Progress and fun

From the Border Cliffs into Renmark took me 2 days. 637 kms down to 566 kms. Both days featured wind wind wind. On the first day I got to around 604 and faced with another reach into wind with foam all over it, I had a look at the banks for campsite. It was a pretty poor area. Reeds and swamp, or a high bank? Eventually I found a clear bit on the reedy side and pulled in.

That was about 6pm (SA time). Instead of sleeping on the bank, I reorganised the boat and rolled out a newly acquired swag. It worked pretty well. I made phone contact with Marg and also radio contact, for a tryout, and then knocked together a meal, of packet indian dahl and half a can of corned beef, the other half stowed for breakfast.

Sundown = head down, but I noted that the wind was still roaring in the trees and the slop coming around the bend was rocking the boat. Fine. Rock me to sleep, which it did. I woke up about 1 am and it was still windy. By 3 am it had stopped, and all was still. Birds and the thin grey light of dawn woke me at a bit before 6am and the lap lap noises told me that the wind was back, but not roaring at this time.

I rolled everything up, had a biscuit and got going. All good for a while. I even got along "Crooked Straight" a long east west reach below Headings Cliffs. I had been dreading trying to get down that in a westerly, but it was OK. The southerly coming over the cliffs was a bit moderated and was just a nuisance trying to weathercock the boat. I celebrated finishing that straight with corned beef breakfast, then back to rowing.

As the day went on, the wind got stronger. All the southerly reaches and corners were hard. A couple of times I got a bit of help on an easterly run. The final 8 kms into Renmark are south, and then southwest, and then south through tow, finally turning east to the boat ramp at the caravan park. When iI turned the corner onto the long south reach, it was difficult but not as bad as I expected. The reason was apparent further down. The beastly wind had gone round to sw, so I had the last couple of k straight into it.

Marg had organised a cheer squad on the terrace of the club, so that was a bit of fun, but the rowing was less than fun. 4 pm, so I had been rowing for around 10 hours and was starting to lose my sense of humour. Finally I got onto the eastern heading and with the wind in my tail feathers I shot along the last bit to the ramp, where Marg had now relocated with the car and trailer. I got onto the ramp and stumbled out of the boat. You cannot really hang around boat ramps so there is a bit of pressure to get stuff out of the boat and the boat on the trailer, but I was staggering around a bit. A chap turned up with shiny speedboat on a trailer. I chatted with him and he offered me a hand getting the boat out, which was very decent.

This young chap was very helpful and interested in the boat. We got it on the trailer and drove it out of his way and he reversed his outfit down the ramp, having first removed the ties and covers. As is common, he reversed the trailer into the water and then braked to let the boat float off. As is less common, he had not tethered it, so it started to drift away from the ramp. The ramp had concrete sides which would have been a metre above the water edge. Instead of wading after his boat, our man trotted along the ramp side, and as the boat went by, took a standing leap for the foredeck! Time slowed. It looked like the ideal situation to just hit the boat with your feet, kick it out into the stream, and fall backwards into the water, possibly cracking ones head on the concrete wall. But no! This guy was built to get airborne. He landed both feet firmly on the foredeck. The boat moved with his added momentum, but he kept upright and, while we cheered, he started the motor and got it under control. What a character. I have never seen a standing jump like it.

Somewhat cheered, we went off to park the boat and car and get sorted out for dinner at the lovely Renmark hotel.

Marg also made contact with the local rowing club, so we are off to see them now. Back on the river tomorrow morning. I expect it will be windy.

Sent from my iPad