Countless tiny black flies, like excited nieces and nephews kiss me all over the face as I groggily greet the sultry dawn.
Lockington, 25 kms from Echuca.
‘Lovely camping, showers, bbq’s etc’ $10..’
Heat like no other, the locals go on to say … and here we are in the thick of it , doing it on the cheap.
and ‘holy hell’ sufferin’ heat stress. mmm.
nowhere near the extent of the 19 th century explorers who I seem to be honouring constantly of late in my thoughts. O the horrors Burke and Wills endured during their mammoth effort must not be disparaged with comparisons to 21st century, wanderlusters, Wurke and Bills.
The male of this partnership currently and understandably curses and swears at the infinite thirsty incessant irritating flies inevitably procuring sabotage at breakfast efforts along with inability to sleep due to rattling snoring , I thus, remind him.
‘Well you wanted to do IT on the cheap. Suffering is a given. Especially camping in the back of the 4WD. Windows and doors flung wide open to catch what little gasp of breeze there is.
As one soul commented recently , ‘suck it up Princess!’
The female contingent, moi, sits squirming on the dawn of the hottest day of the year, 46 degrees predicted, looking very much, twinnie of the bride of Frankenstein .
A table fly net, my veil, meagre but thankful respite from the eager little bratty outback flies. Not quite blood suckers, but moisture suckers, endeavouring to slurp every luscious drop from every crevice from every face.
As much as I enjoy attention this is just TOO much.
Time to lay thoughts to rest and have secure some breaky. 
8am. 32 degrees and climbing.
what an unattractive bride. not to flies , though. love her!!.
Not happy Jan! This bloomin heat is enough to melt a mans mind.
Major fire alert. Total fire ban.
Me: Will the road melt?
Will my tyres melt?
I’m pretty sure I will.
Chilling out in Maria’s Cafe, Tockington.. air con.. coffee..Lockington.
and
then… ???
‘Just how long can Australia burn?’ A local at Acacia Caravan Park says upon our arrival at the park.
backtrack .
1pm, heading out of Echuca following a paddle boat experience on the Murray River, Shepparton bound, I glance to the dash -44 degrees .
M makes calls to find us respite and dodge the heat wave.
This day is on fire.
Rivulets of perspiration run down my body. Even in this humble unit. Just waiting for the aircon to kick in, hoping, hoping hoping there will be no power outage.
Hmmm.. Feeling a bit soft from my perch in the 21st century.
Am I?
All part of the adventure in 2019.
Happy to be alive.
Surely it is 46 outside.. I think the day has come…that will burn as an oven.
Thanks M for the kind thought.
For the respite from the fiery day.
Reports of the 2009 Victorian heatwave revealed over 300 people died.
Phew. Taking this onboard.
FYI. 46.4c. = 115.5 f
Wow!! Experiencing over 100 degrees today.
Hoping neighbours have taken onboard the education available regarding Heat Waves and survival .
Adelaide breaks its all time heat record 46.6 c. (Jan 2019)
The heat outside this shelter near Shepparton is intense.
Fortunately clouds gather.
All eyes are on this part of Australia.
robynecuerelphotography 