FORTYEIGHTH DAY – WEDNESDAY 25TH AUGUST
We had some fruit damper for breaky with cuppas, packed up and left Silverton at eight am. We went into Broken Hill and first went to see ‘The Living Desert’ – but first we had to get a key from the info centre, which we did. We drove up to the first gate, unlocked it, drove through, then closed the gate. Drove a bit further and then another gate, the same. We continued up a windy steep narrow road up the hill, to the top. We then nearly got blown away by the wind while we walked around the top to view the big rock sculptures which have been carved by artist from all around the world. Then we continued back through the gates, stopping to view the beautiful display of Sturt Dessert Peas growing on the side of the hill – they are so magnificent, and then off back to Broken Hill. We then went and checked out the Pro Hart Gallery and then into the town centre. Took the key back to info centre to get our $20 deposit and then went and checked out some galleries of which there are many. I love all the old houses here in Broken Hill – it is a pretty old town and full of interesting buildings and history. We decided not to go on another mine tour as we figured it would be much the same only for silver. By about 2.30 pm we had view enough galleries and seen enough painters (well Graeme had, I could just keep going with the viewing of paintings) we travelled towards Menindee. On the way we saw quite a few emus and their babies and a big red kangaroo just standing not far from the road. We are actually camped on the Darling River just before Menindee. We found a spot near a very old river red gum. It looks like it could tell a story or two. When we sat down by our fire the gum had this look about it. We could see a face within the bark and felt the old tree had definitely been before. This site is where Burke and Wills the explorers had set up camp before splitting their group – one of Burke and Wills and a few others who went discovering north and never came back and another group who stayed here on the Darling River for a year, waiting for their return. So you can imagine the old gum had certainly seen a thing or two. I watched the sun go down over the Menindee Lakes and then watched the moonrise over another part of the lake. I think it looks like a full moon tonight – it is amazing. We cooked our vegies on the fire again and had crumbed lamb cutlets. We got to have toasted marshmallows tonight after the sprinkling of rain passed. We got a bit nervous when the rain began since that rain experience in Coober Pedy but we are all ready packed just in case the rain gets worse and we have to get out fast. I don’t think it will be as bad here though as there isn’t the bull dust like at Coober Pedy – but once bitten twice shy!