Thurs, 16th Oct, 2014 Bowna to Green Bank, Yarrawonga

Clear cold morning 7 degrees. Now I know why as there was snow in the Blue Mountains the other day!!!!

Back onto the Hume Highway to Albury but kept going past it. At 9.17am we left NSW and entered Victoria crossing over a bridge over the Murray River. 

No sign saying leaving NSW and just got the one of entering Vic.

Into Wodonga to get some fuel then back onto the Hume Highway again for a short bit before turning off to head for campsites along the Murray River. Turned north again to head over the river to Howlong in NSW so I can get a border photo. Found the Lions Park on the Victorian side and stopped for a cuppa. River flowing well and was clear here. Lovely spot.

Those cheeky australian miner birds and Currawongs are here too so had fun feeding them. 

One currawong had string or something wrapped around his feet. Tried to catch him to free him of it but he would just fly out of reach.

Cute baby (same size though) screeching to be fed by his parents. Parents – one shiny black (probably the male) and the other greyish.

Beautiful big gum trees.

One was burnt out but was still growing.

Another bird made a bell ding sound and I found him at last. Calling his mate to come out of their home in the tree. Beautiful yellow budgie/parrot. Dad is this the same Bell bird from home and in the Blue Mountains?

Back onto the road and over the bridge into NSW and Howlong (what a name for a town).

No sign about entering NSW or on the other side to enter Vic so drove on to Corowa in NSW then crossed the Murray River again – got a Vic sign here but couldn’t stop for a photo here either.

Heading into Rutherglen – lots of wineries and a historical town (needs exploring). This place is growing poles!!! Actually getting ready to put in more vines.

Just missed the Rutherglen winery cellar door – it was closed – what a shame.

Spotted a few more of those hairless bulls – ugly things.

Along the road to Ovens River that feeds into the Murray River. Very dirty water but there are a few camps here too.

Next is Lake Mulwala which is part of the Murray River – Found a sign for Ski-land - Jon would have fun dodging the tree stumps.

The Lake water is controlled by Victoria, while NSW controls the fishing in the Murray River. Can’t fish in this section at the moment due to the spawning of the Trout Cod. 

Through Yarrawonga. There are a lot of places to stay along the river. We stopped at the first one called Green Bank. There is a boat ramp and the river is quite wide but dirty coloured.

A few other campers were set up so we found a spot by the river on a high bank. The clouds have been rolling through while we had lunch – some look a bit dark.

Someone had cut steps down to the water. We could spend a few months along this river.

Strange to be sitting by the river in a rural setting in Victoria and across the river is a golf course in New South Wales!!!

Went for a wander down to the other camps – looking back to our camp from further up the river.

Chatted with a couple in a motorhome who had lots of advice about travelling Tassie and where to camp along the Murray. He had just had fun evicting a snake out of his motorhome – so don’t leave doors open!!

Down at the boat ramp chatted with some others who are in a boat house. They are from Darwin and it was his dream to go down the Murray to the mouth. He built his house boat and it has two electric motors to drive it and a diesel generator to charge the batteries. They don't intend to get to the mouth till about April next year.

Back to the van for a cuppa and get the fire ready for camp oven roast tonight. Not much firewood around so lucky we had bought some at Bathurst. Will have to watch out though as Steve found 3 golf balls in the grass so some of those NSW guys are bad shots!!!

Steve rang a chap Erica & Terry had met a couple years back prospecting in Clermont. He lives in Bendigo so she thought he might be able to give Steve some tips. He has just got back from prospecting in WA so might get some tips about there as well. We will catch up with him next week.

Strange having dinner at 7.15pm and the sun is still high.

A dark cloud passed over us dropping a couple of drops of rain and then the most magnificent rainbow appeared – It is 50 million power ball tonight and we didn’t have a ticked!!!

Got a reflective shot in the river of it.

Then a 2^nd rainbow appears. Was magical. Stayed that way for about 20 minutes as the cloud moved upstream.

Went from NSW to Victoria across the river – I couldn’t get the whole thing in one shot.

Zoomed in to get all the colours of the rainbow.

4 little ducks warming up on the log – the water is a bit chilly though the lady from Ballarat had a swim in it today!! A few boats went up and down -  apparently very busy on the weekend with ski boats etc.

As the sun set behind us the colours in the clouds were lovely.

Rang Jenny to hear all her news about their UK trip. Glad she and Steven had a ball. Headed into the van as the fire had died down and the chill has set in.

Got a lovely email back from Steven Savvakis after I emailed him a farewell message as he is finishing up as Principal of Trinity Bay. I said “Time to smell the roses”.

Blog all updated so quiet night watching Frost on TV.