Week 78 Caravan adventure at Echuca

Hi everyone from the Murray River – Echuca. We were up early Sunday morning and set of on our first caravan trip in a long time – lots of fingers crossed. We said our goodbyes to Jessie and dropped of Jake at the kennels. We headed south towards Benalla and turned right just before Benalla through Shepparton, Maroopna and onto the Murray Valley Highway and onto Echuca. Approximately two hundred kilometres and two and a bit hours and we turned into the Echuca Caravan Park – Top Tourist. We signed in and were directed to our site. We backed our van into position, and as we unhooked the Jeep, Jeannette and Gavin arrived with their A van. We finally were ready for the long awaited beer to celebrate the commencement of our break.
The weather has been great – a bit warm on a couple of days – on those we headed to the Murray to sit and watch the house boats and the paddle steamers move up and down the river. We also watched families of Black ducks on the bank. One mother followed by 7 young chicks came down to the bank which was about five feet above the water, she flew into the water leaving her young to follow – teaching by example. The young chicks watched, and then moved along the bank to a set of steps cut into the bank, down the steps one at a time and finally caught up with their mother. I think they thought – we are not that stupid. While sitting under the gum trees a flock of Correllas arrived directly above us – they made a great noise and finally settled down until one directly above Jill – pooped – which landed on Jill’s shoulder – time to move.
The van has been great; Jill has been able to get around – and do selections of exercises, walking the parallel bars inside the van, weights, stepping on the stepper, voice both by vocastim and talking to her sister. The air conditioning in the van has been given a solid workout. The evenings start with a happy hour after getting back from the river followed by some great meals and lots of talking or a movie. Gavin brought a Cobb Cooker while on their trip around Oz. It is a slow cooker which uses barbeque briquettes as the fuel – originally used corn cobs as the fuel – consequently the name Cobb. Gavin can roast, barbeque, smoke etc on it. Yesterday Allison and Chris came over for a visit and Gavin cooked up roast pork, vegetables for 6. It was fantastic. We celebrated late into the evening – Allison’s birthday on Tuesday was another reason for celebrating.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLISON
Even being away from home is not a reason for having visitors. Jill’s brother Barry, Margaret their daughter Rebecca and their pride and joy Jude came to visit and we all went out to lunch at a local hotel. We then went down to the river as it is cooler than the caravan park.
Evenings are an entertainment on their own, the Correllas arrive in at sun set to roost and the local Wood and Black ducks arrive for their feed of bread, Kookaburras watch from a tree behind the caravan – one swooped down intent of Jill’s pork chop, a swish of her arm and she still had the chop, but the Kookaburra still watched for another chance. As the night grew darker a family of possums came into the camp.
On Monday Macca was in Echuca for a book signing. I had decided I would endeavour to get one of his new CD’s and have a talk to him. Having dropped the others to sit on the river bank I headed up the street, found the ABC shop located in a small book shop in the main street. Just inside Macca was signing books. I brought a book and CD and waited for a chance to talk. Macca asked me to wait around until he had finished and we went back to his car. He got his reel to reel recorder and did an interview with me. We said our goodbyes and I went back to the others. We have listened to the CD and I am working my way through the book.
I woke up early this morning to listen to Macca and of course – being vain my interview. Jill lay in bed, listening, the tears welling up as she remembered.
The caravan park has free internet connection to most of the park we are just out side the area and after writing this in word I will have to take the laptop up to the camp kitchen where I can get reception.
We are here until Wednesday when we will head for home.
See you next week on the net from Wangaratta