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Jean's very happy to come to Moruya because she spent her primary school years here. Her Dad Roy was a Police constable in the 1960's. It's a nice little clubhouse. Busy. We met Pete who organised the game. There's only one Triples game. There was a championship on so few social players. They gave us nice Moruya cloths with the Moruya Snapper on them. There are three grass greens. The top one looks unused. We played on the front green. In memory of Barry Stephens. It was Triples. We played with Henry. Against Fin, Phil and Lozza. Mal started very well with two. Skip Mal called Second Jean to take out shot bowl. She succeeded for two. Jean consolidated with Henry. Jean had shot and Mal took it. Made us happy though! The boys were such good company. Lastly Jean did a Mal and bowled to the kitty in the ditch. The boys called it bowl of the day. We won 28 to 12. Mostly due to Henry's superb bowling - but we helped! We came in for drinks with our new friends. Nice friends at Moruya.

We're on our way back to Victoria. Bermagui doesn't have social bowls on Thursday so we'll just try to have a roll-up today. Jean wants to send the blog to her hairdresser Brooke who's about to move here from Canberra. It's a good-sized clubhouse. With a big outdoor area. There's one old carpet synthetic green. Dedicated to Graeme Blacka. Everyone at other clubs told us Bermagui is a terrible green to play on. It's a bit mouldy with staples down the middle. It looks like there used to be two greens. Mal went to check with Reception. They said it costs $10 for a roll-up. On that green? No thanks! We decided not to stay for a drink. Bermagui - not paying money for a roll-up.

We came to Narooma on Monday and met Shorty who encouraged us to go to Dalmeny . We came back for a Wednesday game. It's our sixth game in a row on the coast. It's a good-sized clubhouse. Jean chatted with the ladies Margaret, Julie and Sue Mal was with Peter, Shorty and John. Les did the draw and called the cards. Not sure what gates they're talking about. There are two grass greens. We played on the first green. Green 2. They are The Marlins. A sister club to Dalmeny Dusky Flatheads. There's an emergency shower for Greenkeeper chemical spills. Ian, John and Suzanne Played John, Jean and Mal. Jean struggled in the wind but got two shots. Mal was all over the place until he got his line and weight. Jean finally found her line. Mal got a windy two. Les found Jean two Narooma badges. She gave one to Mal. We lost by four . It was very tough! We came inside and they presented us with cloths and pens. A tough game at Narooma !

We went for a little Monday drive on our day off to check out Bodalla and Tuross clubs. We got our names down to play at Bodalla on Tuesday. It was closed but we met the bartender who let us in for a chat. There are bowls photos above the bar. And a nice wooden trophy with club achievements. With a nice outdoor area. As usual Mal got his photo with Stuart the Greenkeeper. There are two nice grass greens. We played on the first green. The Keith Lavis Green. Jason looked after the draw. We sat and chatted with Roddo, Pete and Coops. We played Pairs together Against Judy and Michael. First end we were five down when Mal did a Nyngan Draw Bowl for shot. Second end Jean scored a Toucher. And again. Backhand Mal was on fire! There was a $20 prize for the first Resting Toucher. Jean tried hard but was 1mm out! We won by one shot! TUROSS We had a quick drop in at Tuross on Monday. It was closed but we got a good look. It also has two nice grass greens. And a pretty memorial garden. What a close game at Bodalla!

Monday was our day off. We popped in to Narooma on Monday to see if they had bowls on Thursday when we're here. We met some of the Narooma boys who were off to Dalmeny for social bowls. We asked if we could play. They said they were often looking for players so we raced off to see if could get a game. Jean was excited to be here because it's her old stomping ground. Well kinda. Her family had a holiday house in Dalmeny in the 1970s. They were here every school holidays. It's a comfy little clubhouse - a sister club to Narooma. Outside there's a nice under cover area. Don looked after the money. He got permission from President Norm to add us to a game of Pairs for a Triples. Mal sat and chatted with Bob, Kevin and Shorty who we met at Narooma. They are the 'Dusky Flatheads'. There are three grass greens but the top one looks fallow. It will be for Croquet. We played on Green 2. The Stan Gillis Green. Opened in 1985. The seats were donated by the RSL Club. There was one other lady and 24 blokes. It was Peter, Jean and Keith Against Mal, Kenny and Garry. It was soooooo windy! Every time Jean had shot it was 1.5 metres from the kitty. Mal stole Jean's (ordinary) shot then put in another one. Then he put one right on it! We went in after 10 ends for a break. Jean got well-rested. Very well-rested! Mal won by 3 shots. We came inside for drinks. They gave us some caps. We loved Dalmeny - even with the wind!

The Sunday Tomakin Twist Tops are famous. Everyone everywhere knows about them. We've been before but not on this trip. We're off to Tomakin today. There's a small shed outside the main clubhouse - 'Hogan's Pavilion - 'that's the home of The Twist Tops. The Twist Tops have been going for over thirty years. First thing we saw was The Twist Tops 10 Commandments. And appreciation for good deeds. They have their own shirt. We bought them. Dobbo looked after the draw. They were all very friendly and talkative. Pedro won the ' Dickhead of the week ' medal and 'The Wally Award ' for forgetting to do something. He remembered Jean from Electrogroup many years ago. There are two grass greens. We played on Green 1. Jean was very pleased to see a green named for a woman - Marcia Smith - with all her achievements. The new greens were laid in 1998. Jean played with Brett Against Sue and Colleen Mal skipped for Ruth. Against Beth and Smoothie. Mal got one in early though he cried "I'm bowling shit!" Each time he got shot Mal called Jean over to photograph it. Someone always took it out before she got there. She managed to catch one. Jean liked the top end. She did it again. Jean was 17-17 on end 17 and lost by 1 shot. Mal lost by a lot. We came into the main club afterwards. Mal won the money for least ends won. Yeah for the Tomakin Twist Tops!

Lake Conjola was one of the first clubs we visited on our trip in 2022 . We're staying with Jean's friend Andrea who lives four doors down so decided to come back for another game. Our rule is that we never visit a club more than once. Last time we were here we didn't take many photos so today we'll rectify that. The little clubhouse is nice and well patronised. We dropped by yesterday and watched the Triples final. Mal bought a shirt. The bowlers have a nice outdoor area under cover. With champions proudly displayed. We met John, Helen and Liz in the office. We played with John and Liz last time. Mal chatted with Pauline who's from Melbourne. There are two nice-looking grass greens. We played on the back green. The John Brown Green. Everyone knows a John Brown! There's a lovely memorial garden. We played Pairs together Against Jenny and Neil. Mal put one in early. Jean got a Toucher. It was close but Mal snuck in. Then another Toucher for Jean. We lost by four. We were happy to give the game to friendly people. We came inside for drinks. Lake Conjola - ok to lose to nice people!

Jean's cousin Sherryn lives in Wakool but last time we were here 2.5 years ago it was Christmas Day so we didn't get to the bowling club. We came back today on our way back to Canberra. So glad we did! There's a mosquito warning as you enter. It's a great modern clubhouse. They got a grant to build it a few years ago. The outdoor area is terrific with fans and a TV. Out front are nice shaded sails. And beautiful tables from big wood slabs. Jean walked over from the great free-camp at the footy ground to the club and met Secretary Graham and Greenkeeper Rick. They are the two workhorses of the club. Graham showed us all around. He explained they have 30 members in a town with a population of around 300. That's impressive! He said they got grants to build the clubhouse and put in lights. They are proud of their Division Three wins. They've decided to go up to the Twos. The seats were donated by Moama Bowling Club. Mal phoned to find out where Jean was she told him to come and meet the boys. He wanted to get his usual photo with the Greenkeeper. The grant included a new greenkeeper's shed. Rick rolled the green just so we could roll up. It's a nice grass green - recently scarified. Jean stepped out. Jean was down four but managed to get one in with her last bowl! The boys are quite ingenious. They worked out a way to have swinging shades to get good sun on the green. Rick told us other clubs have trouble with naughty corellas but with the overhead sprinklers they've solved the problem. Mal tried it out. Mal scored a Resting Toucher. Jean tried to take him out to no avail. She said " I missed by an inch! ". Jean couldn't catch Mal. He was all over it! Last end Jean managed two. We're so glad we came back but we had to finish our roll-up so we could go and visit Jean's cousin. Wakool - great place to re-visit!

We're doing all the clubs we missed last time we were on The Murray 2 years ago in March . Today we arrived at Euston Club. We were supposed to go to Nangilloc but it seems it's gone by the wayside. We're stopping at Euston Club for 2 days so we can play a game on Sunday. It's a resort. Our caravan is parked there. $30 a night. They have a temporary shed While they wait for their new clubhouse to be built. First person we met was Shane. There's an old grass green still used. It hadn't been mowed or rolled so was very slow. We played instead on the new carpet synthetic. By The Murray. There were nine of us so one game of Pairs and one Triples. Two games. Eight ends. First game Jean and Vice President John Played Mal and Marie. John said " Well done Jean. Your last two got us up by one! ". 8 to 7. John told us they have a competition on Thursday that's been going 60 years. Men only and they all wear Creams. 2nd game Mal and Marie played Shane and Phil. Jean ran over and got a shot of Mal's good bowls. Jean and John played Bev, Doug and Christine. Jean was doing ok but This time John won them the game, and the prize. Phil presented us with pens to remember them by. Euston Bandits - yes we'll remember them!

Jean's been in touch with President Scotty from Morgan Bowls Club. Scotty said we could park our caravan at the club overnight so we're very pleased to come. We always love stepping out of the caravan onto a bowling green! It's 'The Historic Port of Morgan' on The Murray. We took off to check out Cadell Bowling Club. When we got back another Scotty was there. He showed us his beautiful Studebaker - the only one in Australia. Mal went for a run in it to get him a club shirt. When he got back he was wide eyed! Scotty opened up the clubhouse so we could take a peek. The old photos, trophies and miles of Pennants plaques were great. We parked as close as we could get to the green. We met Lenny who was stocking the bar. It's a nice grass green. We haven't seen many. It's the Whitford Green with a rose garden. It's off season so the green hadn't been mowed. Mal wouldn't bowl on it. Jean wanted a roll-up. Her first end, even full pelt, she could only manage 2/3 of the green. She made the second end her last because it was too tiring. She was much happier that she got within a metre. CADELL BOWLING CLUB We drove 11 km to Cadell. It was quite unexpected! We had to cross The Mighty Murray by ferry. What an experience that was! A lovely sculpture met us at the gate. We saw the clubhouse through the window. It's another nice grass green. It was raining so we couldn't roll up. Morgan and Cadell - fun on the ferry!

Tonight we're staying in Peterborough but we've already done Peterborough Bowling Club so we decided to check out Orrooroo and briefly Willmington on our way there. It's been raining so we mightn't get a roll-up. From outside it looks nice inside. All the Pennant win photos sit above the bar. Outside is a nice shaded area by the green. We see there's an open day on 14th September if anyone is interested. Seats are donated in memorium. There's one plastic synthetic green. Silos overlook the green. Mal had a go on the green. His first bowls went well. Jean was a bit long. Jean went out tentatively. The wind blew our bowls into a left-hand caterpillar. Jean got two. It was close but Jean just pipped Mal. He stood there for five minutes measuring with his fingers then gave up. Last photo was supposed to get a photo of Mal's shot bowl. It didn't work out that way. WILLMINGTON Before Ororoo we stopped in at Willmington. It was raining so we just got a couple of photos. It's a nice little clubhouse with a plastic synthetic green. No rollup for us though. Ororoo and Willmington - at least we managed one rollup.

So we left Wudinna this morning after a nice chat with Fish . We're staying at Iron Knob but Fish told us there's no bowling club there now. We decided instead to check out the club at Kimba. It made Jean happy because it reminded her of her favourite little puppy dog 'Kimba' who passed away nearly 20 years ago. We peeked in through a window in the door. Outside is a nice shaded area. We were met at the gate by a bowler! There's just one plastic synthetic green. Next door is a gravel car park. It looks like long ago it might have been a bowling green. There were mats and jacks hanging under the newspaper article about pennant success. We decided to have a long-awaited rollup. There were strict instructions on which way. We had to get the compass out! There are really good permanent shades down the end. Mal had a go. He did ok. It took a few ends to get used to it. It was windy. Then it was Jean's turn. We weren't sure who got shot. Jean claimed it. The head was pretty good once we got used to it. Mal finished with three. IRON KNOB Then we drove on another hour to the town of Iron Knob. The birthplace of Australia's steel industry. We could see the mine from the RV stop. In the camp kitchen there was a sign that said the bowling club was open Tuesday and Thursday 4:30. That gave us hope. Jean walked 14 minutes to the bowling club to check it out. Alas, there were trees on the green! She talked with the postmaster on her way back. He said the club has been gone for over ten years. They've had chats about bringing back the green - to share with caravaners but it's just too hard. We came down later for a drink with the locals. They still have the Honour Board. Kimba with Iron Knob - not sure about trees on the green!