Echuca to Maryborough Victoria. Sunday 3rd July 2011

Left Echuca on Thursday 30th June and traveled to Dunolly, between Bendigo and Maryborough Victoria.
We were going to head to Mildura originally but on coming down to Maryborough on Tuesday and having a look around, decided to head down here instead.
We are at the Dunolly Caravan Park in Dunolly 20 ks north of Maryborough, what a great spot, friendly people, great social camp kitchen. Lake in the centre and lots of trees. $25 per night. Seventh night free.
A lot of the people in the park are gold prospectors, some come here regularly and a few live here permanently.
Dunolly is an amazing little town, notwithstanding the fact that more gold nuggets have been found here than anywhere else in Australia. And it is where the largest gold nugget in the world was  found. The 'Welcome Stranger ' nugget was found here and weighed over 2,200 ozs . Worth at current value approx $3,300,000. You can understand why so many people are still prospecting around here.
We have spent the last couple of days looking around the district. Some amazing little towns absolutely full of Historic buildings. Some are almost like ghost towns.
Spent Sunday dismantling my tow hitch and painting it. We have been having an issue with getting the van off the hitch due to the angle the ball was presenting itself. Will be reassembling  it tomorrow.
After talking to people around the fire at night and seeing the gold being found by them in the area we bit the bullet today and hired a metal detector today. (Monday).
2 elderly brothers who come here for 1 weeks holiday every year showed me 44 grams of gold they found over the last week. I asked the guy at the Gold supplies place here how much it would be worth. He said he would pay $1650 for it. Actually not a lot of gold.
We went out this afternoon and found absolutely no gold, but did find some nails a bit of tin and a bent 22 cal bullet. Heading out again tomorrow. I had to purchase a Miners Right to be able to prospect in State forests in Victoria. The forests down here are a maze of tracks. 2 and 3 ounce nuggets are still being found weekly and gold is $1500 an ounce. You can see the attraction.
Anyway we are booked in here until Thursday and we have the metal detector tomorrow.

Sunday 26th June at Echuca on the Murray

For a start last night would have been the coldest night we've spent in the van. Of course we were free camping and the temp went through the floor. At 2 am it was 6 degrees in the van and 0 outside. BRRRRRRRRRR.
Talked to a couple of young guys camped next to use last night. They just had swags under a tarp, crazy, but they had a big fire going most of the night. They caught a huge carp last night.
Went to the farmers market at Yarawonga this morning and bought some Murray River Cod fillets, had them for tea tonight and they were yum. Nice markets but a bit expensive.
2 hour drive to Echuca and booked into the Echuca Top Tourist Park on the Murray River.
While disconnecting the van from car the bolt that attaches the jockey wheel to caravan stripped and the van literally fell on the ground.at the front. Missed Karens foot by about an inch, luckily. If the van had landed on her foot it would have crushed it. Had to jack the van up off the ground and put blocks under the front. Have to get the jockey wheel fixed tomorrow.
Nice caravan park, u can hear and see the paddle steamers on the river.
It looks like a very Historic town, lots of old buildings etc.
We are taking a trip on a paddle steamer tomorrow and then probably head up to Swan Hill on Tuesday.

At yarrawonga

At Yarrawonga on the banks of the Mighty Murray River. Camped at Kyffins Reserve. Interesting view, sunrise tomorrow should be good. They have a farmers Market here tomorrow, will stock up. We are finally heading west:). This is a great spot definitely suitable for bigger vans. The first free camp we stopped at , green bank, was not, I'm doing this post on my iPhone so hope it works out ok. On to Echuca tomorrow.

Spitfire at Temora

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Cold and wet day, snow on the mountains. Very windy still. Snow down to 700 metres. Struggled up to 10 degrees.
Went over the border to Wodonga. Picked up a new step for van. Karen found a sale and bought some clothes. I found a Lee Childs book I was missing. Home in time to light the fireplace and cook a curry for tea. 10.30 pm and 4 degrees, another cold one. Not leaving here now until the weather settles a bit

Had the 10000k service done on the car, no issues except for handbrake cable adjustment which they wanted to charge $40 for. Classed as wear and tear.
Have put the car in shed tonight as the BOM is predicting 120 k winds by morning. Also rolled awning in, not losing another one of those.
Karen tripped on my shoes tonight getting out of the van. Twisted leg and hip, sore as.:(
Packing up tomorrow, hopefully heading west on Wed. Echuca next stop, ride on paddle steamer.

Car service

Taking the Cruiser into Jacobb Toyota Wodonga today for its 10000 k service. Not a bad mileage for 2 and a half months travel. Supposed to be selling the car after 40000 ks, that could come up pretty quick.