DAY 3

Week 1

ECHUCA (Victoria, AUS)

Friday December 22nd, 2017

TODAYS MILEAGE – 5 miles or 1,027 kilometres
TRIP MILEAGE – 1,529 miles or 2,461 kilometres



After two full days in the driver’s seat - I hung up the car keys, wanting nothing to do with sitting in a vehicle, so I decided to 'foot falcon' it around Echuca and check the joint out.

My first stop was to the reception of the Echuca Nirebo Motel, to speak with a friendly staff that help me out yesterday and received not only some recommendations, but also some handy local knowledge.

I spent the first part of the morning wandering down through the historic area surrounding the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre. As I was too early for most of the exhibits to open I took the time to stroll along the riverfront with camera in hand and taking it all in. After about an hour or so I meandered across Hopwood Gardens to the National Holden Motor Museum and spent a couple of hours taking in the some of Australia’s automotive industry history.

Whilst in the museum, I struck up a conversation with the owners Mark and Tony and come to find out, that if I went over to the riverboat dock I’d be able to climb aboard the MV Mary Anne and cruise Australia's longest waterway - the Murray River. If I purchased lunch while onboard, the 2½ to 3 hour cruise along the 2,508 kilometre (1,558 mile) river was included. Alternatively, I could do a lunch cruise that was an 90 minutes for $75.00 ..... no-brainer for which one I chose.

With me feet crying foul and with no real place to be or agenda, I pulled up a stump at the Echuca Hotel's public bar and spent a couple of hours chatting with the locals, who had obviously finished the work week off by having an early Friday.

After a quick "4S" - shit, shower, shave & shampooch, I literally walked across the street to the Sunago taverna/restaurant. As I was dining alone, I looked to be more of an inconvience to the waitstaff, as I was placed in a back corner and literally forgotten about. I had to ask several times just to get a drink or a menu. I reckon the $130.00 bill for an entrée, main course and a desert with a couple of adult beverages - seemed a tad excessive for what the meal was.

Similar to last night I wanted back over to the American Hotel and caught up with the same guys that I was in a 'shout' with last night. All in all, it was pretty good day exploring.



• ECHUCA ~ Port Of Echuca (Victoria, AUS)
• ECHUCA ~ National Holden Motor Museum (Victoria, AUS)
• ECHUCA ~ M.V. Mary Ann Cruising (Victoria, AUS)
• ECHUCA ~ Sunago Taverna/Restaurant (Victoria, AUS)