Cobram-Barooga, Echuca and Barham

Days 47 to 58!!!!!

We travelled to Cobram Barooga Golf Resort.
At Cobram we had lunch at The Beach Cafe at Thompsons Beach! Just like being on the coast!

Thompsons Beach Cobram

The Beach Cafe!!

We also went fishing at Wattle Tree Beach (on the Murray).
Peter now calls Sheena Madam Carp (Sheena caught 2!!!!)

Rerigging on the Murray (at Cobram)

The changing landscape on the Murray

This is how fishing is done!

We played 2 games of golf at Cobram Barooga. We played both the Old and West courses – lovely to play.  Each hole is individual -lots of doglegs.
Sheena didn’t play well!  Pete did most of the time and consequently won convincingly both games.
Golf result after these games! Sheena 7 Peter 6

The Winning Putt on the Old Course

At Echuca (for the second time!) stayed at a caravan park with a great location – right on the Murray.

Peter with 'a family of friends' at campsite. River Murray behind.

Had numerous swims in the pool – great!
Pete attempted to fish – got rid of all the worms.

Went for a kayak up the Murray -no fish caught but a great pedal/paddle.

We are 1716km from the mouth of the Murray!

Feral goat on the Murray.

Kayaking!!

Rich River golfing

Played Golf at Rich River in the comp. Peter had 41 points and I had 34. Peter was runner-up in the comp!  Golf score is now 7 apiece.
We played the East Course.  Thoroughly enjoyed it.  Pot bunkers appear on a few of the holes.  Sheena discovered some but Peter only went in 1 bunker all day!!!

Torrumbarry Weir on the Murray downstream from Echuca

The 'fish ladder' at the Torrumbarry Weir

We went to Torrumbarry Weir on the Murray. The history about the building of both the old and new weirs was fascinating. The use of ‘fish ladders’ to allow fish to swim upstream past the weir is ingenious.

Morrisons Winery Echuca

Friendly wildlife at Morrisons Winery

Had Brunch at Morrisons Winery. YUMMY! On the Murray River – great setting! Lots of wildlife around and we purchased 3 Litres of a lovely Muscat. You put it in the freezer and have as a “slushy”.

The BT 50!

Got a new car!!,!! A Mazda BT 50. We were having some issues with the Pathfinder.

Moved on to Barham. The car went great.  Hot at Barham with not a lot to do other than golf!!

Played Barham Golf Course.

Sheena hitting 'over' the "Gallipoli" bunker at Barham. Parred the hole!!!

The 'Gallipoli' bunker in perspective. That is Peter just above it!!!

Great holes!  Enjoyed the game even though Sheena got convincingly beaten by Peter.  Similar score to the way Jason Day got beaten this morning by John Senden!  It was hot playing.
Golf result is now Peter 8 Sheena 7!!!!!!!!!  Sheena had better start getting her act together.

Moving on to Swan Hill – still on the Murray.

Cohuna and Yarrawonga-Lake Mulwala

Cohuna (The golf course here is the one Stuart Appleby grew up on)
Very hot here.
Caravan site is great – on the water.

Sunrise at Cohuna

Pete attempted to fish – no luck.
The second day here was not as hot as the day before. Washing day + golf?  Played Cohuna – blew a gale!  But the day was much cooler so the golf game was enjoyable. Peter had +4 and won the mens comp. Sheena had square and won the ladies comp!!!!

Winners are grinners!

Golf result is now Sheena 7 Peter 3

We then travelled to Lake Mulwala.

Lake Mulwala

At a caravan park on the lake. Great views.

View from our caravan

Sheena hurt her hand while taking the stabiliser bars off. Very very painful – but it ended up not too bad to play golf later in the week!
This is a great location!!!!   We decided to stay here a week.

Sunrise from our caravan at Lake Mulwala

As we are right on the lake we kayaked and fished. (no luck with the fishing!)

Fishing - the weir is behind.

It is also flat so we did a couple of bike rides.
We did a fishing charter down the  river near the weir.

Fishing on the Murray!!

I didn’t catch anything and Peter caught a cod trout (protected species – so he threw back).

Sunset over the weir on the Murray

Golf at Yarrawonga.
Great golf course – played the Murray Course, designed by Peter Thomson.

The first hole!

Bunkers not that good.
Pete had 34 and Sheena had 27. Pete also won the putting comp before the game.
Games are now Sheena 7 Peter 4.

At the end of the week while packing up, Peter, in attempting to get the correct leverage to remove a difficult tent peg, BROKE Norma’s hammer!!!!

Nanna's hammer!!!

All in all – a great week!

Echuca

Skipped to Echuca as Will is playing at Rich River in a Trainee 4 round tournament.
The scenery on the way was ever changing. Lots of fruit in some areas, with cows/sheep in others. Not as many wineries but they still appear occasionally.
After the heat of Howlong we were very lucky with the week at Echuca – cooler. (It rained on the first day!). Very lucky for Will who was expecting HOT weather that didn’t eventuate.
We did an ‘Eco Cruise’ up the Murray (through ‘The Narrows’). Murray moves at 8km/h here because of the narrow width (normally moves at 4km/h). Learned that trees in the river are a positive thing – they are actually ADDING them in this area – it helps the river become more healthy!

Trees in river at "The Narrows"

Paddlesteamers at Echuca

The Port precinct Echuca

Walked around the Port precinct. Great! Did some wine and port tasting -delicious. Bought white port and fudge. Loved ALL the wines !

The Murray River near campsite (notice the 10ft drop to river!)

This is the life!!!

At caravan park went for a fish on the Murray. Pete caught his first ever Murray Cod!! Catch and release as it was around 50+cm long. Needed to be 60cm. But Pete VERY happy.

First ever Murray Cod!!!!!!!!

It was great to see Will. This was a 4 round tournament – he missed the cut due to 82 to start BUT then had 1 over, even, even to be equal 2nd in the sweepstakes – took home some $.

Will at Rich River