On to Mildura

Wed 11 Mar had a terrific storm overnight and could swear the Murray has risen a foot ....but that could be my imagination!Leave our lovely site by the river a bit late as the Navigator has a doctors appointment and it took longer than expected. The general rule is that you must vacate the site by 10 am In our case the security number to operate the boom gate and let us out expired 90 sec after we left! There is a penalty if you are late!We escaped having said goodbye to our friends the ducks and set off on the 220K journey to Mildura after just getting essentials in town. it is still very flat countryside but extremely fertile. For mile after mile we drive through orchards,vineries and olive groves they seem to be able to grow anything they want here.The Murray has a lot to do with it as they can irrigate from it.There are occasional stretches where they are not irrigating for some reason( probably money) and the ground is just brown and barren. The fire risk in this area is still extreme, they have signs at the side of the road. No diversions this time on the way to Mildura, but Peter would loved to have stopped at some cellar doors. There are so many of them that if we had stopped at them all and had one taste at each one we doubt we would have reached Robinvale at 120K. The vines at the side of the road are loaded with grapes ready to be picked and Peter resisted the temptation to go scrumping!
At the campsite in Mildura it has Wifi which actually works! Lots of emails about sad news from home.Booked in for 2 nights and we are determined to go on our paddle steamer trip tomorrow.
Thurs 12 Mar Drought busters strike again! Pouring down as we get up with thunder and lightening and it still looks like the middle of the night. We were planning a day trip on the paddle steamer, which sails down stream to a couple of wineries where you stop for a taste, then there is a barbecue on the river bank,a gentle cruise back with a few beers on board-- sounds wonderful if it weren't for the storm! So we sat in the van listening to the rain, a few more emails and Mondays Terry Wogan. Sad! The rain eased off enough for us to pack the soggy awning then drove into town and parked at the wharf.No activity at the wharf all trips cancelled?? nothing else to do but to walk up to town for a look see and a coffee. Luckily most of the pavement are covered for shade... and do a reasonable job of keeping the rain off.Walked up to the tourist onfo office to find out what you can do on a wet day in Mildura, the library was right next door so we went in there as well. ( Did you know the library opens on a Sunday afternoon here!!!) Wandered back to the van and it has stopped raining. As we are at the wharf we have a look to see if thre is anything going on and are just in time to jump on a paddlesteamer doing a 2 hour trip up the river. A smashing little trip with commentary from the skipper, saw quite a lot of bird life and lots of house boats, some very bespoke and others not so.You can hire these quite easily and the skipper told us that as long as 1 of the party has a driving licence thats O K but if you have a little boat with an outboard you need a river licence! We go through a lock which drops and rise 3 metres (automatic, thank goodness). The engine is steam, fuelled by wood, made in England Skipper says they use a ton a day doing 2 trips a day. (Enough to cook a 10 score pig!) You could see it was the Engineers pride and joy how he looked after that engine. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip even though it wasn't our first choice.
Back at camp,Oh no the Wifi isn't working, but a trip to the office and it is sorted. We also learn at the office that they have had the most rain today since before Christmas. Aren't we clever!