Heading back upstream

 25th July 2025

Today is a miserable day. We wake to rain and not her easterly winds that we will be heading into for most of the day. After breakfast we sat around for a while hoping condition would improve, but in the end just decided to head off and see how we go.

The houseboat has no windscreen wipers and the wind was blowing the rain directly onto the screen, so we were relying on manual wipers to give us some visibility through what is the trickiest part of our trip from navigation point of view.


Bob cleaning the windscreen

We finally reached Lock 1 at 12.30 pm, and had to tie up and wait for the lock keeper to return to duty, as the lock is closed between 11.30 am and 1 pm for lunch. I called the lock keeper at 1 pm and I suspect he was still at the pub, but he dutifully appeared about 5 minutes later and began to empty the lock so we could enter. About10 minutes later we were given the given the green light to enter the lock. 



Lock gates opening for us to enter

Soon we were lifted to the upstream level and we’re on our way. Still less than ideal conditions, but we can cover some distance and maybe give ourselves a chance to go further upstream than Morgan (where we picked up the boat) before we have to return it on Monday.

Conditions ease after a few hours, the rain abates and there is virtually no wind, so we look for a spot to spend the night.

By late afternoon the skies are clearing and we found a good area with flat ground to nose into the shore.




As the sun began to set the usual afternoon light lit up our surrounding area making us quickly forget the miserable weather we have been in for most of the day.


Houseboat moored across the river




Our mooring would be a great spot to sit around a fire after dinner, but everything is saturated and it is still bitterly cold.

Late in the afternoon another large houseboat passes us by, it is one of the very few we have seen this week.



We had a BBQ for dinner as the rain appears to have gone .

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Off to the Murray

Image
 11th July 2025 Having taken our van to Hawks Nest after picking it up, we sorted out a few teething issues and are now heading off on our first extended trip down to the Murray River and SA. Leaving Sydney at a leisurely 10 am, our first destination is Jugiong, just ff the Hume Highway past Yass. The weather is less than ideal with strong westerly winds gusting to 30 knots in part of the trip but it did not pose any major towing issues other than very healthy extra fuel consumption. We were in Jugiong in the early afternoon and opted to stay in Jugiong Memorial Park, next to the showground. It is a huge open space near the river, with plenty of room for everyone and toilet facilities, water and a dump spot. The only cost is a suggested donation which seems to be $10 per night.   There is a pub across the road, The Sir George Hotel, which looks like a good place for dinner after a day on the road. Fortunately we wandered over there at about 5.45 pm, (it was already dark), and ...
Read more

Rutherglen

Image
 12th July 2025 The drive to Rutherglen is only a bit over 250 km, so we are in no hurry. I have time for a walk around our park and also a bit of Jugiong, before we need to head off. We can't check in to the caravan park in Rutherglen until 2 pm, so will take our time. I soon discover how huge this park area is, it could take hundreds of caravans, so everyone is well spread out and there are many sites along the Murrumbidgee River, but they are a long way from the toilets. We are camped not far from the entrance. Entrance to Memorial Park Areas further inside the park are barely utilised   This area faces the river and there are a few more vans there The Catholic Church in town sits high above the town looking down on the village and river on the southern side of town. The view from the Church looks over memorial park and the show ground Once we were all packed and left the park, we only got as far as across the road to stop for our morning coffee at a very nice coffee shop, ...
Read more

Last Day in Rutherglen

Image
 14th July 2025 It is bitterly cold this morning and the heater is on as soon as we rise. At least it should be nice when the sun comes out as the skies are very clear. This morning we drove into Wodonga to get a few spare parts and do a bit of shopping. It is only a 30 minute drive from here. On the way back we called in to have a look at Morris Wines, which now appears to be more of a whisky distillery than a winery. The only people there were the employees. There is plenty of room in the car park for visitors Quite a bit of money has been invested since we were last here The tasting room It was then back to the caravan park. Once we had got everything organised and fitted a new stabiliser leg to the van, we went down the street for lunch. By the time we got back to the park our neighbours from Bayview had arrived in their van and set up in a site nearby. They left Sydney on Sunday, overnighting in Gundagai. The Churchills set up nearby As we are moving on to Echuca tomorrow, we ...
Read more