Thursday, March 31, 2011
More on the Murray
Well Folks here I am again, this might seem a bit monotonous to you, as I am once again on the Murray. But I love it.
So the last week has been a renewal of a love affair with the Mighty Murray. Last Friday Adele and Geoff from Adelaide, and friends from a Sun Princess cruise around the top of Australia in 2008, with Adeles mum Bernice , also from Sun Princess, with another couple, picked me up from Murray Bridge Caravan Park and we boarded First Edition. A 12 berth house boat with 6 bathrooms, kitchen living room and upstairs, a spa, and dining area. We had a big barbecue, all in all very accomodating. We had wonderful meals provided by the 2 couples, and travelled up and back about 60 miles along the river, enjoying some very nice wines we had acquired at various places. The boat was very comfortable, but not really recommended for 6 couples as the very back cabin had the generator outside it so it tended to be a bit noisy. I could imagine putting kids in the 2 back cabins!.
I got to be quite good at tying up the ropes around various trees on the banks. I couldn't really understand why there are not designated mooring spots with posts to tie up to. Goodness knows how much damage is caused to the trees and banks by the vast number of houseboats tying up all over the place. It works out to be quite reasonably priced if you put several couples on board too.
I hope the photo shoot shows you an example of some of the scenery along the way. I added a photo of my cousin Kim that should have been in the last blog. Now I am off to travel up the rest of the Murray towards Loxton and another cousin. So long for the moment!
Vicki
So the last week has been a renewal of a love affair with the Mighty Murray. Last Friday Adele and Geoff from Adelaide, and friends from a Sun Princess cruise around the top of Australia in 2008, with Adeles mum Bernice , also from Sun Princess, with another couple, picked me up from Murray Bridge Caravan Park and we boarded First Edition. A 12 berth house boat with 6 bathrooms, kitchen living room and upstairs, a spa, and dining area. We had a big barbecue, all in all very accomodating. We had wonderful meals provided by the 2 couples, and travelled up and back about 60 miles along the river, enjoying some very nice wines we had acquired at various places. The boat was very comfortable, but not really recommended for 6 couples as the very back cabin had the generator outside it so it tended to be a bit noisy. I could imagine putting kids in the 2 back cabins!.
I got to be quite good at tying up the ropes around various trees on the banks. I couldn't really understand why there are not designated mooring spots with posts to tie up to. Goodness knows how much damage is caused to the trees and banks by the vast number of houseboats tying up all over the place. It works out to be quite reasonably priced if you put several couples on board too.
I hope the photo shoot shows you an example of some of the scenery along the way. I added a photo of my cousin Kim that should have been in the last blog. Now I am off to travel up the rest of the Murray towards Loxton and another cousin. So long for the moment!
Vicki
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wine tasting in SA
Hi Friends,
A little late this week, I seem to be running out of things to tell you as I keep repeating my route. Since I last posted I have had a set of amazing coincidences happen.
It dates back to last year when my cousin Kim was travelling through WA in his caravan, he parked next to friends of mine from Donnybrook, in a caravan park in Kalbarri. They discovered I was related, and that was last year, when I got over here I called him to arrange a meeting, and it was organised for after my drs apointment. So I called a taxi, and the taxi driver was kim's late wifes brother!! How bout that? Long story short- next coincidence is Kim's wife died the same date as Doug!! I am really freaking out by now!
Any way, Kim and I have had a really great week travelling around the Fleurieu Peninsula, it has been handy as he is in a caravan, and therefore has a vehicle for us to go sightseeing, wine tasting, eating at some great pubs, etc. We have tried some great wines, bought a few, but somehow we kept drinking them! We also called on his brother Allan, in Goolwa, (is known as Chippy), he was a famous yachtsman in the late fifties and sixties in lightweight sharpies. Now he takes the most beautiful digital photos and prints them out on canvas. He has some spectacular prints of the Murray in drought and flood. I couldn't really comprehend the way the river has looked for the last 5or more years from the drought to what it looks like now in full flood!
We have parted our ways now he has gone on to Keith to see his father-in-law, and I have travelled back to Murray Bridge again, as I am joining Adele and Geoff, friends from my cruise around top of australia in 2008, on a houseboat up the Murray River!! I am real glad as the weather has been atrocious, it is cold and rainy and I can't get warm.
Apart from that whinge, I have really enjoyed some of the places we have been including Strathalbyn, very pretty place with a huge amount of preserved old buildings in the High St. About 6 gorgeous antique and bricabrac stores. Lucky I can't fit anything in, so I aren't tempted, much! I am concentrating on visiting every patchwork and quilting shop in australia, Not too bad so far! Anyway I am tucked up in bed writing this and finally warm! So keep well adn I will send you another story soon
regards Vicki
A little late this week, I seem to be running out of things to tell you as I keep repeating my route. Since I last posted I have had a set of amazing coincidences happen.
It dates back to last year when my cousin Kim was travelling through WA in his caravan, he parked next to friends of mine from Donnybrook, in a caravan park in Kalbarri. They discovered I was related, and that was last year, when I got over here I called him to arrange a meeting, and it was organised for after my drs apointment. So I called a taxi, and the taxi driver was kim's late wifes brother!! How bout that? Long story short- next coincidence is Kim's wife died the same date as Doug!! I am really freaking out by now!
Any way, Kim and I have had a really great week travelling around the Fleurieu Peninsula, it has been handy as he is in a caravan, and therefore has a vehicle for us to go sightseeing, wine tasting, eating at some great pubs, etc. We have tried some great wines, bought a few, but somehow we kept drinking them! We also called on his brother Allan, in Goolwa, (is known as Chippy), he was a famous yachtsman in the late fifties and sixties in lightweight sharpies. Now he takes the most beautiful digital photos and prints them out on canvas. He has some spectacular prints of the Murray in drought and flood. I couldn't really comprehend the way the river has looked for the last 5or more years from the drought to what it looks like now in full flood!
We have parted our ways now he has gone on to Keith to see his father-in-law, and I have travelled back to Murray Bridge again, as I am joining Adele and Geoff, friends from my cruise around top of australia in 2008, on a houseboat up the Murray River!! I am real glad as the weather has been atrocious, it is cold and rainy and I can't get warm.
Apart from that whinge, I have really enjoyed some of the places we have been including Strathalbyn, very pretty place with a huge amount of preserved old buildings in the High St. About 6 gorgeous antique and bricabrac stores. Lucky I can't fit anything in, so I aren't tempted, much! I am concentrating on visiting every patchwork and quilting shop in australia, Not too bad so far! Anyway I am tucked up in bed writing this and finally warm! So keep well adn I will send you another story soon
regards Vicki
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Fleurieu Peninsula
Hi Folks,
I have the most remarkable story to tell. I needed a taxi in Adelaide on Monday, and as the cabbie was driving to my appointment , we chatted, as you do, and to cut a long story short, he mentioned that his sister had treatment at the hospital where I was going, (for breast cancer and she died last year) and that it was really sad because his sister and her husband had had a son who committed suicide and the husband , ( and here he said a name - Kim), was barely coping, etc bla bla bla. I sort of clicked into this info and said Kim? and the cabbie said yeah Kim Barclay , and it was my cousin!!! How is that 400 or more taxi drivers in Adelaide and Iget in with my cousins' brother in law!! I tell you it made my hair stand on end. So he gave me his card, and off i went to my appointment. Then my phone went flat, and I had to ring the cabbie to ring my cousin to come and pick me up. What a coincidence!
Any way my cousin and I have got on like a house on fire. He lost his wife last year, so we have a lot in common. He is living in a caravan permanently, so we are hanging out with each other for a while. We went down to Mclaren Vale, for a few days and hit a few wineries for a taste. yum. Then on further down the Fleurieu Peninsula to Wirrina Cove Resort, (it is a long weekend, and that was all we could get into), did a trip over to Victor Harbor, and tomorrow are off to Goolwa, to visit his brother who I haven't seen for about 40years, and also to see the mouth of the Murray River flowing into the sea. It has been hot and now it is cold again, with possibility of showers. I am seriously considering an invite I have received, to go on a houseboat on the Murray with friends Adele and Geoff, for another week , It is such a relaxing life. I also might meet some south australian motorhomers at Port Eliot next weekend. Kim needs to go visit his inlaws at Keith, and we will catch up again a bit later. So all in all it has been a leisurely week. Which is what it should all be about.
Keep well and good luck with the Jakpot lotto. until next week love vicki
I have the most remarkable story to tell. I needed a taxi in Adelaide on Monday, and as the cabbie was driving to my appointment , we chatted, as you do, and to cut a long story short, he mentioned that his sister had treatment at the hospital where I was going, (for breast cancer and she died last year) and that it was really sad because his sister and her husband had had a son who committed suicide and the husband , ( and here he said a name - Kim), was barely coping, etc bla bla bla. I sort of clicked into this info and said Kim? and the cabbie said yeah Kim Barclay , and it was my cousin!!! How is that 400 or more taxi drivers in Adelaide and Iget in with my cousins' brother in law!! I tell you it made my hair stand on end. So he gave me his card, and off i went to my appointment. Then my phone went flat, and I had to ring the cabbie to ring my cousin to come and pick me up. What a coincidence!
Any way my cousin and I have got on like a house on fire. He lost his wife last year, so we have a lot in common. He is living in a caravan permanently, so we are hanging out with each other for a while. We went down to Mclaren Vale, for a few days and hit a few wineries for a taste. yum. Then on further down the Fleurieu Peninsula to Wirrina Cove Resort, (it is a long weekend, and that was all we could get into), did a trip over to Victor Harbor, and tomorrow are off to Goolwa, to visit his brother who I haven't seen for about 40years, and also to see the mouth of the Murray River flowing into the sea. It has been hot and now it is cold again, with possibility of showers. I am seriously considering an invite I have received, to go on a houseboat on the Murray with friends Adele and Geoff, for another week , It is such a relaxing life. I also might meet some south australian motorhomers at Port Eliot next weekend. Kim needs to go visit his inlaws at Keith, and we will catch up again a bit later. So all in all it has been a leisurely week. Which is what it should all be about.
Keep well and good luck with the Jakpot lotto. until next week love vicki
Friday, March 4, 2011
Murray River in flood
Hi People, sorry for the silence, but while on board Murray Princess we found that telephone and internet service was very patchy.
Back on dry land and now I can tell you about the trip!
It was a very pleasant trip, lovely people at our table, naturally the food was absolutely wonderful! we cruised downstream the first day and went as far as Murray Bridge, day 2, and then turned back up stream.The paddle steamer cannot get under the Murray Bridge, even when the river is not in flood! We sort of do a loop, and return to Mannum (the starting point), where we went off on the Barossa Valley tour for the day, while some of the ships company leave and new people arrive. you can cruise for 3, 4, or 7 days. then we struck out upstream, with the river in pretty full flood, the paddle is working pretty hard! There is lots of flooded pasture land beside the river, normally protected by levees, but many of these are damaged due to so long drought times. When we stopped beside various places on the river, mostly it was difficult to get across to dry land, once the crew had to improvise the gangplank with extra bits of wood ratted from along the river edge! The beautiful cliffs that one sees on calendars and such are actually that col;our. I tried to take photos to show it but my camera doesn't handle great panoramas much! Still I tried! Plenty of sulphir crested cockatoos, and corellas, but not much other bird life. evidently it goes into the flood ed parts.
I managed to play bocce and "my" team won, 15 to 1!! In the trivia quiz, again the team I played with one, and I was instrumental in that as we were tied and i went out to do the play off and got 3 questions right in a row, so we won!!
Maxine and I wore authentic costumes for the dress up night, my hawaiin muumuu and a punjabi suit from singapore. Needless to sat we didn't get a prize for it. Some of the costumes were very good. The Captain was judging and was very quick witted in his questions about the significance of the story behind the costume. The night ended up very hilariously!!
One night we had a bbq on shore which was absolutely delcious!they had kangaroo steak I asked the chef how he did it, apparently the secret is to marinate it for 24 hours using good olive oil plus herbs and soy sauce. Thennsear it with a hot plate and leave it quite rare. It was very yummy! I went back for seconds! alyjough the pieces were quite small, luckily.
Last night we had the Captains' Seafood Buffet, oysters and prawns,smoked salmon and trout, and baked barramundi and mussels, also turkey and ham on the bome for those who don't eat seafood! luscious pavlovas finished it off.
The barman was pretty good at making cocktails too!!
All in all a pretty good trip. and they were offering an extremely good discount if you booked another trip before we disembarked, so guess what!!? I am going to fiji sometime in the next 12 months, Kath who I was away with last year as agreed to come with me, so that will be nice. 170 passengers, I think and 7 days around various islands in the fiji group.
Any way that is me for the moment, I npow start exploring South Australia in depth and catching up with a couple of rellies and a friend or two.
So keep well and all my love
vicki
seafood Buffet
Back on dry land and now I can tell you about the trip!
It was a very pleasant trip, lovely people at our table, naturally the food was absolutely wonderful! we cruised downstream the first day and went as far as Murray Bridge, day 2, and then turned back up stream.The paddle steamer cannot get under the Murray Bridge, even when the river is not in flood! We sort of do a loop, and return to Mannum (the starting point), where we went off on the Barossa Valley tour for the day, while some of the ships company leave and new people arrive. you can cruise for 3, 4, or 7 days. then we struck out upstream, with the river in pretty full flood, the paddle is working pretty hard! There is lots of flooded pasture land beside the river, normally protected by levees, but many of these are damaged due to so long drought times. When we stopped beside various places on the river, mostly it was difficult to get across to dry land, once the crew had to improvise the gangplank with extra bits of wood ratted from along the river edge! The beautiful cliffs that one sees on calendars and such are actually that col;our. I tried to take photos to show it but my camera doesn't handle great panoramas much! Still I tried! Plenty of sulphir crested cockatoos, and corellas, but not much other bird life. evidently it goes into the flood ed parts.
I managed to play bocce and "my" team won, 15 to 1!! In the trivia quiz, again the team I played with one, and I was instrumental in that as we were tied and i went out to do the play off and got 3 questions right in a row, so we won!!
Maxine and I wore authentic costumes for the dress up night, my hawaiin muumuu and a punjabi suit from singapore. Needless to sat we didn't get a prize for it. Some of the costumes were very good. The Captain was judging and was very quick witted in his questions about the significance of the story behind the costume. The night ended up very hilariously!!
One night we had a bbq on shore which was absolutely delcious!they had kangaroo steak I asked the chef how he did it, apparently the secret is to marinate it for 24 hours using good olive oil plus herbs and soy sauce. Thennsear it with a hot plate and leave it quite rare. It was very yummy! I went back for seconds! alyjough the pieces were quite small, luckily.
Last night we had the Captains' Seafood Buffet, oysters and prawns,smoked salmon and trout, and baked barramundi and mussels, also turkey and ham on the bome for those who don't eat seafood! luscious pavlovas finished it off.
The barman was pretty good at making cocktails too!!
All in all a pretty good trip. and they were offering an extremely good discount if you booked another trip before we disembarked, so guess what!!? I am going to fiji sometime in the next 12 months, Kath who I was away with last year as agreed to come with me, so that will be nice. 170 passengers, I think and 7 days around various islands in the fiji group.
Any way that is me for the moment, I npow start exploring South Australia in depth and catching up with a couple of rellies and a friend or two.
So keep well and all my love
vicki
seafood Buffet
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