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As we travel around we are constantly asked where we have been and where we are heading. The answers we give get some interesting reactions. There are nods of approval when we have visited the most popular tourist spots and quizzical looks when we say we are heading somewhere more rural … like Deniliquin. A common response might be, ‘Why do you want to go there? There’s nothing there!’ Fortunately we don’t pay much attention to these comments as we like to go to places a little off the beaten track, exploring the countryside and seeing what’s on offer.
As we headed away from the wine regions and into cropping country we couldn’t help but shudder at the large number of open irrigation channels wandering over the countryside that are obviously used to flood irrigate paddocks. In some locations these had been replaced by large scale boom sprinklers. The very large trees that regularly dotted the landscape suggested a reasonable annual rainfall so the question begs. Why the need to irrigate? Never-the-less this area is a rich and productive farming area. We were delighted to see Deniliquin seems to be a wealthy, flourishing rural centre.
The town centre is focussed on a beautiful wetland park. The autumn colours made this especially attractive at this time. Many of the original buildings are still in use and it is not hard to see there is a lot of history in this area.
After checking out the streets, wandering the park and enjoying coffee and carrot cake we took a walk around Island sanctuary. Between the Edward River and Tarangle Creek this island has been preserved as a bird and animal sanctuary. The pathway leads you around the island through a large red gum forest. The odd kangaroo popped there head up as we walked by and we are sure there were many more than we spotted.
We drove further down the island but were halted as the road was closed due to what appeared to be a school sports day. Large groups of children in colours and lots of cheering. This must be the time of year for Sports Days because as we sat near our van in Rutherglen we could hear what sounded like a starters gun followed by lots of excited cheering.
Today we expected rain,
not that it looked like it when we left the van this morning but as we left the RSL Club, where we had lunched, it had started to drizzle and by the time we came out of Coles it was bucketing down.
Joan rates a caravan park by 2 things; the amenities block and the quality of the toilet paper in them. To date the Shady Lady Caravan Park in Katherine has always been a clear winner. Newly renovated it was crisp and clean. However, she says it has been trumped by the one here in the Big4 in Deniliquin. In many ways they are very similar, much the same décor only this one is clearly heated and you can imagine how this impresses on a cold morning. Unfortunately its reputation is a little damaged by the fact that the hot water wasn’t hot. Hmm does this really matter if you are not using the shower?
And whilst comparing Deniliquin to Katherine the downpour we had this afternoon might also give the one we had in Katherine a run for its money. At least Ali wasn’t sleeping in her swag under the edge of
the awning here as she was in Katherine.
With further threat of rain we decided to give the BBQ a miss tonight.
Tomorrow we move on again heading back to Ouyen.
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