Darling River

We spent some time on the Darling at Bourke today. We floated past old Coolibah trees that have had their roots exposed by fast-flowing floodwaters, under the beautiful old Bourke bridge that was designed to lift for passing river craft, around snags and past flotillas of pelicans.

Early explorers' reports about the Darling were negative and positive but it later served the early settlers well for many decades as a means of transporting wool and other produce to markets, and importing goods they needed. Unfortunately it was abused in many ways and is still recovering.

Coolibahs beside the Darling River

Old Bourke bridge

Old Bourke bridge

Exposed roots on the riverbank

The Mitchell Highway

Cunnamulla, and it's raining again. The forecast is good but there are a lot of roads closed. We may need to change our plans again.

Yesterday as we drove east then north in sunshine we were entertained by the changing scenery, by numerous Black-shouldered Kites and Nankeen Kestrels wheeling, diving and propping to hover, by emus in numbers as well as kangaroos and goats and by meeting up with the same travellers in wayside stops and the bakery at Bourke.

At our lunch stop today, north of Bourke, a Spotted Bowerbird perched just above my head and stayed long enough for me to have a really good look. Pied Butcherbirds called all the time we were there and a pair of Pink Cockatoos preened each other. The Fairy-wrens were all in brown plumage and I couldn't tell whether they were Splendid or Variegated.