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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!

After our mammoth trip from Port Augusta up the Center to Darwin, over West to Perth via Broome them across The Nullarbor, we're happy to be back in South Aussie for a little bit on our way home to Canberra. We've dropped in to Wudinna for a roll-up. It's pronounced 'Woodna' Jean has been in touch with the club via Messenger. They told us there's no social bowls in the off-season but we were welcome to roll up. It was all locked up and the blinds were down so the picture we got of the clubhouse doesn't show much. Outside is a little verandah to watch the bowls. There's one plastic synthetic green. The old grass green has been pegged out for something. Mal thought they were going to make it into a garden. It was sprinkling with rain. Mal said " I don't want to roll up in that! " So it was a very quick visit. Next day Fish, who Jean's been talking to dropped in at the Caravan for a chat. He's the general dog's-body at the club - does everything. He told us the old Green's not a garden, it's been pegged out for Putt Putt. A little bit of rain at Wudinna.

It's been Fourteen and a half hours and 1,400km since we last saw a bowling green. We crossed the border yesterday, left The Nullarbor and arrived safe and sound in Ceduna on a Sunday afternoon. Esperance and Ravensthorpe in WA were our last stops . It's a cute little clubhouse. With all the Pennant wins proudly displayed over the bar. Outside is a nice shaded area. When we arrived President Bernie came up to say gidday. We arrived 1:20. Just after social bowls started so we missed out. They had two games of Triples on. We had a roll-up instead. Out front is a nice plastic synthetic green they can play on all year round. Out the back is the old grass green. Jean put down the first bowl. She managed a two. Mal went next. Jean had three but Mal took shot. He did ok in the blustery wind. We had to get to the caravan park so just did a few ends, though we enjoyed them after such a long break. Ken asked us about our uniforms. Bernie had his little dog Lucy. She was very content. They saw Jean's hat. They said " We don't have badges but you can have a whiskey glass. ". Mal said " Mine, mine, mine! " Ceduna - dogs, games and rollups.

Again, we're in Ravensthorpe for one night on our way home to Canberra. We stopped over at the 48 hour RV site and decided to walk the 14 minutes Google told us it was to the Entertainment Centre where we understood the bowling club is. The club was all locked up but we got to see it through the windows. There was scribble on the board to say social bowls is on Saturday. We got our obligatory photo in front of the sign. There's a nice long under cover outdoor area. There's just one plastic synthetic green. We just stayed long enough to get a few photos and then took the long walk back o the caravan. Ravensthorpe - we didn't stay long.

We're in Albany for just one day so no time to do the three clubs here. Jean's been in touch with Emu Point on Messenger and they said we could roll up any time so we chose it. The club wasn't open so we got a shot through the window of the clubhouse. Former President Richard turned up for a roll-up. We chatted with him. We couldn't see any mats and jacks so decided not to roll up ourselves. Outside is some construction work. Richard told us it's a new kitchen and they'll put in a new deck. Perhaps we'll come and check it out when we come back to Albany. We were fascinated that we'd passed the 35th parallel. Out the back is a great photo for the bay and the town. With emus on the tank. The synthetic greens were opened fairly recently. There are two plastic greens. Mal said " That's a big green! ". Richard said it's 40 metres like Tuggeranong . The old fallow grass green is out the back. There's a great photo array of the work to put in the new greens. The club is pretty healthy financially. They've put in great permanent shades. All the seats are donated - some in memorium. Just before we left President Gary turned up on his bicycle. Emu Point - we'd love to come back and see the renovations!