This is the final section of our loop through The Wimmera and The Mallee Regions of Victoria. We only needed to pass through Patchewollock, Walpeup and Ouyen on our way through to Red Cliffs Caravan Park. Following the caravan service we travelled on to The Merbein Common. While there, we had planned to meet up with Mick and Bev and camp beside the Murray River for the final time on this trip. As rain was threatening, we were only going to stay one night. We thought that the rain was going to be the following day but it came early, fortunately only reasonably lightly. Even so, we were doing a fair amount of slipping and sliding moving up to the 'all weather track' from our river bank camp site. Heavier rain was predicted later that day, if we had stayed any longer we would have been stuck in river side clay for many days.
This is the most obvious sight as you drive into Patchewollock. The sign refers to last years festival, it hasn't been upgraded as yet, but I am led to believe there will be a festival in 2014.
This is the remainder of the Main Street of Patchewollock, although there is a Post Office General Store at the far end of the street. (behind me) The Hotel Proprietor is the Prime Organiser for the Music Festival and the hotel is booked out already. It's caravans and tents for anybody else.
The Mallee is home to The Mallee Fowl. These two specimens are thriving in the environment. A typical mallee fowl mound is situated between the two here. The mounds are usually 5 metres across and about 1 metre high.
Behind the Mallee Fowl display is the rail line, silos and not much else.
Walpeup, on the Ouyen to Pinnaroo Road is another very small Mallee town.
Walpeup does have a very good RV camp. Well grassed and good amenities for a nominal fee.
There is an excellent veteran's retreat caravan park at Dareton. We stayed there for a week last year. It is available to veterans and friends traveling with them.
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