Day 5, Yarrawonga – Cobram, 16 October

Hanging by a thread!

Had a lay in today, slept all the way up to 6:30 (!) because an hour later, we welcome Tracey Alexander from WIN TV to shoot a report on us. We feel like movie stars doing takes and walking back so that she can capture the follow-on shot, boy did she work us hard! It was a cool start to the day but the sun was out and it was a good morning to get out there. My shoulders feel great and I happily set off at 8am for a 65km day of paddling.

I pass a Redgum, seemingly hanging by a thread - god knows how that thing is still standing upright! The river is full of them on the edge of the banks.

 

 

Sasha, a lady paddling the full length of the Murray at her leisure without any support, is kayaking a section then getting a bus back to her car, driving back to her kayak, then paddling off again. What a way to do it – she must have some patience, but maybe she does some sightseeing as well, which I don’t have any time to do. It makes me think I should maybe feed Pan more than just peanuts! Ha, only joking, but I’m glad I’ve got his support so that I don’t have to do it Sasha’s way. She had so much stuff in her kayak, I don’t know how that thing stays afloat!

It was funny to turn a corner and see Claude & Tricks on their kayak, they’re moving along, camping on the river – now that’s a man’s best friend! Also passed Ivanhoe Girls Senior College who are floating down the river for a few days, doing about 15km a day, in improvised rafts.

 

 

 

 

Pan and I didn’t manage to meet in the afternoon, good job I packed some lunch! Some access roads to the river were closed due to local flooding and we had trouble with reception and my GPS locator. So we finally met at Cobram, but I had a real hard slog today, especially in the afternoon, often battling against a strong headwind which also gave me some waves to contend with as the air fought against the current. I was exhausted by the time I got out on Thompson’s Beach and got stuck into a much-needed beer – never tasted sweeter!

On the riverside, Pan had met Robert, former secretary of Cobram Barooga Canoe Club, who imparted some wisdom on the area and the obstacles in the forthcoming section of the river. The river here is currently (no pun intended!) at 3.3m. In 1993, the river flooded up to 8.2m, just short of the highest flood to 8.5m in 1975. There are two road bridges going over to Barooga in NSW just before our camp spot, one newer, and the older bridge is now used for functions and weddings – what a funky location! Robert tells us some good spots further downstream and gives us a river map, thanks for your help and advice, mate!