Pause in journey

I should explain this pause, after completeing 846kms of the river, for the benefit of anyone following this blog who isn't up on this heart issue.

A few years back I had the benefit of a procedure to fix atrial fibrillation at Westmead Hospital in Sydney. The procedure is called pulmonary vein isolation and works by creating an area of non conductive scar tissue inside the heart around the pulmonary veins, to stop bad signals sneaking in and making the atria jump before they should.

This fixed my AF for about two years, and then I got it again. This is, apparently, not uncommon, because the scarring may not be complete, and one heals up, so to speak. Thus the folks who do it say that one may need to come back for a second round. This is what I am doing but it just happens to fall in the middle of this rowing jaunt, which happens to also be a fund raiser for Westmead Medical Research Foundation ( https://give.everydayhero.com/au/wagga-to-the-murray-mouth ) as I realise this clever sort of technology does not come for free.

All being well, I will be back on the river towards the end of November.

We are leaving the boat and trailer and associated camping kit here in Waikerie. Andrew, the manager of the Waikerie Hotel/Motel has very kindly offered to store the kit in a secure undercover area, and this is just a great solution. Thanks Andrew!

I should also thank Richard Challis, of Renmark Rowing Club and Peter Lang of Waikerie Rowing club for helping to organise this - local knowledge, mafia of rowers, a fine thing.

While we were in Renmark, Richard, on my day off the river, got me back on the river with his club buddies in a 4 (pictured below). You get one oar each, and are expected to row in sync, which I managed to do. It makes me think about sticking a sliding seat and some riggers on my boat. Anyway, rowing with these guys was a great experience, and I loved every minute of it. They are also a fun social crowd. Richard and Helen also came and helped me put the boat back in the water on leaving.

Now, time for a decent dinner and a sleep in a proper bed without ants, buzzing things, and insomniac birdlife - such are the joys of camping by the river


Les