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 Topic: Two Camps, A Fortnight Apart.
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16/4/2020 at 11:05am
Location: Melbourne Australia
Outfit: Windsor Rapid Off Road Van + tents
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Hi all,
The last weekend in January this year was a long weekend where the nation celebrated our Australia Day. It marks the anniversary of the arrival in 1788 of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and the raising of the Flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip.
We took this opportunity to head up to the mighty Murray River (the longest in Oz being over 2500 ks in length) as our summer holidays hadn’t been all that restful or enjoyable due to the bush fires that ravaged so much of our country.
Our site, it doesn’t get much better than this?
We basically spent the three days just chilling at our camp, although there was some excitement on one day that I‘ll show you shortly.
Evening was a busy time as we had to light the fire and then watch the sun go down!!
I’m an early riser so was always up before the girls (Jen my partner and our daughter Kristie), this was the scene one morning, with the early morning sun lighting up the trees on the opposite bank.
And then a bit later with some of the colour gone, the fire was lit ready for breakfast.
Breakfast done and dusted for another day, and then a couple of Koalas we saw on a mornings walk.
On one day we had some excitement opposite our camp, sorry for the length of this bit but we all have a bit of time on our hands at the moment.
Many vessels of varying sizes would pass us each day, some slowly some a bit quicker and then a few would fly by.
About three quarters of the way across the river there was a protruding stump, 99% of all those boats travelling past would pass on the side closest to us, being a far clearer run away from it and more protruding snags etc a short distance further down stream.
One particular boat passed on the far side of that stump at quite some pace and with a loud bang hit a submerged log. The guy sitting near the bow was flung forward but luckily not into the water. And there they became were well and truly stuck, it was amusing at first watching them struggle to manoeuvre the boat back into deeper water. They literally had no idea, not moving their body weight (substantial) in a coordinated way.
There wasn’t much I or anyone could do for them, then a young bloke camped at the other end of the beach paddled over in his kayak. He was able to get out of the kayak and onto the log which was under the water, but trying to hold the kayak from drifting off downstream and then trying to push them off the log with the other hand, just wasn’t working.
I then paddled over and took control of his kayak whilst he worked on freeing the boat, the current pushed me away and downstream, not being able to paddle as one hand held the other craft. I had to be inventive by letting go of it and then using the front of my kayak to push into the side of the other kayak and force it back up to where it was all happening.
This young dude was great, he even dived under the boat to see whether the bottom of the boat had been pierced and was the reason it wouldn’t budge. Eventually he got it off with the two occupants not doing anything to help just sitting with their weight evenly placed which made the craft harder to lift and slide it off.
Here are some pics of the stump, I didn’t take pics of the actual event as when it was all happening, I was pretty busy.
We encouraged the guys in the boat to stop on the beach, before continuing their trip so a better inspection of their boat could be made, plus I thought they or particularly the bloke at the front of the boat was suffering a bit of shock.
It was at this time as I manoeuvred the other guys kayak towards him that I realised there was another issue. Two of his mates had swum over and were precariously hanging onto the stump and not able to swim back. It doesn’t look as there’s much current but there was and both guys had consumed a fair bit of grog that day. One guy said at the time (not panicking though) now I know why you don’t drink and then swim in such places like this. He was probably lucky to make it to the stump in the first place. Both of us in the kayaks got a bloke to hang onto the back of us and we then towed them across the current back to the safety of the beach.
What struck me after all this was the two dudes in the boat were probably nudging 70, both very unfit (and I’m being kind there) and both were not wearing life jackets. Had that first bloke been flung into the water when they struck the log, heaven to bid, he may not have survived. They didn’t read the river and its topography as they were possibly the only ones to venture into that part of the river. They had no idea of what to do in a difficult situation, they just shouldn’t have been on the river with their obvious lack of safety, and understanding of their abilities and the rivers dangers.
In addition to this don’t drink and swim in a river with snags and strong currents, both the young guys learnt a good lesson saying time and time again, how lucky they were.
116 people drowned last summer (2018/2019) in Australia, thankfully and it’s still a dreadful figure, that has been reduced to 66 at the end of the summer this year.
It could have ended far worse than it did, and that figure could have been higher with what happened that day, it just shows how accidents can happen so quickly, all those involved were very lucky on this occasion.
Back to some serenity at our camp, more scenes on one of the nights.
On one morning we heard some very loud music coming from around a bend in the river downstream from us. Jen and I looked at each other, Jen spoke first, why does it have to be so loud surely its got to annoy other campers near them. Back and forth we both agreed it was beyond a joke, particularly as it was still fairly in the day, and so very loud etc etc. we went on and on, THEN!!!
Very quickly we realised how wrong we were, too quick to judge this time, for from that direction came a boat with flags and other decorations announcing via a loud speaker the imminent arrival of a local singer who was assisting various groups in raising funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
I hope this works for all of you overseas, it really was good.
Click on this next pic to see what was making the original noise we were complaining about (it may take a moment or so to load). Large format for better viewing and of course, sound on.
I apologise for the quality of the videoing as I did it on the fly with my phone.
How good was she? and what a terrific way to raise funds for a very worthy cause. They landed a couple of young girls on the beach, who I’m sure collected quite a bit from other campers and our selves.
That’s it for the first weekend away, now for the second.
Jen and I have 6 granddaughters and a grandson, 2 of those girls have parents that will never camp and so we do what we can to take them away with us, so they can grow to appreciate our great out doors. We have taken them away on a few occasions previous and they absolutely loved it.
When they heard we had just been away, they were just about in tears that we hadn’t taken them, saying at the time “but we love camping too”
Such a location that we had just been to, we felt that we may not have been able to keep them occupied the whole time, so we promised them a camping holiday with Nan and Pa real soon.
So a fortnight later another trip up to the Murray but this time to a caravan park at Echuca/Moama about a 100 ks downstream from that last camp. Echuca is an historic river port (established in the mid 1850s) where many paddle steamers and river boats still ply their trade, but mostly for tourists now, it is located 1700 ks upstream from it’s ocean estuary.
Again we took their Auntie (Kristie) with us for support and assistance!!! We drove up Friday evening after Kristie’s teaching had finished and Indi had come home from school.
Early on the first morning we strolled down to the waters edge in the park, Indi (Indianna) aged 6 and Mia aged 4. they both said “how goods this”
Mia loves collecting feathers, with the huge numbers of Correllas in the area she was in seventh heaven.
The park had a couple of lovely pools that we spent quite a bit of time in.
There was also an adventure water park but with it’s water being a bit cooler, only the girls got into that!!
They thought this camping stuff was the life for them Ha!!
The site we chose backed right onto the river, these pics were taken just behind our van.
The girls had never been to the Murray and so everything was new and exciting for them. At Echuca we decided to take the girls for a Paddle Steamer ride. The Wharf area is located in an historic precinct right in the middle of town on the rivers edge.
Some scenes near the Wharf as we waited for our departure time.
The Wharf was constructed in the early 1860s, being built so vessels could still load and unload as they wished during floods and droughts, the later which at the time we were experiencing.
We had to access our boat from right down at the bottom section.
The Paddle Steamer we went on, the Alexander Arbuthnot built in 1916.
The original steam engine that powers it.
And then the trip, it took us up river and then back past the port before returning, nearly 2 hours which was so much fun. The girls took full advantage of all the onboard facilities.
I was a little concerned when Mia took the wheel as I was not sure she knew exactly where we were going Ha!!
Some other vessels we saw near the Wharf area.
Heading upstream past the towns beach.
This is one of the more modern vessels that ply’s it’s trade on the river now.
We took the girls for their first swim in a River with a couple more Paddle Steamers passing us.
Behind the sandy beach was a lovely lawn area where we laid about for awhile whilst drying out.
The beauty of being in a caravan park is that children so easily make friends with other kids.
Here they are drawing with some other girls who were camped nearby.
On the way home we stopped at the Rochester Silos, the girls first silo art site, they were so impressed with their size and subject matter.
Well that’s it, our two weekends were quite a contrast, both brilliant but for different reasons
It did take a few days for our energy levels to return to normal from the second one, but we wouldn’t have changed anything for quids.
Regards to all and stay well.
Col
Post last edited on 16/04/2020 11:09:23
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The worst day above ground, is a whole lot better than the best one under it. Live life to the fullest while you can.
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