Day 5, 14/5/2016, Saturday, Balranald, Clear I’m having a lovely shower when I hear shrieking and giggles from outside. With wet hair I poke my head out the door to find that G is conducting ladies aerobics on the lawn. … Continue reading Like a Rollingstone, Day 5 – Homebush Hotel
Day 4, 13/5/2016, Friday, Balranald, Blue skies nothing but blue skies, 21 degrees It’s only a short two block walk into town along the riverbank. There are detailed story boards telling the war experiences of locals but I can’t read … Continue reading Like a Rollingstone, Day 4 – Balranald
Day 3, 12/5/2016, Thursday, Bridgewater on Loddon to Balranald, Rain clearing What a great little caravan park this is. Lush green lawns, modern clean amenities and situated on the banks of the Loddon River. The town is little more than … Continue reading Like a Rollingstone, Day 3 – This time we make it to NSW
Day 2, 11/5/2016 Wednesday Boort to Bridgewater via Campbellfield We sneak out at 5:30am after a rushed shower. We feel awful not having purchased any of Marilyn’s wares or even getting the chance to see them. We drive slowly to Boort on high ‘roo alert then grab a kip outside the BP servo while we wait to buy petrol. The sun is rising bright orange across the paddocks as we set off to the city.We walk around Campbellfield while Phil and the guys at Swift replace our stove with a new model. We had expected a repair but as it … Continue reading Like a Rollingstone, Day 2 – A trip to caravanland
Mar 2021, Melbourne, Vic Oh, what a crazy world we live in. So many people are still in lockdown and we all live in fear of this damned virus. Here, in Australia we do our best to live normally (with masks and social distancing) but every so often the virus seems to break out of a quarantine hotel forcing a snap lockdown and yet another eradication. Thankfully, the vaccine rollout is now underway and being oldies who’ve been through this before we can’t wait to get our text to line up for the jab. Funnily, or perhaps not so funny… … Continue reading Like a Rollingstone, Day 1
Our neighbour Fleur knocks on our door trembling and I go to jelly. Her brother has been gravely ill, I fear the worst. She holds up her phone and cries “Sssnake!” We examine the picture and agree that it is indeed a snake in the bottom of her garden water feature. Pulling on a pair of sturdy gardening gloves, the three of us tromp off to assess the situation. Thankfully, the snake isn’t moving and with hunks of skin hanging off appears to be long dead, we’re assuming that it found its way into the pond but couldn’t get back … Continue reading Snakes without ladders
To survive, most country towns need just one point of difference. One often seemingly crazy idea can save a community. It may be a different crop like drying kelp from the ocean and exporting it to the other side of … Continue reading Every town needs an angle
I’m walking through a museum following a group of tourists and our knowledgeable guide when suddenly there’s a hell of a racket outside. A couple of local kids are skateboarding in the courtyard. The old guide leaves us standing as he takes off at a gallop loudly shouting “Piss Off!” I get the feeling that those kids get a real kick out of baiting the poor old bugger. Hang on, he’s not that old he’s my age. Where are those bloody kids? Continue reading Old stuff
Feb 2021, Briagalong, Vic From our base at the Maffra Golf Club we venture up into the hills behind Briagalong to check out the Quarry Reserve in the State Park. It is a well-maintained camp beside Freestone Creek. Tiny ‘Briag’ … Continue reading Briagalong
Feb 2021, Maffra, Vic An emu walks a fence line on the bush drive up to Sale. After stocking up on groceries we take the road north to Maffra, 20kms through small farms of corn and cows. The Maffra Golf … Continue reading Maffra Golf Club
