April 23-26: Houseboat Haven on the Murray River

April 23 -26: It was another long weekend in Melbourne. My, how the Australians LOVE their long weekends! When in Australia, do as the Australians do, and travel! And, since we are

(here to stay) for the year,

we told ourselves that we (can do) with yet another excursion driving three hours north out of Melbourne to the town of Echuca. Echuca may well be the houseboat capital of Victoria, promising

(good times) with lots of (cruisin' and boozin'). Of course we would not imbibe in any

(moonshine),

but we could enjoy the (thirsty work) of putting a little amount of

(wine down)! The town itself is a quaint place of 900 people situated along the placid Murray River - just a (touch of Paradise)! What better way to enjoy a

(stressless) weekend than by floating leisurely down the river on a houseboat with (sudden comfort)?

Here we could have a ('slack' attack) and (relax a) bit. It was an enticing opportunity to do something "so relaxing" on the (rich river)!

But then we realized that we would really have a (blown budget) if we would do the houseboat venture, putting us into an even greater

(overdraft) than we are in currently. So we scrapped the idea of sailing down the river in an (executive 'suite'). Who needs (just another toy)? After all, life is not all (froth and bubbles)!

We settled instead upon a leisurely cruise up the river on the lowly PS Canberra Paddlesteamer!

Karin even got to steer the boat!

En route we passed other paddlesteamers

and stopped for lunch at a winery down stream. The scenery was most beautiful, even though the weather was cool and overcast.

Check out some of the wildlife we encountered on the cruise - including the canine skippers on one houseboat!