18-Mar-2008 -- While holidaying again in the Riverland of South Australia, we decided to log 2 more confluence visits that I knew would be possible, all in a days drive from Renmark. Planning these confluence visits many weeks in advance of our intended visit, I had no idea that South Australia’s Capital, Adelaide was to experience the hottest ever autumn temperatures on record, with 15 consecutive days where the daily temperature was over 35°C, which was an Australian Record and a 1 in 200 year event. We had 2 spare days to log the confluences, Mondays expected temperature was 44°C and Tuesdays expected temperature was expected to be 38°C, so a 6°C cooler day would be better if we had to be away from the car for any period.

Leaving Renmark at 7.30am, we set off travelling the Sturt Highway towards Mildura, where we turned off at Meringur North to make the quickest time out to the Calder Highway and then turned south and on to Ouyen. From Ouyen, we took the Mallee Highway to Galah and this started our dirt road trip through to Meridian Road. Once we reached Meridian Road, it was only just over 9 kilometres to reach the first confluence. Finding a suitable roadside clearing very close to the confluence, we parked our vehicle and set off to travel the 230 metres to reach our first confluence for the day, arriving at 11am and it was already 34°C. This was an easy confluence to record, so we waisted no time to complete this visit, as it was getting warmer and we still had a long way to go to record our second visit for the day, near Wentworth. Like other visitors to this confluence, the flies were around, but the biggest problem was the small grass seeds that stuck to our shoes and socks. After the usual confluence dance and photos in hand, it was off to our next confluence.

At the junction of Meridian and Parallel Roads, we headed east back to the Calder Highway. These were good dirt roads that consisted from sandy sections to hard compacted sections. Providing that the roads were not wet, it is possible to take a conventional motor vehicle over these roads, providing that you drive to the road conditions and your own driving ability.

Arriving at Mildura, it was time for lunch, before heading further North West for the day to log our next confluence visit at S34 E132