Kayak 4 Earth

.Day 52 - 17/7/07 - At the Top of the Bourke Weir

Steve's Report: Dave loves records so today was a record day. I really wanted to get to Bourke but after 51km I was still 30km from the weir downstream of Bourke. Anyway I was quite pleased with that result. I had morning tea and then just pushed on until I saw Dave at 3.30pm where he had a cup of coffee ready and a hot bacon sandwich and then I pushed on down the weir pool until 5.15pm.

The weir kicks in about 45km upstream of the weir. As the effect of the salty intrusion becomes less the water gets murkier until you can't see into it.

Dave's Report: Today Steve did very well with the paddle and managed to punch out 51km on his way to Bourke. Whilst he was very keen to make it to North Bourke and possibly paddle through the late evening, sanity prevailed. I had setup a coffee and bacon sandwich stop by the side of the river which he was relutant to stop at. After getting out with jelly legs (legs are used almost as much as the arms when paddling) and after a quick bite he agreed to do just a short distance further.

The caravan park was a bit of an eye opener. It was the largest herd of grey nomads I have witnessed in the same spot. The herd would leave in the morning, move onto grener pastures and be replaced by a new herd in the evening. There were many members migrating from the colder climate of Victoria.
Kidman has a regular bush poet and artist, Brian Allen. He provided a basic feed of sausages and vegetables whilst entertaining with a poetry reading and a bit of larakinism, something different.

Tonight went socialising at the local, The Northy. It was established in 1892. Met Paul (the boss), Cailey, Trevor, Dan, Kirra and Cole. There is a bit of a tradition in the Northy, called the 'North Bridge Run'. A 200m run you do if you don't make a start on the darts or the pool. I was looking in trouble at one stage in the darts but managed to get a few points off the board (starting with 501).


This is where I had morning tea. It looks fine until you realise it is all mud and I used the log to get above the wet mud line	Plenty of goats in this part of the river