Best Western Sandor's Motor Inn Mildura

... town, with large shopping centres and lots of shops. Marcus headed off to get a haircut, while I updated my blog.<br><br>Having tea at the RSL Club tonight.<br><br>Tommorrow is a longer ride of about 160kms to Balranald - we will cross into NSW, and our forth state on this ride.<br><br>We hit the big 3,000kms today!! Only just over 1,000 to go - boy, doesn't time fly when your having fun!

After another look at Mad Max's Car and Silverton we headed south through the saltbush to Mildura. We were all very excited when we hit border into Victoria. We set up camp on the banks of the very picturesque Murray River and went into town to see a lock and a paddleboat.

Hilary writes:<br><br>Dear Friends<br>We started our trip by going to Bendigo and stayed at a friends house. We camped in their front garden. Next we went to Mildura and stayed in a campsite called River Road campsite. The River Road camp is right next to the Murray River. We went to Lake Mungo for a day trip. We climbed huge sand dunes and Alec found some emu foot prints.<br>Hilary<br><br> We departed Bendigo ...

... was thrown about by numerous people, namely Dad and Moni and Fluffy had gone into a grump at the news that he no longer would be taken. A photo opportunity occured when Dad designed a new transportation system and put all the kids in the wheelbarrow. Wednesday was the night of the 'Aussie Tea' which will be remembered forever as the night of the tripod. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed taking on ...

... is rather dry). Once it got dark, the nightlife came out, spiders that glisten in the beam of your torch and a scorpion that is larger than life an inch long. Fortunately they stayed out of the caravan and the car. It was a lovely quiet campsite with lots of serenity.

... In the end, if he wanted to spend my birthday with me, he'd have to rearrange his studies to make the 10 day trip in mid-semester. Thankfully he decided to come! We are both very curious at how we'll travel together in foreign countries. We have different styles, different interests and different energy levels. We've travelled locally in Tasmania and Northern Territory together, which has gone well, but I'm sure it's going to be a whole different kettle ...

... we drove back to the Rangers Station and heading towards Top Hut which we thought may just be a hut. Nope no hut! So we headed on 47km along some diverse dirt roads watching huge eagles swooping on fresh road kill by the side of the road. Then we hit a tar road for a much more pleasant trip back to Mildura via The Big Orange where we purchased the tasty oranges we have ever eaten!

... which is about 5kms or so from Mildura. Irymple is really quite small, there is a small row of shops, a post office, pizza place and a fast food shop, in other words most things a backpackers needs to survive. Apart from that there's really nothing apart from houses. Mildura is bigger than I expected, they call it a city which makes me laugh, it actually still a small town but I was expecting something even smaller. It's has a town centre ...

... beckons - still the boyracers wont be out tonight will they? We get chucked out of the tv lounge at 10pm after catching up with a few folks back home on msn.nice to hear from you ! Dinner tonight was thai chicken wings and stirfry- smelt better than it tasted! Back at the tent things arnt so bad now its dark! But the revheads are back too- wheelies in the rain has just got to be tried!

Beautiful sunny morning. Great shower and dressed. Port (Melbourne) busy this morning - will dock about 7:20am. Saw Searoad Mersey or Tamar? following us in, also other huge container ships. Station Pier has been improved since last there. Had a breakfast stop outside Sunbury. Very cool. Drove to Bendigo then on to ...