June 12^th

Today provided an outing up to the water holes in the gorge area along Mutawintji  Creek . The huge boulders and water hole provided a great lunch time spot. The dry creek bed with many beautiful River Red Gums is a wonderful site where we girls enjoyed some quick sketching of rocks and flora. There are so many feral goats about that we all dreamed of ‘jambe de chevre roti’! The 6 km walk made us all weary but an evening around the campfire was fun for all…especially as we enjoyed lamb chops and vegies accompanied by tomato sauce from both the Dinning  and the Fleet  kitchens back in Wangaratta.

Looking up Mutawintji Gorge

June 11^th

We awoke to a frost the first morning here at Mutawintji. The day was clear and warm so the 3 guys enjoyed the Western Ridge walk returning for a late lunch. The ZigZag team all did drawing and photography in the immediate camping area as well as some fabric dyeing with red gum leaves and bark. I even buried some paper in the red sands of the creek bank.

Emus graze close by as well as an old kangaroo. Corellas came in to rest in the trees nearby.

Western Ridge at Mutawintji

June 10^th

 A 9.00am get away from our camp on the Murray river. Heading west in NSW through Buronga to Wentworth. The Silver City Highway is a bitumen road through very flat country. Popiltah Lake provided a very pleasant, but short lunch stop. While there I was able to photograph a pair of very tame Mallee Ring-neck Parrots grazing on some grass seed heads.

 We arrived in Broken Hill mid afternoon. After a short stop over we headed off for Mutawintji National Park. Our arrival was later then we had planned but we settled into a large camp area on the creek and enjoyed a great steak meal cooked by Susan and David. The solar panel hot water system at the camping ground provided us with a warm shower before we went to bed.

June 9th

Early morning mists

A busy day overcoming a few problems. Eventually we camped west of Euston on a flat clear spot on the River Murray.

I have enjoyed the Mallee Sallee trees along the way…they are such pretty shapes.

The Riverina properties are flat and dry in appearance. Irrigation is a valuable asset. Sheep, cattle and cropping are obvious farming pursuits

June 8th

  

  

This morning we woke to a white frost of minus 3.4 deg. So the trip north was very inviting.

We left home on time after enjoying lunch with Anneshka, John A and John Yeo. JY is home on exit weekend so it was our only chance to see him.

 We stopped by at Cathedral College to give Chris a goodbye hug as well.

Yvonne & Clive Voss were ready in Wangaratta..then on to Yarrawonga to meet David and Susan Mathews.

Our camp on this first night was on the Murray between Tocumwal and Echuca. A tiny spot with a water view.

June 3^rd

The NE weather is remaining cold which is very good for our skiing friends as snow should be in evidence for the Ski Opening next weekend

John and I have been very focused on packing the Earth Cruiser. We call it EC22…it is the 22^nd Earth Cruiser vehicle to come off the production line in Caboolture. We do have a more affectionate name which is ‘Earthy’. Whatever we call it we are really thrilled to be able to take an inland trip with such comfortable conditions. It is not very big inside but has everything we need. We plan to spend most of our time outside, only resorting to inside protection from severe windy and wet conditions.

Needless to say we are looking forward to ‘take-off’ day or 'leaving home' on June 8th.

Safari 2012

May 31st 

 June 1st tomorrow..the first day of winter. John and I are dreaming of departing  NE Victoria at this time of the year!

Many days dawn over a white frost with wafting fog. The mornings are beautiful but very cold. Despite our warm home, I gradually become tired of below zero temperatures. Generally the days produce clear blue skies with warm sunshine. We enjoy our lunch outside in the sun..but this is when we dream of, and plan for a warmer, northern and inland adventure. Inland temperatures do drop below zero but days become warm very swiftly.

 Pre-dawn frost -a view looking west

Sunrise from our home-‘Kyamba’, Milawa, on the last day of May.