Our journey across western Victoria to South Australia and the Barossa Valley was delayed a month due to severe rains and flooding in that area.

By the time we travelled the towns were clear of flooding, the countryside a verdant green (unusual for that area at most times) and there was much water lying in paddocks. Birds, water birds and frogs were very happy. Farmers, invariably hard to please, were a little worried about the muddy paddocks and Victorians were being warned of excessive growth and the promise of a very hot summer providing a increased danger of bushfires.

The River Murray, the great river border between much of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia was full and flowing, a good thing in the opinion of most

I was worried about snakes ..