Day 101 Report

.Day 101 - 4/9/07 - At Loxton

Steve's Report: Only achieved 38km today after getting on the water at 10.30am. We had visited the Riverland Special School. This was different and a good time. They had double doors on the hall so we had the kayak inside and a good screen for the wombat show. As usual the kids were well behaved and there are always questions.

After an hour and a half paddling I reached lock 4 where Jonathan had met Steve, a local guy who had organised with us to paddle from there to Loxton. It was great having someone who could keep a good pace and then tell me what I was looking at. The dead trees were not pretty particularly when you know they were caused by salt and by evaporation ponds from the wine industry. Despite this the river is still a very pretty place.

Steve and I arrived at Loxton at 4.00pm where we did a photo shoot with Ali from the Loxton news and also an interview. I emphasised the connectedness of everything again, ie as part of addressing water problems you must address climate change and to address climate change you must address burning of fossil fuels, expecially coal. Most people around here seem to understand the issue of climate change.

The lady at the Loxton Caravan park was interested in our story and had heard us on the local radio so we are staying here for free for two nights. And it is a great site, right on the river with power. The caravan park is huge actually, so all the campers and vans are well away from each other. We really appreciate this sort of hospitality.

Jonathan's Report: The past few days have been good with Steve reaching Loxton this afternoon. We are now set up at a caravan park on the river and will remain here until Thursday.

Last Sunday, being the 2nd of September (Fathers Day) Steve decided to take the day off and head south in the Navara to scope out the Great Southern Ocean. It was good being able to check out what was ahead of him and how serious the Great Southern Ocean really is. Many people had told Steve that it is a very dangerous stretch of water and that people have had to be rescued by helicopter many times. After having a look for ourselves and sussing the good and bad parts out, we came to the conclusion that he will be fine if he picks a good day (weather wise).

Monday morning Steve was interviewed by ABC Riverland radio in the studio and later talked to the kids at Renmark State Primary School who all had a laugh at his expense after telling them he wears a skirt to keep the water out when he paddles in the ocean. Form there it was back to the river and Steve paddled a further 30km into Berri.

We packed up camp early Tuesday morning as we were due at the Berri Special School at 9:30am. After speaking to the kids there Steve set off on the river again and was joined by a fellow kayaker who paddled with Steve to Loxton. Steve enjoyed paddling with somebody who knew the river well and was able to point out interesting parts to him.
It is now Wednesday morning and we are currently waiting for Win T.V. to do a story on Steve and then we will head up to the school to talk to the kids at Loxton State Primary School.

This is shown on our maps as the ferry at Berri The neat addition of keep left or keep right would be
a great help on Moreton Bay when you don't know
which is supposed to be upstream
and which is downstream
In this area there are a lot of orchards
up above the cliffs
Paddling mate Steve (and a fine name too) This place had been there a long time (see palm tree
size). According to Steve the dead trees on the left are
from salt running from the irrigated orchards and coming
out below the cliff. There are some salt interceptors that
have been built but Steve reckons too little too late
Loxton Pumping Station (to irrigated properties)
For the Watergates guys this is Loxton Water
Treatment Plant and that is a United Utilities sign.
The plant is up near the blue thing at the top
Steve meeting up with Steve to paddle towards Loxton Campsite at Loxton
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