Today was forecasted to be a hot day, and it was, 39 degrees with a persistent NW wind. This did not daunt us from a 280 km round trip from Broken Hill to Menindee on the Darling River.
Our first task was to descend the Barrier Range which provided us with a view of the flat, saltbush plains which lay below us. 110km later we were at Copi Hollow, one of the smaller Menindee Lakes.
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| 201114 Coming down the Barrier Range on the road to Menindee |
The Menindee Lakes system is a series of lakes on the Darling River which provides a water supply for Broken Hill and irrigation for local crops, cotton, grapes and small crops. There is a main weir across the Darling and there is one man made channel which interconnects the lakes, through Copi Hollow.
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| 201114 The Menindee Lakes system on the Darling River |
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| The foreshore on Copi Hollow, one of the smaller lakes |
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| 201114 Copi Hollow. |
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| 201114 Receding water in Lake Pamamaroo |
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| 201114 Lake Pamamaroo |
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| 201114 The Main Weir across the Darling River |
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| 201114 Menindee Lake, just to prove its empty |
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201114 Menindee Lake, site of historical sailing regattas - empty.
No need for the rescue boat |
The natives are not happy about what has happened with their water. The entire content of Lake Menindee has been released into the Murray River which, as we saw, is now running a banker. Broken Hill's water supply is at risk and there is talk of having to tap underground aquifers in the absence of significant rain.
It was good to see the source of our Menindee grapes but sadly, many of the vineyards have let their vines die and several vineyards were for sale, with no obvious buyers.
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| 201114 Menindee grapes on the banks of the Darling |
We visited the site of a Burke and Wills camp on one of the creeks in the area. It was at this point Burke and Wills divided their party in two. Burke and Wills' group went further north and ultimately perished.
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| 201114 Burke and Wills camp site information |
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| 201114 Burke and Wills camp site on Pamamaroo Creek |
The day was uncomfortably hot and we were glad to get back to camp. We had twenty five rain spots on the windscreen as we ascended the Barrier Range but this was not enough to solve the Menindee Lakes problem.
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| 20114 About to ascend the Barrier range |
It was so hot, the Gnome jumped off the Darling River sign into the river. Alas ..........
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| 201114 The Gnome at the Darling River. Now you see him.. |
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201114 Now you don't!. It was hot and that may explain his irrational
behaviour in jumping off the bridge |
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