Week 13: Waikerie to Mannum - 152 km to go
- anjawever45
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Cy and I have arrived in Mannum, we have 152 km to go. We have completed 2404 km of rowing and hiking! Now that we are close, our mind and bodies are playing tricks on us - it’s actually really hard to keep pushing. As with the other many legs, this one was again fueled by experiences that we will treasure, involving sprinklers, storms & a stowaway goat!
Waikerie Rowing Club
We owe a huge thank you to Leslie Lennel and Malcolm Mann from Waikerie Rowing Club, who generously helped us with our gear and even transported my boat to their landing. Both joined us for the first 5 km row leaving Waikerie before saying their good byes. Thank you, Les and Malcolm!
What our adventure means to us
When Cy and I found ourselves marooned in Morgan for three days thanks to yet another wild storm, it sparked a little reflection. Wind gusts of 75km/hr? Definitely not ideal for kayaking and certainly not rowing.
There’s a certain kind of adventurer who prides themselves on going ultra-light, roughing it for weeks without a shower, and braving every storm. That’s not quite us. We carry gear. Enough to stay warm in our tent, cook nourishing meals, and yes, even clean ourselves regularly. Every few hundred kilometers, we take refuge in a humble cabin to wash clothes, nurse sore spots, and feel the luxury of four walls around us. Some comfort doesn’t invalidate adventure—it helps us keep going.
Small town visits
We’ve passed through some charming townships lately—Morgan, Blanchetown, Swan Reach, and Walker Flat—all of which offered cafés, grocery stores, and a chance to stretch our legs. We also completed Locks 2 and 1, marking the very last locks of our journey. Feels so great!
The great sprinkler escape
Camping at Walker Flat came with a surprise wake-up call. At 5am, I thought I was being doused in a sideways rainstorm—until Cy mentioned he was perfectly dry. Turns out, I had pitched my tent right on top of a sprinkler system. Drenched and groggy, we ended up dragging my tent across the freezing campground in a 3-degree morning scramble. Laughable now. Miserable then as my gear got wet.
Meet Goatrude, the unexpected companion
One morning, paddling past Donaldson Lagoon, we heard the unmistakable bleating of distress. A tiny goat—alone, hungry, and desperate—ran out of the bush and leapt straight onto Cy’s kayak. She melted our hearts instantly. We named her Goatrude.
After feeding her and trying to move on, she chased us down the riverbank, clearly unwilling to be left behind. So... we turned back. Cy made room for her in his kayak while I tracked down a couple on the far bank who promised to care for her. Part of me wanted to bring her all the way home.
Ice, fog & almost there
As we rowed toward Mannum, we woke to thick frost coating our boats and a heavy blanket of fog over the river. It made for an eerie row and some seriously beautiful footage. Cy was in pilot mode, guiding me along the banks as we could only see 2 m in front of us. It’s so cold!
Mannum Rowing Club
We managed to meet Brian 1 and Brian 2 and their crew at Mannum Rowing Club for a quick hello and a tour of the boat house and history. This was greatly appreciated! Thank you for seeing us!
Next stops:
Murray Bridge and rowing club, Tailem Bend and rowing club, and Wellington. After that… we will tackle the mouth of the mighty Murray and hope to meet Goolwa Rowing Club as we complete our mammoth journey!
Thank you so much for all the love and support. The finish line is in sight—and I still can’t quite believe it.
Anja & Cy
