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Monday 31 December DAY 9 Leisurely start - Had to wait for shops to open to top up food supplies and send off diary. Met an old couple that turned out to have grown up in Bacon Street, one street behind my place. They lived next door to each other as kids and got married. Used to go to church across the road from my place and used to know the family who use to live in my place. Hit the river at 9:00am, paddled all day very strong head wind. Met some guys in a tinny who invited me back for New Years Eve at their farm. The whole property was littered with old cars probably about 50 or so, some absolute classics. I wish I had more time to look around. Had a good night, these country people turn on a good do! Tuesday 1 January DAY 10 Got to sleep in a comfy bed with a pillow and quilt so ended up sleeping in and got a lift from the farmhouse back to the river with the kayak. A bit of a slow start. Very very windy, nearly got blown over a few times. Struggled badly all day. At one stage, I had 10 eagles hanging around above me for nearly an hour. I must have looked like I was about to die. I've paddled into the Swan Hill (1410) caravan Park to regroup. Good supermarket here just ate a large pizza with about ½ kg of prawns. Have to try to find a power point tonight to recharge the phone (still on its 1st charge). Hopefully my sleeping gear is not too wet. We've had some heavy rain. Might try to wash my clothes too. Covered in clay when I slipped into the river yesterday while trying to get the kayak onto the bank. I am a bit sore tonight. I think I tore a few bits trying to push into the wind. Wednesday 2 January DAY 11 Up late this morning, wind already blowing so there was no rush, set off at 7am. At about 8am got stuck on a mud bank around 1406. Took around a ½ hour to find deep water again. Very strong head wind. Locals keep saying it is not usually like this. But it is now so I am stuck with it. Heaps more flies now that I am away from national forests and into cattle country. Just saw my first patch of dodda. Lots of bird life around the place. Patchy rain. Have stopped for a drink as I go around Beveridge Island. Drifting backwards quickly so I will keep moving (10am). Had three major fronts come through today. Had to pull over to the bank each time as the gusts went through, each was followed by heavy rain. Stopped with a family on the side of the river at 1345, 65 km all up today. Thursday 3 January DAY 12 Late night last night. Late start. In river by 6:30am. Nice morning, got stuck on bank going through Tooleybuc (1320). Finished off a family pack of choc chip cookies for breakfast. Listening to Garth Brooks for the first time in my life (10 hours of it). It is a pity he's American! I am just about to stop and get things in order before going through Bitch & Pups (1306-1302). The description says 'rapids and snags makes this hazard impassable in low water' (which it is). Could be interesting! As usual I did get stuck! If there wasn't so much water being pumped out of this river, there might be enough for me to finish this trip. It seems to be getting less and less all the time. Just had my first brown snake swim across the bow. I'm at 1300, which is where I'm supposed to stay in 2 nights time - Hopefully I'll get quite a few miles in this afternoon - 7pm, made it through to 1272. Camped on a tiny sand bank. Have set up camp, eaten, got tomorrows food ready. Will have a wash when the wind dies a bit. Did 73 kms all up today. Weather was finally kind, no strong winds until around 3pm. After getting my 50kms in, I just cruised along listening to some jazz. I have no idea what tomorrow's weather is supposed to be. I will try to get an early start in case it is the same again. I did not see anyone at all today. Did not stop at Tooleybuc and this area does not seem too popular for camping. Should get to Boundary Bend at around lunchtime. Hopefully there should be a phone there. I hope to reach the 1200 mark tomorrow night, which means I will be 3 days ahead. It would be nice to arrive home a full week early. I found a stray beer left from about 6 days ago. I've got it in the river to take the heat off. Happy Days!!! Friday 4 January DAY 13 Didn't set the alarm, slept in a bit and moved off from 1272 at around 6:30am. A nice morning with breeze coming in at around 7:30am. Saw many nice sandy beaches today. Lots of 'Roos. I have just been watching an eagle thermalling above the river catching the last of the sun. Stopped at Boundary Bend (1233) and topped up the kitchen. Managed to get through to 1200 tonight at around 7pm. Tea was interesting, soymilk, baked beans, water and beer, all at the same temperature. As I sit here, I notice some very large ants. I think I'll go to bed and zip up the tent. Well, I achieved todays goal; three days distance in two. (I should be here in three days time). Tomorrow's challenge is to get to Robinvale in time to book into the caravan park and get cleaned up at Robinvale at 1124, 76 km away. I did 72 kms today and I'm feeling buggered. We'll see what the wind does. Paddled up into the Murrumbidgee today as well. Its only small at the moment, everything's so dry. Well it is 8pm, bed time! Saturday 5 January DAY 14 Set off about 5:30am from 1200. Big snake track running right past the tent. Bit of a hot one today. Felt like hard work. Had Spam and bread, rice cream and fruit for lunch. Saw some more good camping beaches and lots of 'Roos. Limped into Robinvale (1124) at around 7pm. Have booked into caravan park to get cleaned up. 76kms covered today. River has now opened right up with most straights around 2-4 km long. Seems to take forever to get anywhere. Next stop is Colignan(984). I passed the ½ was point (1000) before then, at Adelaide bend. So'll I'll walk into Robinvale tonight (about 1km) and pick up a bottle of wine to celebrate. I'm expecting a late start in the morning so I won't get to Colignan for about 3 days. Tomorrow morning I need to walk back into Robinvale to get supplies, then hit the river and try to negotiate lock number 15. Sunday 6 January DAY 15 I was woken by the wind this morning. For a change, it was going to be a tail wind. Spoke to some locals and they said the only way past the lock was through it. I rang the lock keeper and he said he would be out doing water sample until 12 noon. Sailed some of the way from Robinvale (1124) to lock 15 (1118). Finally got through the lock at around 12:30 and by then the wind had changed, very hot today as well. Wind very strong. About 3pm a big dust storm blew up and I pushed into the waves for 3 hours. It seems no matter which way I go there is a head wind. ANYWAY!!!!. I eventually stopped at the most dodgy spot I've seen on the Murray. Met a bunch of guys who want to wreck me. Monday 7th January DAY 16 Absolute shocker of a day. Hit the river at 5:30am. I reckon the boys from last night will be a bit seedy this morning. Wind was up all night with some rain and lightening. Didn't put the tent up just slept in the dust. Pushed into ridiculous winds for a couple of hours until 1056 where I met some people who had watched me go through the lock. Stopped for lunch, went for a walk through the bush. Taught Brad how to juggle and since the wind is not going to stop, have decided to stay overnight. Have just been fed Spag' Bog' and have started to settle in. Only did 24kms today. Everything in the kayak is full of sand, which has been blowing down the beach. I nearly lost the paddle because it got buried in sand. I think I'll do without the tent again tonight. With a bit of lucky the wind should die off tomorrow. If not I'll just have to try to paddle into it! Tuesday 8th January DAY 17 On the water by 5:30 this morning. Breeze already up but nowhere near as bad as yesterday. Have stopped at the ½ way point (1000) for lunch. A special lunch today (well, the same as usual - beans on stale bread - except with a bottle of nice wine. Wine being served at room temperature - 35°) This afternoon I'll have a leisurely paddle with some wine and some jazz and cruise the last 15km into Colignan (985). That's close on 75kms for the day, not too bad, especially considering yesterday's effort. Passed Colignan (985) going on to Nangiloc (964) had to pull up short of Nangiloc due to darkness. Can't see shallow spots and keep running aground, stopped on a small beach at 967. Rolled out the sleeping bag on the sand. There's something very dead somewhere near me. Ate a tin of tuna and the last of the stale bread which has had sand blowing through it. Just about out of food. May have to resort to protein mix with water! Wednesday 9th January DAY 18 Hit the river at 4:30. Still fairly dark. Couldn't handle the smell anymore. I think the dead thing must have snuck closer during the night. Passed Nangiloc just on light. Don't want to waste time waiting for the shops to open so I've taken the gamble and will try to get close to Mildura (868). Looks like powdered protein for lunch!! Thursday 10th January DAY 19 Didn't make Mildura. Camped on a steep bank near a pump that ran all night and turned off just as I was getting up. Had breakfast at Gol Gol. Bought a sticker for the kayak but its not waterproof. Went through Mildura lock with the paddle steamer Melbourne. Have stopped at Apex Park to rest for the day. Very hot, lots of thermals around! |
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