Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Day 30, Lock Three – Waikerie, 11 Nov

Tony


It’s a good day weather-wise, any wind just coming across me and never causing me much hassle. I catch a ghostly looking roo, I think it’s a ‘Big White’ - an albino Big Red.


Some high cliffs today and as I’m rounding Devlins Pound, all I can see up ahead is low land on either side of a towering wall. It’s like coming to a dead end… the Murray can’t stop here, there’s still 400 km to go! At the last minute, with the cliff high in front of me, the river opens up and I follow the 90-degree turn heading west.


I get a call from my brother – I’ve gotta say thanks to my wife, Susan, and all of my family, you’ve been great - your regular contact and encouragement always gives me a lift and a boost to my paddle power!


A couple of days ago next to our caravan park site in Loxton there was a tree called The Tree of Knowledge which had plaques on it marking flood levels over the years. Today, I come across a cliff of knowledge with similar markings – boy, was it high in 1990 and 1993!



Distance paddled: 49 km


Pan

Capture a nice sunrise over Lake Bonney Riverland as I’m driving Tony to the start point on the west side of lock 3. On the way back to the caravan park I take a look at Napper’s Ruins, the remains of a hotel built in 1859 by William Parnell, bought by William Napper in 1863 and known as Lake Bonney Hotel.



In the evening, we join the Barmera Lions Club for some great home-cooked grub at the RSL hall and get an insight into their operations as they go about their monthly meeting – it’s great to see them in action and hear about all the projects they’re involved in. There’s also a bunch of jokes to finish – a brilliant way to end the night! It’s a shame we never got to sample the doughnuts they make and sell at events from their funkily decorated van - I hear they draw people from far and wide to get ‘the best doughnuts in South Australia’! Thanks for entertaining us and donating to the cause, Barmera Lions!



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