nights - Warrawong on the Darling - has happy hour around the camp fire at 5pm onwards. It is a great way to meet other travellers. It was another chilly night so we dined in-doors.