The grasses are growing, the Murrumbidgee is flowing and the waters are swelling in the Riverina right now.
We arrived in Narrandera and settled into a very cosy apartment and just as well it was cosy because as you can see from the weather snap it was proving to be somewhat chilly for the start of our week in the Riverina. None the less we did begin with a visit to the tourist information centre where Ian belted out a tune on the 'almost' biggest playable guitar in the world - it got outdone in 1991 but as they say -'It's still big and it's still fun'. (Accentuate the positive!
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From playing the Big Guitar to flying the Tiger Moth - apparently there was a training school for pilots here during the war - and with flight firmly focused on, we headed for the wetlands and discovered that the water was plentiful, so much so that the road was closed but we could walk along it and check the birds in flight and revelling in the abundant water and the life it offered.
The treat for the day was discovering three Koalas tucked up in the gumtrees above the flood waters. An added bonus was the mother and baby in the fork of this tree in the photo - a furry ball of blur but definitely there.
Our visit to the Parkside Cottage Museum provided many chuckles and lots of 'stuff' to enjoy - but not always understand - including a Snow Shoe (yes just one...think about it) and wooden skis from Scott's Antarctic Expedition, at least that's what the information sign said........... as well as a World-wide shell collection. But for me the winner was the Furphy water cart - if I could just get this one into the car I'd take it home with me.
Coleambally - Wiradjuri Country
Flood water, sunshine and the two of us at Darlington Point on the levy bank. This is the round about way as we travel through Yanco, Leeton, Darlington Point and finally arrive at Coleambally.
Narrandera Op Shops, Antiques and old buildings
Just one of a number of delightful buildings of Narrandera town. This one also has a side business known as Mon Repos - quite a collection of French linen and bits and pieces as well as some very large pieces of furniture, nothing to come home with - there wasn't a Furphy available.
Before exploring some of the Op shops and antique shops we did spend a fair part of the morning wandering the very wet Wet Lands, at least those parts that weren't flooded. In the centre of town is a Royal Dalton Fountain purchased and then dedicated as a war memorial by an alderman and his wife in 1922. |
We finished the day by the water, enjoying the quiet of the evening and the sound of lots of water constantly on the move, plus many mosquitoes now thriving due to all the water.