Granny by Pushi around in Australia. Hermine Stampa-Rabe

surprised that they produce no collision in the winds.

      Now I can diminish my tent already much faster without wearing out myself. Between 6.30 and 7.00 am I leave as a rule my caravan park and start into the rising sun to my still approaching adventures.

      But after the fall which did it before Wirrula the Lowrider suspension has bent a little bit to the right. But the front wheel can still roll in between without difficulties. I hope it will stay!

      From my caravan park I must drive 2.5 km back again up to the crossroad to Morgan. But a level and longer gradient joins this again. If nothing more puts out to me. My legs have gained strength. In addition, my bicycle owns a miraculous "swimming ring" in the middle in front.

      After both first crossings of my today's passes it goes down in a delightfully wide valley. I already knew about it and am glad about it. Now I roll with speed of 28-35 km/h along. It is a being intoxicating feeling! Thus I had fancied for every day. But to have rather such a day than nobody.

      It's sunny from the blue sky cheering up down and would like to accompany me on my today's tour in the Riverland. On both sides there grows the Bluebush which the sheep eat here. This Bluebush maybe grows up to a meter and shines silvery-light blue. I come long time through these areas. All together seven kangaroos, six emus and a fox jump there within sight.

      Strong sights! Kangaroos of Australia are the animals which I search here and would like to see unconditional! Here on this endless and almost extinct distance they are present. Unfortunately, three new also from cars killed kanguroos lie aside of the street, also one fox and what fascinates me mostly, a small owl.

      From his wing feathers I pull out for me on both sides in each case four swing feathers with the big, white spot. They may carry me ideally along the highways. I present myself to be now a big owl which spreads out its wonderful wings and flies along the highway.

      After total 90 km I reach by ferry Morgan my today's caravan park whose camp sites lie in the roasting sunshine.

      Today is my birthday. My Klaus-Otto, my kids and many friends have congratulated me by computer. Indeed, here thus I am physically alone, but connected, however, by computer with my friends. This is a very pleasant and heart-refreshing feeling. Many thanks.

      Now it becomes time to set up my tent and push my bicycle on the River shore where completely broad and wonderfully soft, thick and springy lawn stripes are available for the tents. The sun lights up the Murray-River and with him the ferry which swims lastingly from a river side to the other in strong baggage trains. Nearby young people play. In the river the children who are protected by an adult have a bath.

      When I have built up my tent, finally, of course also my base and my thin sleeping bag stretched out, suddenly it has been getting dark outdoors. What luck that I went down early enough.

      The young people have also disappeared in their sleeping holes.

      In the Murray River land

       22.01.2013: Morgan – Waikerie: 38 km

      Well slept I awake only at 6.00 am. Outdoors there laughs the bird Laughing Hans. Today I would like to cycle only to Waikerie, because it is too hot for the long distance from here to Renmark. It could become hot again. Only at 8.00 am I leave the not guarded camping site below here and take position for the ferry.

      The short distance down onto the ferry is very steep. 20 m before I begin to cycle very slow. It works good. I am the onliest guest on the ferry. The ferryman wishes me a save tour, when I pass him and push my bicycle up the small hill at the riverside.

      No sign stands in the road. I believe that I am here anyhow wrong. But to me was told that I shall continue my ride on this side. Again the morning sun shines from the cloudless sky. Thus I cycle further with a nasty feeling. Ordinarily I should have gone eastwards. However, by the shade of the trees I see that I move westwards. On my map I can recognize a small bend. Thus it goes on.

      And really, after a long, very wavy journey I see the small sign Waikerie. I am correct on tour. If I come there very early, I will consider if I can cycle further on.

      In the beginning I cross vacant and wild scenery, later I find wine plantations. This looks very good here! But if I remember of South Tirol in Italia and their wine plantations, these vineyard owners have no notion of the fact that the wild desires with many sheets must be cut off, so that the strength goes only to the grapes and the sun to the berries. The wine plantations pile up. Those of which I take a photo are red bunches of grapes. Later the wine plantations remove in orange and then grapefruit plantations.

      Now I reach the Murray River again and see him quite deeply on the bottom to the left flowing through wooded area. The Murray River is the lifeline for whole South Australia. All people and animals here are dependent on it.

      However, the plantations are not close to each other, but are interrupted by wild areas.

      Suddenly I discover by the first tree row some young people and an adult who do something and talk. This is interesting for me. I turn round, push my bicycle on the other side of the street, put it down there, take my camera, go to them and ask: „May I take photos here?“

      „Yes, you may do it. Where are you from?“

      „From Germany.“

      On it the adult asks in the young round: „Who of you is from Germany?“

      These are three persons: a young girl and two young men. All persons here clean freshly garlic onions from the roots and the dirty external cover.

      First I go to the girl who smiles friendly and inviting at me. We both talk excellently in German. I take a photo of her and promise to send this photo to her parents. Likewise I do it with the both diligent young men.

      The men tell me, that they are working here since the last year and wish to earn much money, to move as tourists the last weeks through Australia. But they earn so very few money. All will go away by paying for their room and meals.

      I comfort them and mean: „Soon the grapefruits and the wine are ripe with which you can earn much more money.“

      They smile obsessedly. They came from Germany to Sydney, from where the work successively is assigned to them. But they will hold out certainly! Thus I cycle further.

      In a service station I interrupt my journey. I have a longing for ice-cold drinking chocolate. With the businessman's woman and her granddaughter I come to the conversation, because I carry my bicycle helmet on the head. That what I am telling to them about my tour here in Australia is very interesting for both ladies.

      From the 70-years-old lady the grandparents came from Germany. Unfortunately, I forget to ask them where they lived there and why they have emigrated at that time. These both ladies can neither speak German nor understand it.

      And when I tell them about the cut-off head which one people found on the beach of Rottnest Island, they tell me that it was a 10-year-old girl who found this head in a bag. Later one found out that this man was full of drugs. This lady does not know any more. Thus I leave this gas station and have to cycle only 10 km to Waikerie. Every now and then I see to my left hand on the bottom the Murray River.

      I still create these last kilometers and cycle on a very nice caravan park which unfortunately is more expensive, also $ 10 more than the others. I received under high trees a grass place and have put up my tent immediately. Now I am answering all my birthday congratulations at a board in the laundry and write.

      

       At the foreign workers in the backpacker hostel

       23.01.2013: Waikerie – Renmark: 90 km

      In the middle of the night I awake again from the cold. This time I do not become warm again. At 5.00 am I get up tiredly, roll up my base and find out that my sleeping-bag is sweated in the area of my feet. To be protected