Thurs, 28th Jan, 2016 Murray River foreshore, Blanchetown to Tenbury-Hunter Reserve, Swan Reach, SA

Woke to the horn blasts of the ‘Murray Princess’ as she headed back downstream.

Bit nippy this morning, 22 degrees at 7.30am. Still overcast with a cool breeze.

Under the bridge and carefully into the Lock.

Doors closes and down she goes into the Lock Chamber as the water is pumped out.

Out she goes heading back to Mannum.

A little bit of sunshine peeked out to highlight the colour on the cliffs.

Uploaded by blog and checked my emails. Got one back from Caravan & Motorhome On Tour magazine that they would like to hear of our travels. Loved all the photos on Facebook of the kids heading back to school at home – it only seems like yesterday that the boys were posing for the same photos!!

Packed up and headed down this side of the river to the Lookout we went yesterday. Made a cuppa and enjoyed the view. More chook farms along the road.

The river spreads a lot over this next section making lots of lagoons along the way.

Stopped at Graetz Lookout near Swan Reach. The Graetz family arrived here prior to 1924 and established a carpentry, painting and undertaker’s business as well as a drapery and the Acadia Dining Rooms then in later years the publican of the Swan Reach Hotel.

Swan Reach has a couple of big lagoons. It was settled in 1899 when the owner of Swan Reach station, Paul Hasse, subdivided a portion of his land. During the first half of the 20^th century, the town fought a constant battle with flood, culminating in 1956 when most of the businesses on the main street were washed away. Now it has rebuilt and is a lovely town on the Murray.

The Murray Princess is just arriving. She has her smoke stacks up now.

Down to the ferry – more flood levels.

The Murray Princess has moored.

Upstream a bit to our home for the night at Tenbury-Hunter Reserve. The sign said it was a demonstration site for the Sustainable Recreation Strategy for the River Murray and Lower Lakes. The two men it is named after but no info about them.

Parked up under the tree by the river.

More cliffs to admire.

After lunch we headed back across the river to follow the dirt River Drive that we missed the turn off for. Very windy now. Some more shots of the Murray etc as we head back upstream.

Stopped on the cliff top for a look.

Rugged cliffs.

Across the other way – open plains.

More Murray views.

The cliffs are amazing.

Back to Swan Reach where we found a road leading to area with lots of holiday houses but it is all private property. There was another one complete with locked gate called Paisley Island near where we camped at Blanchetown.

Stopped at the park where there were hundreds corellas, on the ground and in the trees, all screeching.

Checked out the site of the old wharf.

Along the foreshore was Schulz’s Reserve.

Back to the ferry. I got out and read the other history signs while we waited for the ferry.

Unfortunately they haven’t been maintained and cleaned.

Info about the Southern hairy-nosed Wombat. Haven’t seen one yet.

The next section of the River Murray we are travelling.

5pm the wind has come up a lot as a storm builds.

White water on the Murray.

Percival waits out the storm.

Closed up the van as the rain started – not to heavy but with lots of wind. Weather forecast for 12 to 22 tomorrow and it will be unusually colder and wetter for the next few months in South Australia – seems to be the rule wherever we go!!

Light rain continued into the night.