After a day doing all things touristy around Echuca and a pub lunch for the boy’s birthday we came back to our little camp, packed up all the gourmet goodies we’d purchased and read our books by the fire (or at least until the battery on my kindle went flat!). We were one of only two sets of campers on the farm last night so gloriously quiet overnight.

We woke early to the cacophony of kookaburras and enormous flocks of cockatoos, showered (you never know if/where you’ll find your next hot shower) and set off north towards Mungo National Park. First stop was less than an hour up the road at a quirky cafe that promised (like all bush cafes) the ’best’  pies. Not quite as good as the Harrietville pies inn our humble opinion but good nonetheless.

Took the Sturt  highway north stopping only for fuel in Swan Hill.

passed a controlled burn on the way through which was a bit disturbing – it was giving out a huge amount of heat.

So lovely to be under the wide open big blue sky again.

Used Wikkicamps to locate a free camp right on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. It certainly lives up to its 4.5 star rating so far. Just one other couple camping here well round the bend, so it’s us and hoards of cockies. Flys are pretty tenacious but we have nets and aren’t afraid to use them and we know they’ll disappear in an hour or so.

We’ll do a one nighters here and head up to Mungo tomorrow.

As I type this we are just starting to get a few drops of rain. Cloud cover is light so hoping it will pass quickly – upside- it’s got rid of the flies!