Lovely
cool morning, 22 degrees at 8am but windy. A few clouds in the blue sky. As the
wind blows we lose TV reception so no Sunrise for us this morning.
Drove
into town passed the Glider Club – Waikerie boasts some of the best thermals in
the world for soaring and is home to many gliding competitions. Noticed that
all the houses have high TV antennas on their rooves – so we aren’t the only
ones struggling for reception!!
Dumped
the dunny then filled up the fuel tank at Coles Express but there isn’t a Coles
here. She said there is one in Berri but only a Woolies fuel – go figure!! Got
our groceries at Woolies. They are now offering the 14c/l disc too if you spend
$20 in their fuel stores so we will check out how much their gas bottles are
next time we need one.
The
wind has brought the clouds over so it has stayed nice and cool. Had lunch then
Steve got his hands dirty greasing and repacking the wheel bearings and
adjusting the brakes on the van. I baked a date slice then worked on my blog.
3pm
and the sun is back out, luckily Steve was smart and did the wheels on the
sunny side first so now he is in on the shady side to work. I drove back to the
Info Centre but it closed at 4pm – I was there at 3.50!! Found the info I
needed about the Australia Day Celebrations tonight so will go along and check
it out.
Stopped
at the Holder Bend Lookout. Maize Island got its name because they grew maize
on it but the photo wasn’t very clear.
Drove
down Holder Bottom Road and found the old homestead of Waikerie Station near
the turn off to the other camping area.
Back
to the van and Steve has nearly finished.
Made
pizzas for dinner then headed into town to check out the Australia Day
Extravaganza. Lots of people here, found a park a block away near a park with
some kangaroos and an emu.
Old
play equipment – not children safe anymore!!
The
music was pumping so we decided to go for a walk first.
Down
to the Murray where we found another River Boat Trail board.
The
moon is nearly full – tomorrow night I think.
7.30
but there is still along of light reflecting on the information boards. There
was an old dead gum tree that had diving platforms off it and a swimming area
near here in the 1920s.
‘Orange’
rubbish bins.
The
Paddle-steamer Waikerie was built here on the river bank in 1910.
Followed
the Lookout Walk to the pumping station on the upstream side of the ferry.
Passed
the ruins of the old station and up the stairs to the lookout and chimney.
The
chimney is still standing proud – built in 1894.
Climbed
up the lookout tower. The sun is starting to set – unfortunately there is a big
tree in the road!! Notice all the huge TV aerials.
Great
view – downstream over Hart Lagoon then the Murray River winding its way passed
the cliffs. Then Ross Lagoon, the ferry then Jaeschke Lagoon then upstream
towards Holder Bend.
Looking
down on the chimney and pump station and the irrigation pipe now feeding all
the orchards and vineyards.
Lovely
colour reaching the clouds.
Walked
over the irrigation pipe to another board about the pumping station.
Further
along the path was information about the channels they originally used to get
the irrigation water to the farms.
All
about the salinity in the water. Amazing how much salt is in the ‘fresh’ water.
Came
out to the sign explaining the cliff top walk.
Lovely
‘garden’ outside the Rain Moth Gallery.
Nearly
too dark for photos but I thought this one was good as the sun reflecting on
the sign made it look like it was on fire – which it did have on the 13th
day of the 3rd month, 1913 and the address was Lot 13!!
Back
to the park near the celebrations – another board about the distillery. During
the 1956 flood they allowed the tanks to float in the flood water in the Bond
Store.
Walked
down to the river edge to wait for the fireworks. Chatted with Mark and Fiona
from Clare Valley who have been canoeing the river over the years doing it
section by section. The fireworks were fantastic and I got a couple of good
videos too.
Cool
night – had to put my jumper on by the end.
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