A Fantastic Time in Outback Oz

We're back home again after our trip south.  Our primary aim, of course, was simply to collect the Rickshaw and bring it home safely, which we achieved.  More than that, though, I really wanted to re-connect with country Australia, having lived away for so many years, and I definitely feel that I've very much achieved that goal too!  Putting it simply, we had an absolutely fantastic time everywhere we went!!


We caught up with friends and family, and I very much enjoyed playing Thomas the Tank with a super young bloke called Josh, and Lego with his beaut sister Nathalie.  

The timing of the trip enabled us to visit the Echuca Steamfest, which was also very good, complete with superb weather.  The highlight for me here- though not steam- was the gathering of Fergies, from the Harry Ferguson Club.  Back in the 50's Ferguson supported farmers in the field with travelling technicians who got around in a fleet of Standard Vanguards.  The Tractors use the same engines as the Vanguards.  Anyway, there was a re-created Ferguson Vanguard here, which I really liked.

We also loved the town of Echuca- Australia's main river port- with many active paddle steamers still based there on the Murray River.

Jenni even found a friendly cat, which welcomed her to the wharf area!!

I found some restored Victorian Railways carriages on the wharf, which I remember so fondly from childhood.

For many years I have wanted to re-visit the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement which had such an impact on me as a young bloke.  So it was absolutely fantastic to finally be able to do this, and again the weather was superb.  I was a bit tentative- a little worried that the museum wouldn't live up to my expectations, but I'm happy to report that this was not true!  It was fantastic!!  Yes, there were some things which could have been better, but overall it is a really wonderful Pioneer Settlement.  My comment to my wife just before we left on the second day of our visit was that "I want to live here"!!  For me, it truly captures the best of those early days, which of course is it's aim.

We really enjoyed the driving too.  We tried to stick to smaller roads as much as possible, preferring to stay off the highways.  Between Rankins Springs and Lake Cargelligo, which was a very good road, we literally saw no other traffic in about 2 hours of driving!!  The countryside looks fantastic, and the towns we visited were mostly very attractive and friendly.  It was such a pleasure cruising along through the countryside.


I feel more excited than ever to get stuck back into my own project- Whistlestop- which I hope will capture something of Australia's character.  Many thanks to everyone who made this trip for us so special.