We have thoroughly enjoyed our first day in Mildura getting spoilt rotten by Rosa and family. While we did manage to convince Rosa that we were quite comfortable sleeping in the caravan, she wouldn't agree to us eating out there. So, from the moment we arrived, in true Italian style and to the boys' delight, she would insist we all "mangia, mangia, mangia."
The boys were delighted at breakfast on our first morning when they were offered white bread toast. And it wasn't even anybody's birthday!!!
We relaxed around the kitchen table for most of the morning, chatting and drinking espresso. Later we took a drive around town. We stopped in at Mildara Winery where Andrea worked night shift as a cellar hand many years ago (read twenty five).
The winery has since changed hands four times and is now known as Australian Vintage Merbein Packaging, but is still producing quality wines. I'm guessing their staff no longer get paid in cash though, and probably don't receive a complimentary bottle of wine with each pay. Some things are just too good to last!
When the boys had blown off some steam at the adjacent playground, we headed off to Jaycee Park where we grabbed a coffee and met up with Frank and Anthony. We were joined by more family - Jonathon and Carla (Frank's grown up kids) for lunch at a local café.
Next we headed to Rio Vista, and here we were joined by Carla's young sister Chelsea. I swear this town is full of Piscitellis!
While I went for a look inside the historic house with its original furnishings and fittings, the boys expended some energy under the magnificently flowering jacaranda trees.
Despite Rosa's concerns that we would not be home in time to put on the promised lamb roast, we made a final stop at Lock 11 and the Mildura Weir.
Before settlement, the Murray River ebbed and flowed and sometimes flooded or dried up completely. Its lack of reliability caused problems for early settlers, who relied on the river for transporting cargo such as wheat, wool, wine grapes and citrus to market.
In 1914 (somewhat belatedly as river traffic had declined with the opening of the railway in 1903) the Commonwealth, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australian governments signed an agreement to manage the river's waters by building locks, weirs and storage areas. Construction of the Mildura Weir began in 1923 and Lock 11 was completed in 1927. Designed to provide pools for irrigation, the lock now allows paddleboats, houseboats,and recreational craft to cruise the river year-round regardless of water levels. The difference between the river levels upstream and downstream of the Weir is normally 3.6 metres.
Fletcher thought he'd add to the downstream level.
As it turns out we should have listened to Rosa. By the time we'd wandered across the island to look at the Weir, then done some speed shopping, it was after 6pm. Needless to say it was a very late roast lamb dinner.
Late but great!
The little boys went off to get ready for bed, while the big boys helped clean up the kitchen.
Rosa & (grandson) Anthony
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