This year I am Christmassing with Deen and her friend Dey at Walwa on the Upper Murray, it was about a 500 Km trip from Melbourne, which we did on December 23rd. Our site is right on the Murray under the shade of massive Cottonwood trees, just as well, as it has been in the mid 30’s everyday.
The nights have been pleasant in the low 20’s and we get a display of the sunset on the hills over the river as you can see in the photo of Deen’s camp above. Deen is a teardrop camper fan, so our Christmas lights are a small string of teardrop camper lights!
We went to the Courabyra Winery for lunch Christmas Eve and enjoyed an excellent meal with delicious wines. I had salmon with salad, Deen a hamburger with the best chips ever and Dey, Deen’s friend from Kyabram, had a vegetable stack. It was cool on the shaded elevated verandah overlooking vineyards and rolling hills.
Dey has a dog, Mala, with her, and he has been delightful to have around, but it means that Dey cannot go into National Parks. On Christmas day, Deen and I had a stuffing pie that I made. It was was very tasty and followed by a Christmas pudding with Brandy Butter that I also made. The remains of the stuffing pie.
Yesterday we went to Corryong along the Murray River Road that follows the Murray most of the way and you get good views over the river to the Alps most of the time.
Corryong is home to the grave of Jack Riley who was Banjo Patterson’s Man from Snowy River. He was born in Ireland in 1841 and died at Tom Groggin in 1914. There is also a wonderful sculpture of a mountain horseman in the main street.
On the way back, Deen and I walked to the Bluff Falls in Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park. It was a scenic drive through the park and the falls were quite impressive by Victorian standards.
Tomorrow we hope to get some rain, which may cool things down a bit, bit sick of the continuous hot weather.
Looks great Russ. All the best to you both for Xmas and have a wonderful New Year.
xx
Thanks Barb, I guess you are recovering from the mass invasion of Christmas day. All the best to you nall for Christmas and the new year, let’s hope it’s a good one. Russ xx
Thanks for sharing, Russ. What a relaxing Christmas you have had, and the perfect way to spend it this year. Sending our love and best wishes to you for the rest of your trip and further into 2017. David and Elizabeth x
Thanks David and Elizabeth, all the best to you both for a great 2017 Russ xx
Hi Russ and Dean
Sounds like another wonderful trip for you both and I am envious of your new found cooking skills Russ. It’s great that you found plenty of things to keep you busy during your first Christmas without Marg. We are sending all our love to you both and look forward to catching up when we get back from our first big adventure/challenge in our van on 21st Jan. Barry and Rhon xx
Sounds like a wonderful way to have spent Christmas, and a Happy New Year to you!
Thanks Rhon, it was wet today so we did a few cryptic crosswords and that was good. I hope your trip to Eden goes well. It will be good to catch up. Lots of love Russ xx
It was Chris. All the best to you both for the new year, it’s got to be better than 2016. Russ xx