DENILIQUIN

We left Hay and headed for Deniliquin, NSW, or "Deni" as the locals call it. 

Its right on the Edward River, in the Riverina Region near the Victorian border.

The town is very agricultural, with rice, wool and timber.

It's a very pretty town, with the river cutting through it and the parks are so green after travelling through such dry landscape. 

Deni is also famous for its annual 'play on the Plains a Festival' that's held every October long week and includes its famous 'Deniliquin Ute Muster' 

The 'utes' have set many world records every year, with this year recording 5988 Utes, and 3959 people wearing blue blue singlets!! Aussie Aussie Aussie!!!

Then from Deniliquin, we drove on through the dry, nothingness of paddocks and stopped at a small town called Mathoura where we stopped for a couple of nights behind a bowling club. They had lovely showers and they let you camp there for free, but it's never really free.....as we made a small donation into the pokies! Clever bowls club! 😉

VICTORIA

So today we crossed the border, left NSW behind and crossed the mighty Murray River at Echuca and in to Victoria. 

We have been to Echuca before, and as much as we liked it, it's a very big town that we scooted on through without stopping. 

We stopped at Elmore for a cuppa then went on through Bendigo (another big town we have already seen) with the intentions of turning west to St.Arnaud. Well that was the intention........but got lost in all the traffic! 

Somehow missed the turn and ended up at Kangaroo Flat and realised we were headed for Castlemaine.......wrong! 😁😁

So pulled over, got Google Maps to take us the right way....which they did...but through the back roads!! So that made for an interesting trip....huge caravan, very narrow winding road! 

Anyway got there eventually! 

Still seeing lots of snakes on the roads! 

We had a big day travelling, we don't normally do over 300 klm as we did today, but the distances and finding places we haven't been in Victoria, neccesated that today. 

So got to St.Arnaud and had to stop to feed the ducks. This is something we used to do when we travelled from Geelong up to Mildura when the kids were very small. It was like a halfway stop as it was a very long journey, and feeding the ducks was something they looked forward to. 

So kids, a trip down memory lane for you both!! 

The ducks blend into the ground! 😳

So after a quick look at the ducks, off we went again and ended up at a very small town called Rupanyup...just near Horsham.

It's a little caravan park provided by the Lions Club, with power and water that comes from the Grampians. We are still making sure we boil all our drinking water even though they say it's ok to drink.  Not taking any chances! 

We went for a walk into the 'town' and found that most of the shops had closed down ....

And this house was a stunner...

This is the front.....

And the side.....and believe it or not...it is occupied!! 

Next day we went for a drive to a place called Murtoa.....another very small bush town where they shops had all closed down, apart from the hardware and little grocery store.

There was a take away place.......

And a goanna made from mosaics that the school kids had made...

And a lake with a path right 

It's a strange feeling going to these small towns as it feels like you have just stepped back in time, and the feeling is like its a ghost town as you just don't see anybody. No kids, nobody!! 

A lot of the houses are empty like they have just walked out and shut the door......all very sad really....