Sun, 17th Jan, 2016 Plush’s Bend, Renmark, SA (Rushton’s Rose Garden & PS Industry cruise)

Warmer morning 22 degrees but quickly warming up to the predicted 38 degrees today. Drove down the road to Ruston’s Rose Garden – not the best time for roses but there are still a lot to check out and some vintage cars too. It is Australia’s largest rose garden, home to the National Rose Collection and some 4000 different varieties of roses.

Interesting art work!!

Walked down through the clusters of different rose bushes.

A great Fergie for Grandad.

More artwork – “looking at the world through rose coloured glasses” by Helen Burgemeister.

Interesting machine.

Climbed up the viewing tower – just a few rose bushes here!!

Followed the road alongside peach trees with the fruit just falling on the ground. Picked a couple and they were delicious and juicy.

More rows of roses.

Back inside. Great emus.

Checked out the vintage cars and outboard motors.

Power plant.

Story of Evinrude.

1927 ‘T’ Ford.

Cute scooters.

1948 MG.

Beside it was a Zeta. There was another one outside which was a station wagon in need of restoration. No doors!!

1961 Lotus.

Eagle and his dinner.

Back to the van for lunch then into town to the Info Centre for our cruise on the Paddle-steamer ‘Industry’. It was built in Goolwa, SA and commissioned as a work boat for the SA Engineering and Water Supply Dept in January 1911. She played a major part in keeping the river open to traffic, by removing snags and later in the construction of locks and weirs. A new boiler was fitted in 1933 and the vessel retired in 1969. In 1990 restoration by volunteers commenced and in November of that year the steamer featured as the ‘Lady Mabel’ in the TV series ‘The River Kings’. On 16^th July, 1995 the Minister for Transport recommissioned the PS Industry as an historic working vessel. Length 180 feet 3 inches, Beam 18 feet 6 inches, Draught 4 feet and Weight 96 tons.

While we waited to board we walked down to the Barge ‘Argo’.

All aboard – the boiler is hot and ready. Watched the volunteers top up the oil for the bearings.

Looking back to the ‘Argo’ and its skirt to keep it afloat.

Skinny stairs.

Decided they needed a hand with the steering.

Lots of timber to keep us going. Bit hot standing here!!

Took videos of us heading upstream. The old steam-driven winch that pulled all the snags out of the Murray.

The dead trees was the edge of the foreshore before the Lock was erected and behind them is the mouth of Ral Ral Creek.

They have a great spot.

Just a few houseboats along the bank. Liba Liba Houseboats was the first houseboat company, starting in 1961.

Need some more pressure so in with the timber. Not the pick of the jobs!!

The Lower Murray River flag.

The paddlewheels are churning through the water.

Past some limestone cliffs of Murtho Village.

Around Whirlpool Bend – 180 degree bend.

Looking back to the cliffs after we turned around.

Coffee and scones provided – yum yum.

Chatted with the young chap steering the steamer as we kept an eye out for koalas. Another chap was giving us a commentary as we travelled along. This is the mile marker from the mouth used in the early days by Liba Liba Houseboats. I saw one at Lock 6 boat ramp and wondered what it meant.

Black smoke from using pine trees – too oily!!

The kilometre from the mouth marker we are used too.

Chatting to another volunteer who helps with the steering – sometimes it needs two people to turn her!! He said they are going to introduce a herpes to some carp and then release them. They should kill off 80% of the population then they have another thing that will make the females only produce males so they are hoping to kill off all the carp that way. He said they will probably introduce a fishing licence here too. The catch and release for Murray Cod is because there are only really big cod down this way – no younger ones. While we were talking the crew let out the steam from the boiler to purge the slug from the bottom of the boiler because they use the river water – can’t talk while that’s happening.

Back past the Info Centre and further downstream. These new homes belong to almond and grape growers so the market must be good. The green shed is the last remaining boat shed here.

Lots of boats zooming by – good to see they still use discs and even a chair.

Just saw Lou’s boat then I got a text from him saying they were up the dam and Jon had joined them for the weekend which is great.

The Big 4 van park is packed.

The houseboats dump point – we wondered what they did.

Turned around before we got to the bridge around the bend. Fancy house on the hilltop.

We cruised by a stern paddle-wheeler – not sure I would have picked that name.

Nearly back to the wharf.

A jetski was using its Jetpack further upstream.

That was a great cruise on an old workhorse.

Walked back to the car along the riverfront watching the guy with the jetpack.

They were off the ‘Drift’ – apparently you can hire the 6 bedroom, 6 toilet & shower houseboat for $6,000 a week – it is new and has all the bells and whistles. Chatted with a lady loading up another older version for $2,000 a week. Definitely think we need to do this with some friends!! Just got to get them to come down here!!

Back to the van for drinks and more blogging. 37 degrees in the van at 6pm but lovely by the water though the breeze is only just blowing.

Rang The Pinks, Andrea and Val – so good to chat with them all.

Lou texted so we rang him back – he had been up the dam and Jon had gone up too. Lou still has it, skiing and barefooting like a young man!!