Monday 13^th August

From Mannum through Murray Bridge, Tailem Bend, Parilla, Lameroo, Pinaroo and then into Victoria – Ouyen and Manangatang.  Wow try saying all those in a hurry, or better still try to remember them! Each little town is unique, and while they seem to run one into the other, I am always on the lookout for that little “something” which sets them apart. 

For example at Parilla there was a toilet stop opposite the only building still operating there (the pub), and not only were they spotlessly clean toilets, there was a shower as well for the traveller. I found this weather rock which also was a point of difference from any other town.

When we travel we have a choice as to where we stay.  We are armed with a book (known amongst the travelling nomads as “The Bible”) titled Camps Australia Wide.  This book lists over three and a half thousand different sites where camping for zero or minimal dollars is possible.  To explain further, they may be a “layover” just off a highway, they could be overlooking any types of waterway, river, lake or dam, and they may be in a state or national park.  We have managed to stay in about 30 or so different ones during this trip. The upside is that we could be at this location at the best by ourselves and at the worst with up to 5-6 other travellers. 

 

I say “travellers” as again the modes of sleeping range from tents to the huge 5^th wheelers and Winnebagos.  

Pictures here to get an ideas of what the latter two are like. When in these “free camp” spots there may be a toilet, rarely there are showers, but if so it is a cold one, and electricity has to be provided in the form of a generator or solar power.  We have a generator which we use judiciously as it does have a droning/hum sound which could be really annoying if someone is trying to get to sleep.  We use it mainly to heat the electric blanket and charge up any electronic equipment and the mobile phone.  If we are alone it doesn’t matter how long the generator runs, but if there are others around we turn it off reasonably early, and go to bed early as well.

We are stayed at a spot three kilometres off the main highway along a dirt road called Ngallo.  This place was a tennis court and club house in its heyday but was closed in 1988 and prettied up for camping.  There was a visitors book in the clubhouse wherein people had written and commented. I always enjoy seeing where people have come from and what they thought about their stay. There was also a newspaper cutting telling the story of the closing of the tennis club and the 250 people who turned up for the event.  Bob and I appreciated the great fire pit and the wonderful roaring fire we produced to keep us warm while we ate our dinner outdoors.