Caravanning Diary

Houseboat passing Caravan Park, Renmark.

Burra to Renmark

S.A.

(1)

Dinosaur in Renmark.

WEEK 1 - WEEK 2

Monday 5th Oct 2009    -    Day 33    -    Burra
Another sleep in this morning as we get used to the change to Summer Time. Most of the ACC Muster vans were leaving this morning as the Long weekend wound up. That left Gary & Sue, Alan & Helen, John & Margaret, Geoff & ?, Theo & Maureen and us who stayed the extra day. Today would be a lay day as we had washing to do and also some light shopping. We had a coffee morning outside Sue's van and then walked into town for lunch meeting up with them at the Bakery. The IGA wasn't open so had to go to the BP service station for some of the groceries. Walked back to the CP and then chilled out for the afternoon.
Had a Happy Hour at Sue's van before a BBQ dinner. John and Gary discovered the Johnny Walker bottle and enjoyed a few glasses. Tomorrow we head off to Renmark with John & Margaret and the others head home. Sue & Gary are staying one more night.

Tuesday 6th Oct 2009    -    Day 34    -    Renmark
Got up about 7:30am and made the tea. We were packed up by 9:30am and after farewelling Alan & Helen, we said our goodbyes to Gary, Sue, Theo and Maureen. John & Margaret lead off and we followed them towards Morgan. Had a morning coffee break outside Morgan after disposing of our fruit and vegetables at the quarantine bin. After talking to another couple we decided to cross the the Murray by ferry and drive through to Wakerie. John had no problems getting on to and off the ferry because his rig is high off the ground. Our rig hit the ground at the rear and broke off the nylon stabiliser treads on both sides. The ferry master kindly handed them to me through the open window and suggested roller wheels instead on the rear. I decided it is better I keep away from ferries in future and find another route to my destination. Scraping the rear stabilisers as we left the ferry confirmed my thoughts on catching ferries in the future. :-) We drove through the vineyards of Cadell and Ramco and then made our way on to the Sturt Highway where the traffic was a lot heavier. We managed to make it to Barmera for lunch alongside Lake Bonney. Afterwards it was only a short trip to Renmark and the Big 4 RiverFront CP. After booking in for 6 nights we set up on our sites. John had a river front site and ours is directly behind his. Trees are in the way for sat dish so set up for local tv . Later we went shopping at Woolies to replace fruit & veg and some other items.. Had a coffee at the local Maccas. At 5pm we had a happy hour at John's rig and then retired for dinner in the van. Watched tv at night.

Wednesday 7th Oct 2009    -    Day 35    -    Renmark
A lazy start to the day. Got up about 7:30am and made tea. Mid-morning we wentto townto look for a new camp chair to replace a broken one. Had a hair cut in an old 50's style shop for $15, whilst Geraldine shopped in Target. Had to arrange gift cards and birthday cards for Karen and Hunter and posted them.. We missed Hunter's birthday when we were in the Flinders Ranges and out of mobile range but managed to send an email to let her know we haven't forgotten her. She is 4 this year.
Also, washed the car in the local carwash to give it its gleam back. Been covered in dust and grime for the past 4 weeks. Had lunch back at the van. We vegged out in the afternoon along the riverfront watching the boats go by. Had drinks and a BBQ dinner in the evening.

River Front at Caravan Park, Renmark	Renmark River Cruises.
Sunset at Renmark	Ferry at Morgan

Thursday 8th Oct 2009 - Day 36 - Renmark
Cool start to the morning. After breakfast we had a coffee from John's cappuccino machine before organising a cut lunch and a thermos of coffee to take with us for the day. We went for a drive to Berri to have a look around and have a picnic lunch in the park. Afters we found the Berri Factory Direct store and bought some juice and other things. On the way to Barmera we found the Lookout Tower and took some photos. Drove over the bridge and back again, to look at the houseboats. Found where we had to go tomorrow for lunch at Banrock Station, and then stopped at the Mallee Estate to check out some wines that John was interested in trying. John stocked up on some bottles of wine that he tested and found to his liking. Then we stopped at the Renmark Rose Gardens for a coffee and a look around at some vintage cars and the Rose Garden. Then to the Shopping Mall so Geraldine and Margaret could buy some items from the shops. Back at the CP we had our happy hour and then returned to our vans for dinner.
A busy but eventful day.

Scenic Lookout Tower in Berri.

Township of Berri.

Friday 9th Oct 2009 - Day 37 - Renmark
This morning was a quiet one till a kid from one of the sites near us fell off his bike and came to grief on the roadway near the ablution block.. No helmet , so he's lucky he didn't break his head. An ambulance was called and we made him comfortable till it arrived. Taken to hospital for xrays and found to have a broken collarbone. A sad end to his school holidays but problem lucky him as he has to keep his arm strapped up and not moving for 3 weeks at home... Morning coffee was had after the incident and then we prepared to go to Banrock Station for lunch with John and Margaret. The trip took about 30 mins as it is on the other side of Kingston on Murray. When we arrived we were surprised to see so many people booked for lunch. A very popular place. We had some wine tasting to determine which bottle to get with the meal and we selected a 2008 pink shiraz which was very nice. I had a kangaroo wrapped in pastry dish and Geraldine had the Pork Fillets with rubarb. John ordered some wine to be sent to his home in Queensland and Geraldine decided that we should buy a few also. The bottles were only $9 each so we bought 3 bottles of the 2008 pink shiraz for later. Nicely put in a presentation pack. We spent about 3 hours there enjoying the food, wine and scenery. When we got back to the van we all took a long nanna nap. In the evening we had a light dinner and watched some tv.

Lunch at Banrock Station.

At Banrock Station.

Panorama of the vineyards ,Banrock Station.

Saturday 10th Oct 2009 - Day 38 - Renmark
Woke up this morning feeling good and after getting dressed sat at the river bank watching the boats go by. Went to Subway for lunch and did a bit of light shopping in the Reject Store. Filled up with LPG at the United Service station for 55.6c/l. Stopped at the Information Centre and took a few photos of the PS Industry tied up at the wharf there. Then home for a quiet afternoon. I replaced the broken stabiliser treads with a couple of spare ones I had. Afternoon was warm and still so made good boating weather. The skiers came out of the woodwork. Geraldine did some clothes washing and then relaxed with her crossstitch.
I spent the time watching the boats and updating the web page. Happy hour at Marjon's van while they worked out which way they were going home. The midgees had a wonderful time drinking the wine.

PS Industry at the Information Centre, Renmark

PS Industry ,renovated for cruising.

Sunday 11th Oct 2009 - Day 39 - Renmark (Happy Birthday Karen!!)
A very lazy day today, being Sunday. Breakfast was eggs and bacon on the BBQ. We watched the start of the Bathurst 1000 on tv then went to Woolies to get some replacement items. Then back to the van for coffee. Just before lunch Geraldine discovered that she had run out of bread as well, probably because she fed the ducks all morning with it. Back to Woolies and then thought might as well have lunch at Maccas. After lunch went for a quick drive to Lock 5 just across the river in Paringa. Lots of construction going on at the Lock, must be reno time for it. Took a couple of photos then back to the van to see how Lowndsey was going with the V8's . Not too good apparently, as Tander was in front and won the race in the end. Had a nanna nap then went out to dinner at the Renmark Hotel with John and Margaret around 6pm. Dinner was nice. Finished up the night with a couple of large desserts that would have fed an army. Back to the van to watch a movie on the ABC. Tomorrow we head off to Mildura for a week.

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