Goodbye Victoria!

 There is exciting news!  It looks like we are able to leave Victoria and enter NSW.  We've checked with the police here in Mildura because we don't want to become famous like THAT WOMAN who went to Queensland ... and they seemed to think it was ok.  So that's what we're going to do.  I'm not sure where we are going - we're open to suggestions!  Please text me places that are fun, a bit different, interesting, historical ... just any of your favourite NSW destinations.

Here are your useless facts for today:  Wycheproof is the site of the smallest mountain in the world, standing at 43 metres above the surrounding land and is the source of Wycheproofite.  Wycheproofite is a hydrated sodium aluminium zirconium phosphate and is pink.  As far as I can find out it is also useless.

Standing on top of Mt Wycheproof

The railway running through the main street of Wycheproof

Gorgeous metal sculptures in Wycheproof

I've been feeling for all of you with the wild and wintry weather that has descended on us.  We rushed out of Maryborough and made our way north (assuming this would be warmer) to Lake Boga.  I have to say that it was quite frightening driving the van (2.65 metres high) through the gale force winds.  It's like trying to drive a kite!  But we made it and camped around the north side of the lake, sheltered behind some stands of bamboo.  It was almost pleasant ... unless you had to leave the warm confines of the van. 

We stayed two nights, exploring Swan Hill and relaxing while waiting for the weather to improve.  Which it did.  I woke up on Friday morning to a beautiful crisp day, the skies were clear and the lake was still, not a breath of wind to be felt.  As I walked along the shore, ribbons of ibis flew above.

Our next stop was meant to be Hattah Kulkyne NP.  While Phill and Liz went to Ouyen for fuel, Van Morrison and I went ahead to snaffle a good campsite.  Which I did - but when I rang up Parks Vic to book the site, they told me to get out because the park was closed!  So unfair!  So instead, we went to Lake Walpeup, a very poorly named place since there is no lake but a very pleasant campsite.  The change of venue was a disappointment but the travel was not.  Vast paddocks of ploughed red sand, huge grain silos and numerous railway crossings, tumbleweeds and enormous horizons, this is part of Victoria that is very foreign to me.  But it is so beautiful.  

Lake Walpeup

Silos in Manangatang

Endless straight roads (C roads, of course!)

So I really don't know where we are going now ... the best way to travel sometimes, don't you think?  I believe we'll head for Balranald first ... we were going to go to Lake Mungo (another lake with no water) but it is (a) booked out and then (b) closed ... since there's going to be a lot of rain here in a few days.  It just feels fantastic to be on the move and leaving Victoria ... rather than travelling in circles up here waiting for some border to open.  NSW, here we come!