Sth Africa to NZ to Deniliquin, NSW, Australia ( December 2012 to March 2013)

We left our yacht "Erica" safely berthed in Sth Africa and flew to NZ to be with family over Xmas and New Year.
Table mountain in Capetown is pretty impressive where we flew out of.

                                                                                                                                                        

We were delighted to be upgraded to Business class.. Thankyou Emirates!

After an enjoyable Xmas we headed to Cosset to do maintenance and renovations.
                                                                                                                                         
Eric will stay for 3 mths to give Cosset a facelift and spend some time with Kellie and his Mum.
I flew out of NZ in the New Year to start an 8wk midwifwey/nursing contract  in Deniliquin, NSW, Australia to boost the cruising funds.
I spent the night in the lovely Stamford Plaza Hotel in Sydney. Thanks  "Nurse at call"

An early flight took me to Albury where I spent several hours then took a coach to Deniliquin

Rail and coach terminal..Albury

Deniliquin is 280kms NW of Melbourne and 750kms SW from Sydney. The population is around 8000.
 It is situated on the Edward river a branch of the Murray river.. It is a major rice growing and farming area

Deniliquin Hospital

Maternity.... Where I work. .....There is around 100 births a year

Staff quarters

This walking and cycle way along the Edward river is very peaceful. In the hot weather we have been having it has been a popular place to swim. I enjoy a walk here every day

 Flocks of cockatoo and Galah dominate the skies coming in to roost in the gumtrees and they feed on the grain on the ground

This pretty little parrot was feeding on the grass outside the staff quarters

In the middle of town there is a very pretty park with some cool shady spots to sit and read a book
Thanks for the Kindle Ralph!

Deniliquin made it to the Guiness book of records in Oct 1999 where 2,839 Utes gathered in a muster on the plains and a festival is now held every labour day to celebrate their rural identity. A real Aussie icon. Apparently each year the numbers have increased to an overwhelming 10,000 plus and people come from all over the country for the weekend of music and festivities

A lagoon of the Edward river has been preserved in an area of red gums and bushland and there is a nice walking trail with picnic spots and seats along the way.  Kangaroos, possums, bats, tortoises, lizards, snakes and birds can be seen here.

Bron, another agency nurse and I had a great time floating down the river on blowup Lilos.
The wind predominantly blows in the same direction as the downstream current. From above the bridge to MacLeans beach is about 2km