Menindee

The 100 kms south from Broken Hill to Menindee was exactly how I imagined the Nullabor to look – a flat road with a whole lot of nothing going on. Boring didn’t begin to describe the low scrubby plain that went on for miles and miles. My only thought was “are we there yet?”

Our first real bit of fun was when we left the Copi Hollow Power boat club just a few k’s from our Menindee campsite. We were greeted by the friendliest, smelliest camels I think in Australia. Standing in the middle of the road, teeth bared into the biggest camely smile, our friendly escort decided it wanted to play. Cameras aloft both Michael and I couldn’t resist giving it a scratch despite the loathsomeness of its breath.  Apparently these are camels born and bred in the area and belong to a local who uses them in tourist season.   Tame as tame can be and a real surprise for the passer by.

Down the road we encounter the most amazing sight. The Menindee lake system is incredible. Acting as an overflow plain for the Murray/Darling river dam, it is covered in dead trees and toxic, cloudy waters.  We placed ourselves in a spot that allowed a view over Lake Pamamaroo – talk about an artist’s dream landscape.  Trees seemingly reach for the sky like sentient custodians of an extra-terrestrial world guarding the planet after a post-apocalyptic event.  Michael pulls out his drawing materials to start the process of getting himself back into professional mode more inspired by the trees than ever.

We stayed in this visually stimulating place for a week drawing, writing and generally observing the amazing lakescape.  Sunsets and sunrises starred here and a fire capped off the evenings’ entertainment throughout our stay. On our way out we stopped at the Menindee dam and found about 50 pelicans waiting with heads down for fish to run into the overflow.

Pelicans at Menindee Dam