The Darling River Run

Bone shaking, teeth rattling, red dirt encrusted track and that was just the road in! We left Menindee on a romantic journey called the Darling River Run. We were headed from Menindee to Wilcannia before the long journey north to Queensland via the inland road system. Well that was the plan.  We found an overnight campsite not far down the road on a property called Viewmont where Michael fell in love with the trees and dug his butt firmly into the bowels of the River Darling for what was to be five days of arty exploration. Surrounded by trees, algae invested river and a range of fauna I spent much of my time taking photo’s and looking at short term contracts to boost my flagging brain synapses.

As the paintings began to take form, so did the bees begin to take an interest along with the flies, multiple cows and birds of every type. The local land holder came for a visit and we found that our plans to travel the length of the darling would be thwarted. Apparently just over the main road, 5 caravans had been hauled out as flood waters covered the razor rock road, bursting tires as they went. New plan needed.

The place we were situated on was fascinating. Apparently a young man named Thomas Young died here at this very site in 1920 presumably by taking strychnine. The story goes that the local undertakers ingested a few beverages whilst digging his grave and decided to cut off his head to take back to Menindee for examination and in doing so dropped it in the river. The body was apparently buried without a head.  Eewwwww!!!

Onwards and upwards, a new contract role in North Queensland for me sees us high tailing once again on a road trip through northern NSW to Townsville.