I just need to say I am sorry to anyone who may have been wanting to comment in this blog. I do have it set to accept all comments, but for some reason many people have been trying and are unable to do so.
Never mind though, I am sure if you wanted to tell me something you would have found a way to find me :D
Take care, and will update you on White Cliffs in a few days time xoxo
Saturday, 4 August 2012
MENINDEE and the Lakes
Saturday, 4th August 2012
Today we drove down to for a relaxing day out. Initially driving out along the highway, we came across a large number of emus (probably the most we have seen in the whole trip) on both sides of the road and thankfully very street smart and uninclined to check out the front of our vehicle.
Calling the rest of the crew........
This land was travelled by the Paakantji Aboriginal people when living around the length ofthe Darling from Wilcannia through Menindee towards Wentworth.
The first Europeans to visit the area followed the Darling River in search of pasture for their sheep, and it was here that William Wright (the man blamed for the demise of Burke and Wills) joined their party when they stopped here during their exploration to the north.
Charles Sturt's exploration parties spent time in this area, also camping at Kinchega.
Moving on after playing with the wildlife, we came to the Kinchega Woolshed. In the Kinchega National Park, this restored woolshed and adjacent buildings were originally built in 1870.
Initially the property (owned by Herbert Hughs) ran 35,000 sheep, but in 5 years with the addition of steam tractor driven dams (tanks) and bores, the property increased its sheep holding to 72,000 in 1875.
This picture below shows you the walk up to be shorn from the sheeps eyes (funnily enough, at the bottom of this ramp there were the obligatory 'stinging nettles' that seem to go hand in hand with all races)
This was a small section we saw before arriving at Menindee for lunch in the 2nd oldest pub in NSW.(next pic below)
Burke & Wills also stopped here for refreshment on their expedition to the Gulf.
After lunch, we headed off to find Burke & Wills' campground on the Darling River.
We found this spot shortly, but before finding the campsite, we noticed a huge amount of birds circling above, the answer for which we found shortly later.
This was the site of the camel expedition on the Darling River.
The trees (Red River Gums mostly) in this spot were some of the largest all in one area we have seen anywhere.
In the pic below, you can see lots of the birds circling in the air. The birds were thick as bats, and the waterway filled with fishing birds (cormorants, heron, pelicans and with kites, hawks, crows and eagles all above - Man, DO NOT OPEN YOUR MOUTH AS YOU LOOK UP TO GAWK! - Could be dangerous)
The water rushing through here is actually coming underground from a "weir" set up on the other side of the sand hill.
The lakes' system is a haven for animal life.
We found this unusual duck waiting for it's partner
And this spoonbill nonchalantly digging around in mud
In this photo, you can see the power of the water surging through underground from the other side.
Here on the way out we came across someone's camels - Very calm and happy enough to have their pics taken, but Greg just refused to go catch one (they even had rope and collars) so we could go for a ride (Man, sometimes he just has no imagination - or rather, maybe too much imagination - Would have made for good photography shots or Funniest Home Video I'm sure)
Tomorrow, off to White Cliffs (home of the underground houses!)........
Sleep well everyone and catch you soon.
Today we drove down to for a relaxing day out. Initially driving out along the highway, we came across a large number of emus (probably the most we have seen in the whole trip) on both sides of the road and thankfully very street smart and uninclined to check out the front of our vehicle.
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| Our hostess on arrival |
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| I just found out Emu can break wind!!!!! |
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| After checking us out the flock slowly headed over the rise and onto greener pastures... |
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| ... which they had to share with many other bird species. |
We did make sure to close our doors because we didn't trust the birds with our gear (would be terrible to get back and find an emu running off with our caravan mirrors or something.
The first Europeans to visit the area followed the Darling River in search of pasture for their sheep, and it was here that William Wright (the man blamed for the demise of Burke and Wills) joined their party when they stopped here during their exploration to the north.
Charles Sturt's exploration parties spent time in this area, also camping at Kinchega.
Initially the property (owned by Herbert Hughs) ran 35,000 sheep, but in 5 years with the addition of steam tractor driven dams (tanks) and bores, the property increased its sheep holding to 72,000 in 1875.
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| This should give a pretty good impression of the size of this engine |
This picture below shows you the walk up to be shorn from the sheeps eyes (funnily enough, at the bottom of this ramp there were the obligatory 'stinging nettles' that seem to go hand in hand with all races)
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Inside, all the equipment on display has been exceptionally restored, including all the holding pens as well as the shearing stands, classing tables and wool presses.
At the woolshed, camping facilities are available with showers and toilets, and also accommodation in the modernised shearers' quarters if preferred.
As we left the woolshed, we traversed the gravel road and spent a little time playing with wildlife again!
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| So I told him to move over to the bushy side where the cars can't run over him and off he went. We made sure he was off the road and in a nice warm sand spot and then drove off happy in our knowledge that we had saved a cute little native lizzy. |
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| Unfortunately, there were others doing the same crazy kamikazi stuff, but we persisted...... |
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| ....and occasionally got a rude gesture, but we did save them (hopefully they didn't just wait till our back was gone from view and then went straight back to the tyre-dodging acts) |
This was a small section we saw before arriving at Menindee for lunch in the 2nd oldest pub in NSW.(next pic below)
Burke & Wills also stopped here for refreshment on their expedition to the Gulf.
After lunch, we headed off to find Burke & Wills' campground on the Darling River.
We found this spot shortly, but before finding the campsite, we noticed a huge amount of birds circling above, the answer for which we found shortly later.
This was the site of the camel expedition on the Darling River.
The trees (Red River Gums mostly) in this spot were some of the largest all in one area we have seen anywhere.
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| This is what a cormorant looks like when it first gets out of the water after fishing (No wonder they sit for so long drying their wings) |
There are 4 lakes in all here, Lakes Tandure, Pamamaroo, Menindee and Cawndilla. All are inter-connected and also overflow into the Darling River, but the waterways joining each lake are actually a natural occurance, just enhanced now.
The lakes' system is a haven for animal life.
We found this unusual duck waiting for it's partner
And this spoonbill nonchalantly digging around in mud
This is a view of one of the overflows from the top of one of the weir's gates. How about all those birds??
Some of the birds were actually starting on the other side, and diving down and letting the water flow drag them through to the other side (easy pickings of all the fish beside them!)
.
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| Most of the Red River Gums on the side of the banks had this root system exposed. Several trees had fallen also, obviously unable to hold their top weight any longer. |
Tomorrow, off to White Cliffs (home of the underground houses!)........
Sleep well everyone and catch you soon.
Friday, 3 August 2012
SILVERTON (3/8/12)
A DAY IN SILVERTON..........
Starting at the Gaol.
The Silverton Gaol was built in 1889 at a cost of 10,070 pounds. It served as housing for Short Term Prisoners and Overnight Accommodation until in the 1930's it was converted to a Boys' Reformatory, before finally closing in 1943.
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| I wonder how many fingers found their way into the ham trays!! |
NOW LADIES (just for you...............
How hard was wash day???
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| Just a few of a huge display of old cameras through the ages, and the equipment and photo paper used then and now. |
I knew blacksmiths shod horses, but until today I had no idea that bullocks were also shod for working, especially when carting drays long miles.
"A Shock Bed" - Possibly you could get more shocked after being placed in one of these I think!
I saw this bath below in the hospital section, alongside the "Shock Bed", and left the room thinking I was pretty glad to have been born when I was and not 100 years or so ago.
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| This bath used for storing deceased bodies awaiting burial (and/or autopsies) |
This donkey looked like he either was hoping to get let into School, or that he was waiting patiently for his owner to come and ride him home for the day!
ANYONE RECOGNISE THIS?? (well, that sure just gave your age away, didn't it?)
*Mel could come and do another Mad Max movie and they wouldn't even need a coat of paint*
After the town, we headed up the hill a bit and saw where the main water supply for Broken Hill was originally located. (Umberrumberka Creek is the main feeder for this)
Driving down from the resevoir, Greg stopped for me and lookey, lookey, lookey - Yay! and this guy was so accommodating, not overly elusive at all.
After eating his catch, he calmly flew up to this tree and just watched quietly to make sure he was safe.
Taking a little turn to have a look behind, he then realigned with the open air and had a quick peek to see if I was still behaving myself and not pointing anything dangerous at him before taking flight.
Further up, there was his mate surfing the themals and he made his way up to her for a short dance before both flying off. PURE MAGIC!!!!
This was Umberumberka Creek which fed the resevoir!!!!
There was 39 dips and floodways between Broken Hill and Silverton! We counted on the way back to make the sign was telling the truth. Strangely though, some of them were on the top or crest of a hill.
Still can't quite figure that out, but it is!
After a rest back at the van, I took a short 12km drive out to the Living Desert Sculptures. An honesty box at the gates (which is into a national park) gives you the envelopes to put your $10.00 in and I guess most people are honest. At least the ones who pulled up in front and behind me were too. (Oh Yeah! every 7 cars plus mine - can you believe it)
Not too sure if Maggie was looking for handouts, or just hoping the crowd would leave her to her rock
BROKEN HILL FROM THE SCULPTURES HILL TOP SITE (at about 5.55pm *lol*)
Well, we all made it out in a long line of headlights (which I'm sure the 'roos have seen many times before because none made an appearance on the road for which I am very grateful, or else their is really only emus and they are smarter that we think!).
Tomorrow we're going to have a look at Menindee Lakes. Last time we were here in 2000, there was no water in it because of drought, but apparently there has been some very significant rain this winter, so fingers crossed, we will see it in all of it's beauty.
Until then all, sleep well ..... xoxo
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