Tailem Bend

At the weekend we continued our mission to experience Australia.

Taking the opportunity of having the same day off, which doesn't happen often, we jumped in the car. Having been told that we can drive to such places as Melbourne in only eight hours, we thought we would drive for a few hours and see how far we could get, and what wonders we would happen upon.

It was a great drive. We chatted, listened to music and I played my new favourite application for my iPhone "Words With Friends", which is basically scrabble. The weather was kind to us too.

But then we came upon a sign that said,

"  No Emergency Care For 180 Kilometers"

Call me a wimp, but I suggested we should turn back. We weren't really prepared for a long journey, didn't have any supplies and I have heard too many stories of people (usually dumb British people) getting into difficulties in remote areas of Australia.

So we turned around and stopped for a rest at the last town we went through, called Tailem Bend.

They had a great Subway (the sandwich shop)!

Tailem, so I have been told, is a Railway Town, with people settling there, initially, as the railway line was first being established. The town was proclaimed in 1887. It sits on a bend of the famous Murray River, Australia's longest river. Which may be partly why it is called Tailem Bend. A lady I know also told me it got that name because people who used to move cattle across the river, would steer them using their tails - Tailem Bend.

It is a very small place, and I felt we had stepped back in time. There was a unique charm, and I have the taste now to see even more of rural Australia.

The pictures of us were taken at the "edge of town", which was about 4 minutes drive from the other "edge of town". We took some nice pictures, and some that were not so easy on the eye too. For example, I had climbed on the wall you see in the pictures with "Tailem Bend" emblazoned across it, and sprawled out over it, in as sultry a pose as an overweight man with a beard can produce.

I even had passing drivers beeping their horns at me in (I choose to believe) support and approval. I won't inflict those images upon you. In fact, I must go and burn them.

Now!