We awoke to a light breakfast prepared by Dad, and immediately turned on the ABC for the Boxing Day Cricket Test. We sat outside listening to the radio, and watched as the caravans rolled in - many of them 40 years old- and families set up camp with all manner of things - large barbeques, fridges, bikes, wardrobes, cabannas. Many families bring their own ski-boat - and it looks worth more than everything else they bring! The river is busy with boats and jets...

Not too early a start to xmas day thankfully. Eamon woke first and ran out to the car to get his santa sack, and lay the 6 gift wrapped items on the bed. He patiently waited for Renee to wake up, but knowing that could be 2 hours away, he gently woke her and she excitedly grabbed her santa sack and the unwrapping began. After a few minor pressies were opened the Santa presents were unwrapped - Renee delighted with her iPhone, and Eamon the same with his iPad...

It's great to be able to stay in 1 place for a few days, so we can sleep in!! We had bacon & eggs for breakfast on the waters edge. It's so peaceful, with lots of ducks and other wildlife. We go for a drive to Berri - home of much of the fruit we eat. On the way we drop into the Alba Cafe at Martin's Bend for the usual coffee and juices - this place has lots of house boats. Next stop is Aggies Fruit Stall - which has been there for a couple of gener...

First up we all had freshly hand squeezed orange juices, as we had 12 oranges to get rid of before entering the Fruit Fly Zone today. We finally departed around 9.30am with another lengthy drive ahead of us. We'd heard about the Hay Plains, and they were just as Dad described - flat plains everywhere for a couple of hundred kms. Not a great road, so we had a stop at Balranald for coffee, then onto Mildura for a nice relaxing lunch in the park (with more frui...