100KMS Down 1900KMS To Go

Hello All,
After years thinking about it, months talking about it and days looking at it, it was a good feeling to finally "put in" on the Murray river this Monday the 23rd of April.

The weather was great, even warm, and with the flow of the river at around 3/4kms an hour I couldn't have asked for a better fashion to finally get away. Took a little messing around with my position in the boat and my stroke, but before long I was heading along at a nice lazy pace.

There's plenty of water in the river giving it a bit of width and depth reducing the need to navigate too many snags. Many snags that would be a problem are marked with an empty bottle attached to a small piece of rope, the bottle floating above the water signalling what area to avoid. The further you are away from the river towns the less marked the snags are, and as such a little more care is needed, but not much.

Surprisingly I managed 16kms on my first day although the last couple of kms were a bit long. This lazy man will need to get fit quick or he will end up on the Murray for a year at this rate.

The first night saw a big drop in temperature as a front moved through and I hoped it would have passed by the morning. No such luck. I awoke to wind and rain and thought about getting back into the bag and sleeping the whole day - the back muscles would have appreciated it. Not to be though, so it was into the water proofs, quick breaky and away.

For most of the day I was in the rain paddling against head winds that seem to be able to turn at 360 degrees, or whatever direction I happened to be faced at any given time. The river fenced by the trees each side acts like a race way or wind tunnel directing it along its path, and on the longer straights the wind against the current can get up decent little waves which surprised me. (Obviously a novice paddling here) Stopping every hour or so to make a coffee on the river bank I would have to use the Tangia cooker as it was a lot easier than making a fire in the weather.Twice campers on one of the many little beaches would wave me in for a cuppa and I'd sit and chat in the luxury of a dry, warm camp while enjoying a tea.

My final day on the river before reaching my first town stop at Tocumwal was splendid. The river was glass, the wildlife out and about after the blow, the river seemed faster, and for the first time in four days I felt strong. That messy weather was maybe a good thing. It was so picturesque with the Gums and Willows framing the river in rustic shades, lots of bird life, fish jumping about and it was all really just movie-like. I'd say it was almost spiritual, but as I'm not spritual, I'll just have to say it was asthetically very pleasing. Super day on the water getting to my first designated stop at Tocumwal late in the day.

Distances.
Day 1. 16kms
Day 2. 20kms
Day 3. 24kms
Day 4. 40kms

Notes: Unless you share the same physical characteristics as a foolscap piece of paper, I'd say forget about buying a thermarest of any sort. OK, maybe if you sleep on your back or front they might be alright, but if like me you sleep on your side they aren't much chop I don't reckon. I fold mine in half twice pushing all air out and use it from mid thigh to the rib cage.

Stay in Tocumwal for one night then on for around 130kms to next designated stop supply at a place I forget the name of.
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Sorry I can't host this blog as I'm about to get asked to leave the only computer in the town available for public use, and I also need to buy supplies and get a few things sorted for the next part of the trip.

Many hugs and Saint Bernnard sized sloppy kisses.