2. - South Australia, Riverland Region 11th to 20th March

 

Entry 2 – Riverland Region South Australia 11^th to 20^th March.

We spent four days camped in the front yard of friends John and Kathy who lived in close proximity to the town of Berri. Where we enjoyed constant conversation with no subject taboo. We all tried our best to please the others desires including a feast of food. We over gorged on home-made pizza, bakery items, lamb roast, pavlova, chocolate ripple cake, day after day with daily left overs. Our stomachs were constantly protesting, saying “No More,” even when our taste buds were yelling in excitement for more.

While John and Kathy were at work during the day, we spent some enjoyable time exploring the National Trust, South Australian branch Wilabalangaloo nature trail and the Katarapko Murray River National Park.

While John was at work during Saturday Kathy took us out to view some of the quirky nearby attractions.

A bite to eat at a nice grassed location with water frontage

We were thinking water filled hot springs?

Kathy and John introduced us to some enjoyable locations we hadn’t picked up on in our radar for locations of interest. There was a lot to see and do around the nearby towns of Renmark, Berri and Loxton.

We spent a Friday and Saturday evening socialising with the addition of some of their friends. It was four days of constant activity before we departed on a Sunday afternoon, naturally after a pub meal outing. Leaving them to have some recovery time of their own, in preparation for their week back at work.

Kathy, Stephen, John and Mary out playing kelly pool

We travelled to a location about 15 kilometres up the road at Lyrup where we also partook in some recovery time. It had been raining on and off over the last few days and Lyrup was a location where we knew there was an area with a hard gravel surface. Minimising any embarrassment dealing with any soft black clay river soil latching onto our vehicle wheels.

We did sleep a reasonable amount and eventually our bodies had returned to their normal idle speed. Our research uncovered another camp close by, and we liked the sound of Martin Bend. We back tracked about 10 kilometres to Martins Bend camp ground located on the outskirts of Berri.

Martins Bend camp ground was similar to most of the camping areas we had visited along the Murray River. River side views do provide pleasurable scenery and there were several camp sites with direct river viewing available in a setting with magnificent overhead tree canopies at our arrival. Unfortunately, none of these sites suited our need for access to solar generated power and we set camp away from the river in an area without any overhead tree canopy, keeping our batteries happy with a good supply of solar generated power.

We were in the driest state in the driest continent on Earth and the rare sight of a tree lined river setting is most pleasing on the eye, even more pleasing when accompanied with background sounds provided by the happy chirping of birds flittering about. Our senses appreciated the lovely environment provided by a river eco system.

Moving on with our next planned destination we thought Lake Bonney to be worthy of an assessment, about 20 kilometres down the road. We had previously driven by Lake Bonney, with uninviting weather conditions along its 7-kilometre length and 3½ kilometre width, not enticing us to stay on previous occasions. This visit coincided with calm, 30-degree, daytime temperatures and immediately captured our attention with stunning lakeside viewing There were a few other campers at various locations around the lakes edge and we were delighted to find a camp site all to ourselves with our nearest camping neighbours about a kilometre in either direction. Just how we like it, all nice and private.

We saw a large mob of birds feasting on the lake surface. Once feasting time was over, they flew to the nearest trees, resting up directly in front of our camp. A few hours later they were off again, for another meal, resting up at another location elsewhere on the lake.

Early morning just prior to the appearance of the sun rising up from below the horizon provided a setting with more intoxicating viewing.

Each evening we were mesmerised or should we say enchanted by magnificent, sunsets each one different from the previous.

During the day we would walk along the lakeside edge enjoying the lakeside scenery, with comfortable weather conditions enhancing our well-being. We spent hour upon hour lazing in our chairs, gazing across the lake waters thoroughly enjoying its soothing qualities. It was quite hard to read for any period of time without stopping for a look across the hypnotizing lake surface.

We watched many different varieties of birds flying about with galahs and pigeons regularly inspecting the water front tree hollows, looking for a good nesting location. The air was filled with regular bird chatter around us. There was the regular crowing, of crows and we watched groups of cormorants and seagulls, jockeying for control of specific tree limbs they had gathered on.

We found ourselves, spellbound and relaxed by the combination of good weather, helping to enhance the quality scenery of Lake Bonney in the South Australian Riverland region. Our thought process was thinking, how long can we stay, are we taking too many photographs or shall we see how long we can ride out our time at Lake Bonney? Boy, isn’t this fabulous!