Last look around renmark

Mon 16 Mar Pretty miserable morning, grey and overcast ,not a bad day for a drive. We plan to do a loop below Renmark which is a bit of the river we haven’t seen. Off we go ,down the road to Loxton, stopping at Berri for a coffee and a look around. At the tourist info we quickly pick up our email, singular then on to Loxton where the McGuigan mines are! Loxton is a much larger place than we thought, as the last time we were here we just stopped to refuel the Merlot bowsers and bypassed the town. There is another “Pioneer Town” museum here and as we haven’t been in one for 2 days we feel we had best check it out! It was quite interesting,not quite the same as others we have been to , this one was a farming settlement around the turn of the century. We thought we recognised some of the household stuff that was around when we were kids anyway it took a while to get round and we were quizzed by a group of school kids, about where we came from…… nice kids Lunch by the river and then a trip to see the tree of knowledge. Following the direction signs it turns out to be a tree with date marks set at every flood level over the years when the Murray has burst it’s banks…… Amazing! The last really big flood was 1956. Continuing on our loop,we pass dozens more vineries and fruit farms. We have learned that the River Land, the area we are in, produces 23% of Australias’ wine yet it isn’t promoted to the extent of the Barrossa or Hunter Valleys, and other regions. As we make our way back to the Sturt Highway, we pass vast salt pans and flood plains which seem to have been dry forever, they haven’t, the tree said so. We came to a bridge which has a plaque on it stating something about the famous explorer Charles Sturt “having an exciting incident with some natives” photos to follow! It’s all very educational this trip. Back at Renmark and the weather has improved but the temperature drops quickly in the evening Autumn is with us Time to move on