Murray Trip by Peter and Russell

Final Program of the Trip

Leave Thursday morning and camp at Pompoota, we have camped there before.

Friday – try to find campsite somewhere near Avocca Dell.

Saturday – 10/11 again camp somewhere near White Sands, Murray Bridge.

Sunday – 11/11 stay the night at Westbrook Caravan Park.

Monday – paddle to Wellington, get picked up and taken to Clayton Caravan Park.

Tuesday – 13/11 paddle to Goolwa, camp the night.

Wednesday – paddle to the mouth and camp at the mouth.

Thursday – 15/11 HOPEFULLY JUDY CAN PICK ME UP AT THE MOUTH.

Pompoota

Arrived Thursday evening, 8^th November, at Pompoota. We camped here last time, not a bad site with a little piece of sand to land on. However, we were caught by the early evening wind so we retired to our tents. A good day’s  paddling though, 16 km.

Friday morning was wonderful early, with the mist coming off the water. We paddled down to Avoca Dell, not really sure what to expect, but we put our tents up at the reserve, right on the river bank. Again 16 km paddle today.

Saturday morning left at 7.30 am and paddled down towards Murray Bridge. Flat water again apart from when the Murray Queen overtook us. The wash off the back of that thing goes for about 200 metres and is fairly furious.

We stopped for an early breakfast just after the iron bridge. We couldn’t find a campsite on the way down the river so ended up pushing onto Westbrook Caravan Park a day early – 22.5 km paddle that day. Again bed, shower, washing and a heater and cooker in our room LUXURY!

So we will paddle off to Wellington on Monday morning.

All going well. We passed the 100 km mark yesterday which was great. We came across a Tiger SNAKE crossing the river – we gave him right of way.

Mannum
We arrived in Mannum on Monday, around mid-day. We were not able to find a campsite prior to Mannum, so paddled the 18km into Mannum. Yes showers, beds, washing and a pub within walking distance. It’s good just to relax, we have been paddling for 22 days now, so this feels good.

We plan on leaving Thursday, and then arrive at the mouth on the 14th and get collected on the 15th where we shall take our kayaks home and lock them away for a while!

This is now the difficult part of the trip, just trying to find campsites. Hopefully we shall make Westbrook Caravan Park by Sunday 11/11, then get collected at Wellington on the Monday and get taken to Clayton Bay Caravan Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 2

Left the campsite at 7.30 am and paddled towards Big Bend, medium wind but this time behind us and that was good. The wind built up at lunchtime. We had about an hour of nasty paddling before we arrived at Greenways landing. Spectacular thunder and lightning storm during the night, both Russ and I were up at 4 am, checking on the kayaks.

Saturday 3 November

Left Hettner Landing, just above Walker Flat at 7.10 am. When we arrived to camp we had to hang around  a little as the 2 metre SNAKE took his lunch from the river bank  back to his hideout!  We paddled into a medium head wind till about 10 am, then the wind dropped and the sun came out. We did 22km this day, taking us to Bow Hill.

Sunday 4 November

Arrived at Younghusband at mid-day after leaving Bow Hill at 7.30 am. Flat water this morning so good paddle, we did 19km. Now we will do two days of about 8km each to reach Mannum on early Tuesday morning. We will leave Mannum on Thursday morning so looking forward to resting in Mannum.

 So all good, really looking forward to a couple of easy days ,before we reach Mannum. Then a shower and lots of washing to do.

They made the local paper

 

Day 12
Left 365km mark this morning at 7.30 am, another 3 degree morning. Ah well. Arrived at lock 2 and hung around for 30 minutes, locks open at 8.30,or so we thought, but then we saw a sign saying open at 8 am, strange all the other locks have been 8.30 am. Ah well, sent a few emails whilst sat in my kayak on the river, in my office.

Arrived at 360mm, where we were invited to breakfast at Andres, a Waikerie Rotary member. Bacon, sausages, eggs, toast and buckets of tea. We left at 11am, 1 kilo heavier! Had a fabulous paddle down to Hogwwash,10km, into a slight wind, little bit is swell and clear warm day .It doesn’t get any better.

We are still ahead of schedule, so will press on. We will know if we will be on time for Mannum by about Wednesday next week, I think.

Waikerie 
We arrived in Waikerie at 1pm,today.We had a sudden thought 5km up stream, if we pushed on we could have a BED for the night. The day was perfect very light winds and not too warm. We left 406km mark this morning at 7.30 am. Wednesday’s paddling was tuff, we had a stretch of water 5km long and into a 25–30km winds, we earned our PAY that day. We also had a shorter 3km stretch the same, so a tuff day, but we still did good distance.

We are meeting up with Waikerie Rotary club on Saturday morning, just though lock 2.Rumour has it we are to collect another donation.

We will leave tomorrow about 10 am, as I have to get my glasses fixed, the lens dropped out this morning! Fortunately I found the lens. There is a optometrist in Waikerie.

So things going well, we did a shop today, to last us another 6 night’s, really looking forward to Mannum, and a day off.

Stop Press – late update

Had a good meeting with Waikerie club last night, they promised us a cheque for $500.00,which was very generous. We are meeting up with the group again on Friday morning, at the secretary’s place just past lock 2.Just for a quick chat between 9 am and 11 am.

Day 7

We arrived at Bruno Bay this morning at 10 am, only had a short paddle of 10km,from our last night’s camp. Very flat water today so we made good time. Left our campsite at 7.45 am, we seem to be getting better at taking down our tents and also setting them up. Now we shall talk about our lay day tomorrow, I think we should crack on, although we may be into a little head wind – we will decide later.

Funny thing, I lost an arm off my glasses yesterday at the campsite. I spent about 40 minutes looking for it but didn’t find it. Then in the evening with my head torch on, tried again, and found it because of the reflection. Great, I can see again!

This morning was very cold 3 degrees, we spent a long time hugging the fire!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our First Cheque

  

 

From Peter

We made Loxton, had an interview with the local newspaper, hopefully we should feature in their paper next Wednesday. Also had a gathering with the Loxton guys last night where they presented us a cheque for $500 which was very good of them. Both Russ and myself gave a short talk about the trip so far.

So we are off shortly, it’s going to be 29 degrees today and thunder storms later – could be interesting.

 

October 17

From Peter (with Russell)
We made Sandbar bend today,after a 25km paddle with the wind on the nose all day,tuff day at the office.We are ahead of our schedule,but still have two days of hard paddling to make Loxton on time,where we shall catch up with the Rotary guys also a lady from the local newspaper.We may become famous – again!