To download the launch edition of the e-zine (TOTALLY FREE), visit the website www.paddlemag.com and follow the instructions. The publisher
highly recommends downloading the magazine rather than viewing it through a browser, and to see it in all its full glory, have a look at it on your computer or iPad (via ibooks).

It is also relevant to our club in that it features none other than Richard Sharpe (pages 104 & 105).

Message #5 -  12th May 2012

JOURNEY COMPLETED

I finished my Murray trip on the 28th of April.
After 49 days continuous paddling, usually 8 hours a day I arrived at the Murray mouth via another shortcut at 9.30am. I was lucky with the weather crossing the lake. It has a reputation of getting very choppy in any kind of wind, being very shallow and big.

I had a wonderful time doing this trip and although it was at times quite hard and lonely I am really glad I decided to do it.
Living in Australia it has given me a lot of insight of how Australia must have been when the early explorers discovered the Murray and the country.
Of course a big part of the river is built up now, but there are lots of stretches where you could think you are the first person to be there.

The weather was very kind to me. Until the last week I had only the one full day of rain and one wet morning. There were lots of strong winds though, especially during that last week where the Murray does not wind as much. There are long straight stretches towards the west where the wind funnels along and builds up a steep chop. At the notorious Pellaring Reach even Captain Sturt waited for better weather, it was too rough for him they say. Well, I did not want any rest days so I kept going on, but at times was actually pushed backwards and had to take shelter in the reeds and willows. There I had some more rain as well.

The scenery does not change as much like on a bush walk, there are mainly the rivergums on both sides. On the upper Murray after leaving from Corryong you can see hills. Later I did not see any until I came into South Australia where there are also the colourful cliffs on one or the other side of the Murray.
Because I had a good full river I was having a better view sitting high, and I could see over the embankments most of the time.
Birdlife was prolific, especially waterbirds of course. I also saw eagles and other raptors, small kingfishers and other small birds and one emu only.
Other wildlife was a bit disappointing. I only met five kangaroos, a few white tailed water rats, one brown snake and one platypus as well as turtles and one seal.
Then of course I encountered the ones I didn’t want to see- rabbits, foxes and feral pigs.
That brings me to probably my most dangerous moment on the trip. One morning already in SA, I went into the bush minding my business, when I heard some snorting. I looked up and saw that I was surrounded by little piglets. I think if I had not kept sitting quietly until they disappeared on their own, mother pig would have attacked me.
I only met a few other day- paddlers and one couple who did it for a week.
There were very few caravan parks right next to the river which I could use, so it was mainly camping wild along the river. Sometimes in NSW, other times in Victoria. I tried to avoid Vic. because of the duck shooters. I could hear continuous shooting for some days and it worried me. I don’t think I looked like a duck but they might have had bad eyesight.
I did not have any equipment failure or accidents. I never had a bad day feeling unwell. I was bitten at least 50 times by mosquitoes every day, you just can’t avoid it, but I did not pick up any of those fevers.

Here is some really useless info: I did over a million paddle strokes!

Message #4 -  4th April 2012

I arrived in Robinvale this afternoon. Took a naughty short cut and almost payed for it. Got stuck in trees and branches and could not get out for a while. In the meantime the very strong current tipped me almost over and I got a lot of water in the boat. The worst thing was my Murray chart got a bit wet. That will teach me about taking short cuts. But I still arrived ahead of time. Since leaving Swan Hill I came past some very small places like Woodwood, Goodnight and Boundary Bend. I also passed the Wakool and Murrumbidgee junctions.
My most important event for yesterday was arriving at half way point 1200ks. I compared this a bit with climbing a very high mountain and I was at the top. In Austria and Germany we have a custom if you climb a mountain over a thousand metres you drink a Schnapps with whoever you are to Bruederschaft. As I also did the over thousand bit I had my hip flask ready and imagined you were all there and  I had a sip with and for each of you – as long as it lasted. I won’t tell who of you missed out. After that my day felt even better!

I am always slower going down hill, so this may be the case here too. But then I am as fit as I can get and soon I might be starting to smell home and all the goodies?

Weather is still great. Talked to the lock master this afternoon and arranged to sail through the lock. See how I go tomorrow at 9am.

Until next time Bernhard

Message #3 -  28th March 2012

Message #2 -  15th March 2012

Hi to all,
Just to let you know that I am fine and all went well so far. Finally could start on the 10th of March from the Bringenbrong bridge like planned. The first 2 days were very exhilarating with the very fast running current and speeds of up to 12-13 km/h. Then the Hume dam slowed me down with head winds and white caps. Now below the weir I have picked up some current again. I arrived to day on my 6th day 12km before Howlong. How long will I stay in Howlong you want to ask me I’m sure. I don’t know how long I will be in Howlong and how long it will take me to the end of my trip. But I am doing alright so far. Have travelled almost 250km.
It is great fun terrific scenery and so far beautiful weather.
Cheers Bernhard

Message #1 -    4th March 2012

Hi to all,

I am writing this to all my friends and people I know.
I am going to paddle the Murray River from Corryong near the Snowy Mountains to Goolwa in South Australia where the river meets the sea starting the kayaking on the 4th of March. I am using my Beachcomber-Barracuda Sea Kayak.
As I have not found anyone willing to do it with me I decided on doing it on my own. The distance I am going to paddle will be about 2350km, so by averaging 30km a day it should take me at least 75 days, not allowing for any rest days which might be necessary. I will sleep in my little hiking tent every night and and will eat similar style food like when bushwalking except when I come to towns along the Murray where I will splash out.
I will carry water from the towns in wine bladders as I do not want to drink the Murray water and deplete the river further. Occasionally I might throw into my boat a bladder containing its original contents. But nobody will know about this as I am trying to keep up my good reputation.
I will be in contact with friends by mobile and my notebook if I can keep them charged up and have reception. So I should be able to let most people know how I will progress.
I will also carry a PLB for any emergency. Nobody should worry about me, I have come through much worse OK.

Besides having the pleasure of doing this as a great adventure I will also do this for a good cause. I want to raise some money for Bloomhill which is a Cancer Help Centre from our Sunshine Coast. Those of you who knew my wife Elsie may also know that she did the occasional voluntary work at Bloomhill Cancer Help doing natural therapies on patients. So I thought it a good idea to continue a bit in that line.
Therefore I am asking you to give a little if you can afford it and go onto the ‘Everyday Hero’ website http://www.everydayhero.com.au/ and next to ‘a hero’ type Bloomhill and click Search, then my page should come up and it will be explained how you can donate any money by credit card. Alternatively, you can post a cheque made out to Bloomhill Cancer Help to me and I will hand them in after I finish my trip. I will also have a sealed money box on board where people along the Murray can put some banknotes in, no coins or I might sink soon. You are welcome to come and drop some in too if you are nearby, of course.
I would also ask you to forward this email to any friends of yours if you think there might be a chance they want to give a little.
I am thanking you all in advance for your contributions. Damn! Now I will have to write all this in German as well.

PS. I only expect friends from South Australia to come and meet me at the end at Goolwa.

Cheers Bernhard Weitkuhn

PS. Because of the floods here I will have to postpone the start of my paddle for a few days.
I arrived here at Tindaldra and are watching the Murray flowing past me at a terrific pace. Too dangerous to paddle in it.
Wish me luck that I can start very soon. I should be able to make up some of the lost time with a fast running current.
Bernhard