Day 48 Bulla to Paringa

Up early enough to capture theses images 

Packed up early ready to leave then Bill discovered that none of the devices were charging.

Took awhile to work out what was wrong realising that it was a fuse but trying to work out which was the particular fuse and where it was took quite sometime.

Bill suspected that it was a dodgy charging lead that caused the fuse to blow in the power outlet



Finally on the road heading out towards the Burra township 







Drove past the turn off into the Minesite where we were yesterday





Past this playground that I noticed had an amazing play gym made out of timber logs just like the one that we had seen at Crystal Brook

We parked in the town to go into the shops to buy some yoghurt and some iced coffee to drink along the way and also to call-in to the information centre to see what they could tell us about the roads which turned out wasn’t a lot

Driving out of the town observing some of the interesting structures









And on the road to the next Township - Morgan

Including here a few photos of the beautiful countryside that we were driving through







Most of the journey was back on the Goyder highway





We had observed a sign that talked about quarantining fruit and veg so we stopped off at a useful rest area with a table so that I could chop up all the fruit we had to put into a fruit salad to have for breakfast



On the road again taking photos of the changing landscape

Suddenly the land was flat and Heathland like

Observed the signs telling us about the restrictions within the Riverland area which we had not been aware of previously





One of many historic ruins that we passed along our journey

And roadsigns telling us about what there was of interest ahead







We turned into the town of Morgan to buy some lunch and to look at the town and of course the Murray river

We drove up to look out first so that we could look down to the river













Took this photo on the hill where the lookout was
And took this photo of the building, that is depicted in the railway watertank photo,  that is still there

We sat and ate our sandwiches, that we had purchased at a shop nearby, overlooking this playground boat and the river

We then walked down to the historic wharf area where the old railway station building had been restored



I took a photo of this sign on the noticeboard listing all the interesting and exotic fruits that could carry fruit fly

Interesting story here about the restoration of the paddle steamer PS Canally which was meant to be tied up at the historic jetty but had obviously been removed due to the floods



Story about Puffing Pete that was locked behind fencing

But we could still see it

And a story about a Gangers’ trolley

That was also behind a fence

Checked out the old railway building



And walked down to the river to check its height

6 m and still rising

Found this story about the PS Canally where it is supposed to be moored but of course that area is now underwater

Information boards down by the River





Boat ramp next to the historic timber wharf 

A few old historic railway carriages

With some interesting looking tea chests inside one saying it was from India

An old restored turnstile

And a lovely new mosaic town symbol with a bored husband  below it



Back up the hill to the car where we had had to park and heading down to the ferry



Whilst waiting for the ferry to come I took these photos of the morgue

And got a photo of the ferry crossing the river to our side

Quite a few cars were waiting to cross the river but it was quite big and could take two rows of vehicles

we were first on to the second side where we ended up at the front so I was able to get photos and some video

I hadn’t realised that was there was a steel cable from one side of the river to the other that the ferry travelled along to cross the river.

This ferry was in fact the only way to get from one side of the river to the other so we were very fortunate that it was operating.

There were no paddle steamers operating as the river was flowing quite strongly

On reaching the other side we chose to go along the Cadell Valley Road - a much more scenic route than the highway and it actually followed the Murray River around on the cliffs above

Lots of fabulous views








We did not turn into Cadell

But carried on to Waikerie

Past grape vines

And other bushes that we thought might be olives

Liked this sculpture on the side of the road depicting the river and the fruit growing

So much colour on the roadside from the Gazania‘s which sadly are weeds



Past wineries





With views of the Murray River

Pretty town sign for Ramco





Oops I don’t think anyone will be going into that bird hide any time soon!!



Pulling into Waikerie there were all sorts of things to see

















We pulled in to park at this car park where there were some SES workers that were there to provide sandbags for anyone that needed them I chatted to one of the workers who was also taking photos of this factory she told us that the water is still rising and will most likely stay high until December

We didn’t go along the clifftop walk but we did walk across to it



With views of water as far as the eye could see



Also near the clifftop were these amazing painted silos







































There were also some pretty flowering bushes out the front









Pushing on on the Sturt highway

Towards Renmark

Turning off Holder road towards the river with another view













Came across some roadworks that held us up a little





Continuing on with the occasional views across to the cliffs above the River



And driving past more grapevines

And wineries





And I am sure these aren’t wheat silos in fact contain lots of wine









Passing turn offs to quite a few towns along the way























Joining the other road from Morgan















Eventually arriving in Renmark









We had decided earlier on that we would push through Renmark to the other side of the river Murray to a caravan park in Paringa which meant we drove over the historic lifting bridge which unfortunately at the moment due to the height of the river is actually not doing any lifting







Our HEMA maps travels for the day

After being welcomed by the lovely Jenni at the caravan park and being helped to park in our spot and setting up the van we headed across the road to the Paringa hotel for drinks and dinner