Mildura to Goolwa - Murray River Trails

Firstly I was very excited to meet SARK recently in the city. SARK is an inspirational author and artist and one of my heroes.

22 Jan we all flew to Mildura to visit the Whytes and of course Eric their Danish exchange student. Merryl, my other favourite author and dear friend had a special birthday.....
Here she is as Courageous Australian of the Year 2010/2011. She inspires me with her ideas, creativity, love of books and writing as well as her involvement in supporting other women in the community. What a woman - a succulent woman as Sark would say!
There was a dinner for the girlies combined with one of her friend's Michelle.

The special birthday girls. Merryl and I.

The dinner and the cakes and flowers...

The following day we went on a paddleboat called the Melbourne. An interesting time to see the Murray River as it was rising. They were expecting it to peak a week after we visited.

A very high river and hello out the window for Rohan & Elise.

Merryl with Elise and Rohan.

The girls have a go at steering the wheel of the paddleboat.

Graeme takes a picture of us all in front of the boat.

On Monday we piled in the 2 cars and followed the Murray River down to where it starts in Goolwa in SA.

Here are the kids at the Goolwa Wharf where there were some more Murray Paddle Boats on display.

Here is my Godson Cam at one of the parks.

We took one of the old cockle trains to Victor Harbour.

We walked on the jetty over to Granite Island and then walked around the island.
They still have a tram lead by a clydesdale horse but we felt sorry for the horse lugging the tram.


Some very good shots taken by Eamonn of the rock formations - he is quite the scientist!

Isla got to meet some of her fairy pengion friends on Granite Island.

Alarming to find out there are only 143 left on the island down from 1-2 thousand only 10 years ago. Fish quantities are are low in surrounding waters so some of the seal population are nabbing them as well as dogs coming over from the mainland and people even steal the precious little creatures. Hope they find a way to breed and protect them!!

Here is a seal who happened to swim by the island and put on a show for the crowds!

Gisele adored Tilly - the Whyte's family dog (just below her in the pecking order being the youngest) We played at Horseshoe Bay.

We also visited the mighty Murray Mouth and there were flocks of pelicans (scenes from Storm Boy where shot here)

Here are Merryl and Gisele having a cuddle goodbye at the airport. We loved our time in Mildura and Goolwa! Thanks Whytes and Eric for inviting us on your holiday!!

Here is a picture of Sean facing his 1st birthday

cake for the impending 40th birthday. Not long now...