Back to Victoria

Day 27 and we launched into Mildura, Victoria. It is a relatively quick run from Broken Hill to Mildura, but we encountered the worst locusts that we have seen since leaving Longreach. The locusts here aren't as big as Longreach, but they are in bigger proportions and are making much more of a mess of everything. We actually washed the front of the van and the ute at Broken Hill because they had gotten into the brake discs and under the ute and they absolutely STANK! Although we never intended on driving about with a shiny ute and van we just couldn't stand it any longer. Especially when the ute was parked right outside our bedroom window! Yuk! I have mixed emotions about our trip now: - on one hand, I am extremely jealous of travellers that I speak to in various van parks that are just starting their trips, but on the other hand, I am looking forward to getting home. I am slowing down physically (especially after the mine tour yesterday.....cripes!) and I know that I don't have long to go before the baby is born. But I still wish that we were only just starting out. Distance travelled today: 295kms.

Day 28 was a bit of a relaxed day about Mildura. We took the kids to this placed called "Snakes and Ladders" which is sort of like a big outdoor playground with what can only be described as rugged equipment. No soft edges on any of this stuff! The kids had a ball, although much of the equipment was too big for Biddy. But she coped.

Mark on the Tarzan swing

There was this bloody big slide which both Mark and Tom freaked out about going up (but Mark was eventually brave enough to go up....probably thinking about the ragging I would give him if he didn't!!!), a flying fox which Mark almost crashed off, a smaller flying fox which Biddy did crash off, but Tom thought was just brilliant, plus various slides, seesaws and swings.

the BIG slide

Mark going up: and holding on for dear life!!

Zipping down!

The visit ended with a game of mini golf, but with 2 kids of whom neither possesses any concentration skills, it was a bit of a waste of time, because I spent much of the round keeping them off other people's fairways! But Mark wants me to tell you all that he got 3 holes in one in a row!!

Greg Norman and Carly Webb they are NOT!

In the afternoon, I took Biddy to a local shopping centre for a spot of girly stuff, while Mark took Tom for a boys hour to a local go-kart track. Tom thought it was fantastic - they went in a double kart and they guy said that he had not seen the double one go around the track so fast in a long time! Typical.

Day 29 and we were a bit foiled in our endeavours to do some touristy stuff. Firstly, we tried to go to the ten pin bowling alley, but it was closed for renovations. Then we went out to Orange World (yes...there actually is such a thing) but the next train tour wasn't going for another 1.5hrs and there wasn't much to do in the meantime. So we went to Lindemans winery, which the kids thought was as boring as hell. So back into town, we found an indoor wave pool, but this was also closed for renovations! Sheesh! In the end we bought the kids back to the van park and took them to the pool here, but honestly, it was like a block of ice had just melted. Although we all went in, none of us stayed in for very long. Much, MUCH too cold. Our swimming exploits for this trip are definitely over.

For those that are interested, this is me at 32 weeks and 4 days! Getting bigger every day.

32w 4d