Day 219 - Victor Harbour to Swan Reach

Well today we changed direction and headed north for the first time since we were in the Northern Territory, a sure sign we are on our way home.  Still many miles to cover and things to do.

We left the beautiful Victor Harbour bathed in sunshine and headed immediately ------ to the tyre shop.  We had to replace one of our caravan tyres which had been badly affected by the caravan's poor alignment.  

That  done we headed out towards Murray Bridge, surprise, surprise, on the Murray River.   Of course we had to cross the famous Murray Bridge.  It is a lovely town and its jacarandas were about to blossom.  There is no doubt the presence of water makes a difference even though it it was a bit on the brown side.

111114 Some statistics

111114 Main street of Murray Bridge

111114 The Murray Bridge

111114 Murray Bridge from the other side of the river

111114 Must be true

By now we were back in the country, away from vexing traffic and traffic lights and renewing our acquaintance with wheat, barley, faba beans and an occasional vineyard.  Later this afternoon we saw our first citrus orchards.

We had thought today's travels might have been a bit boring, but not so.  From Murray Bridge we passed through Mannum, Caurnamont, Purnong, Kroehn's Landing and arriving late afternoon at Swan Reach.  Most of the time we were following the Murray, many "miles meandering with a mazy motion" - with thanks to Coleridge. At Purnong we actually crossed the river by ferry.  We were, at times, right alongside its banks, but other times at the top of the cliffs the river had made, as it cut its way through the countryside.  These higher spots provided fantastic views of the river and its main channel along the cliffs and the flat marshy areas where the river was wider.  

111114 The "Marion" paddle boat on the Murray River at Mannum

111114 Ferry crossing at Mannum (two ferries in operation)

111114 Murray River just outside of Mannum

111114 Going down to Caurnamont on the Murray River

111114 Our ferry awaits us at the Purnong crossing

111114 Murray River from the Purnong ferry

111114 Murray River from the Len Kroehn's Lookout

111114 Murray River from Big Bend Lookout

The river seems to be pretty full so there was water everywhere.  The conditions were like magnets to the birdlife.

111114 Typical of the birdlife in the river's marshy areas

Most of the little towns had house boats and other boats too, moored at the river's edge.

111114 Typical of many sights along the Murray

Today was warm but we must expect to get more of this as we head further inland. The roads were a bit mixed today but improved as we got away from the masses. We might have felt we were a bit hard done by, but spare a thought for those many people who travel these roads, in exploration mode too, on push bikes.

111114 Doing it the hard way