Week 8 & 9: Arriving at Mildura

Cy and I have made it to Mildura— close to 1,700 km into our journey, with 886 km still to go!

A Swift Change of Plans

After a lovely send-off from Stephen Goodwin at Robinvale Rowing Club, who kindly collected us from our cabin and helped us launch from the club’s pontoon, we set off towards Mildura.

Our original plan was to take about nine days, covering roughly 30 km per day. However, the forecast predicted a massive storm from Day 7, lasting at least three days. Camping out in the wild under those conditions didn’t seem appealing, so we adjusted our pace, rowing between 35 and 40 km per day to reach Mildura before midday on Day 7.

Red Mist Moments

A humorous phrase Cy uses to describe the oncoming descent of an extreme outburst. Well, this time Cy got to experience a red mist moment from his mother, after a particularly frustrating episode. This journey is pushing both of us in ways we never expected. It’s a stark reminder that being outside of our comfort zone brings out sides in ourselves we don’t normally see. It’s also reinforcing just how crucial our basic needs are for thriving—Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in action!

Thankfully, campfires and warm cups of tea provide the perfect setting for reflection and apologies.

Ailments Setting In

The sheer volume of rowing and prolonged exposure to water are taking their toll. Over the past 200 km:

• My feet are bruised, with dry skin on my lower legs from constant immersion in water and mud. Did I tell you about yabbies nibbling on my feet?

• My hands, despite wearing gloves, are dry and calloused.

• My bottom, well, that is a different story and I wish I had set off with a few extra pounds to lose.

  
  

Equipment Failure

Our gear is reaching its limits:

• My tent zippers are getting stuck from mud and sand, and my fly now has a tear—too many trips over the guy lines! I am currently brushing the tent zippers clean with a toothbrush while adding silicone spray in the hope that it will last me the final leg.

• Our gravity water filter is permanently blocked despite backflushing and I now resolve to bashing it against the tree to unclog, bash, unclog. Not good timing.

• Cy had to replace his sleeping pad already, and my mattress, affected by temperature shifts, now deflates considerably during the night and I have a new midnight ritual of inflating my mat.

These may seem like minor inconveniences, but for us, they’re critical. Our tent—however basic—is our home and refuge each night, and we rely on drawing our water supply from the Murray River. Oh, and we have an amber alert for blue green algae, too!

The Journey Through Euston, Wemen, Colignan, and Beyond

At Euston Lock 15, we met Greg, the lock master, and took our time getting through since we both love a good chat. On the other side, we were greeted by hundreds of pelicans, red cliffs, and gorgeous beaches.

As we rowed further, the river widened significantly, changing the experience and making us more susceptible to winds.

The section between Gol Gol and Mildura was breathtaking, with tranquil lagoons and abundant bird life.

Reaching Mildura

On Day 7, we were on the water before 8 a.m. The surface was like glass, and we felt the excitement of reaching another major milestone and a town!

About 6 km from Mildura, Russel from the Mildura Rowing Club cheered us on, reminding us we were nearly there. At the 4 km mark, a quad of men rowed out to greet us—an emotional moment for me when people go out of their way to make us feel special and supported!

Following the crew into Mildura, they guided us onto their pontoon, ensuring a smooth landing. As a rower, visiting clubs along the Murray River feels like reuniting with family. Rowing clubs provide familiarity, security, and the assurance that in case of an equipment failure, I have support.

A particularly special moment? As we arrived under the Mildura bridge, the paddle steamer PS Melbourne sounded its horn—just for us! A huge thank you to Adam Auditori, its new owner.

And there was Neville who took it on himself to record our arrival and share the footage. I learned about circle trees where trees, often river red gums are modified to have their branches bound together to form a ring shape, marking a territory or serving as a boundary marker for Aboriginal tribes.

I also met John Mensforth, a lock master at Lock 11 who provided a quick history of his family of bridge builders and lock masters going back generations.

Support and Rest

The Mildura Rowing Club crew went above and beyond—not only carrying our boats to the club but also hauling our gear and even helping to clean the boats! I was exhausted, so their kindness meant the world. After cleaning up, we took part in a photo shoot, and a club member kindly drove us to our accommodation.

Soon after, the wind picked up, and the next day brought a massive storm. I feel incredibly grateful to be in a secure cabin, waiting out the weather before we begin the next leg—319 km to Renmark!