Tuesday 16th December - Swan Hill to Echuca

Rear brake is metal onto metal - all the rear pad lining gone kaput!!!!

I thought of the scene in the "grapes of Wrath" where they had to fix the big end on their engine half way to California - surely we can make it 150k with a stuffed rear brake. Course we can.

We rode over, took it easy and only had to use the front brake twice from start to finish. You said so!!! Well we have thise modern thing called integrated brakes - apply the front and THE COMPUTER says "Oh you can't use your front without some rear brake as well, I will make everything much safer - and use your stuffed rear brake as well" - WE wont be buying a new BMW ever again - or until they give one the option of a basic bike without 2 million computer interventions to go wrong - Wow Mal is getting old - soon we will be trading in the V6 Nissan on an EH Holden.

WE booked in to a nice motel in central Echuca - so we can walk everywhere while we wait for the new brake pads to arrive - so three nights to cool our heels and sort of have a holiday. Should be good.

We went shopping, watched a video, had a nice BBQ next to the Motel pool - what luxury - and the room has this new thing called "air conditioning" and not a single possum got into our food box as we slept a glorious night's rest.

Wednesday 17th December - Echuca

Mal went out for a morning stroll to see the river at dawn -

Someone else slept in and missed the little ducks that swam only feet from Mal's feet in the river as it swirled by.

Really it is all about this river - no river would mean no farming - no farming and really all that is left is tourism and services which support those who directly or indirectly serve the rural industry - no mining - no wind farm - not much but this mighty river which is suffering a death of a thousand cuts - but really how hard would it be to wind back 150 years of gradual utilization of this amazing river.

We walked down town after breakfast and found our way to the museum at the old port - we don't do lots of museums and we are not saying this one is better than most but as our holiday mindset flourished we enjoyed the experience, had pizza and beer for lunch and then cruised up and down the river in a paddle steamer - dreaming of bygone days as Mal ranted about how UGLY houseboats are and Sue rolled her eyes and thought luscious thoughts of how he could be made to walk the plank to shut him up.

Back in the motel room, Sue sat on the loo and took a while to work out why she was feeling little cold splashes - then she looked up to see water coming out of the light fitting - she was able to stem the flow by calling Rachael who got the people up stairs to stop over flowing their spa bath - did I mention that spa thing - Crocodile Dundee - would work it out - this little swimming pool with bubbles.

Oh well now the computer is getting wet - will get back to you when the water has cooled down. Love holidays - "pass the wine please honey."