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Mr Faber is the President of the Australian Cartoonist's Association. He takes report from the river and turns them into comic strips. Witty, intelligent and colourful, Jules captures the expedition in his unique way.
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Well, this is it, the last day of the expedition. Just 22km remained to the Murray Mouth, via the freshwater Goolwa Channel, and then the seawater Coorong. A real treat awaited at the end in the form of a leaping seal, and a wide open Mouth. We made it.
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The final major obstacle of the expedition, Lake Alexandrina is a killer. An early morning rise to beat the wind and then over 30km of open water separated Wellington from the Goolwa Channel.
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The true countdown begins, as Dave passes the 100km to go marker and passes the Wellington ferry, where he first came across the Murray over three years ago. The seed was born right there and then, and to be so close to completing this journey feels wonderful.
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There's nothing like the promise of a luxury five star retreat to encourage a paddler through three hot days on the Murray. The team has now grown as the journey winds down, and they arrived just in time for some scenic treats.
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Eventually the Murray completes its western course and bends south. Much of the way the banks are sheer 70 metre cliff faces, and with fine company, the occasional paddle steamer and heavy winds, we were into the final 300km straight by Blanchetown.
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Three long days through the Riverland, via Berri, Loxton and Kingston. Dave is joined by a few paddlers and then by the Dodds family, who he met on the first day of the expedition when hiking to the source. The kilometre count descends into the 400's.
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The Southern Hemisphere's largest collection of roses and an educational visit to the Angove Winery underlined a restful day off in Renmark.
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Wide river here, and testing headwinds (story of the day). Lock 6 lowers the river into some temporarily dry, arid country but the wetlands and creeks in the Riverlands are well cared for, a pleasure to paddle.
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An astoundingly beautiful section of the Murray covering almost 200km of river. Practically untouched bar Locks 7, 8 and 9, the wildlife on display is second to none and the river a pleasure to paddle (when there are no headwinds on long straights!)
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55km of rather heavy headwinds, dead turtles, artists and possibly the expedition's most notable landmark to date, the confluence of the Darling and the Murray, Australia's two largest rivers.
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Much needed rest-up in one of the Murray's biggest towns, Mildura. Plenty to see, though, thanks to Shane and Chris from www.murrayriver.com, and a great trip on the PS Melbourne Paddle Steamer.
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Head down and aiming for Mildura. Along the way meet a group of friendly men in purple, discover some beautiful and untouched sandbars, witness incredible sunsets and pass the coveted 1000km mark. Although the sign wasn't there. Finally, into Mildura!
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Through Lock 15 with two very helpful fellas, and onwards downstream encountering pelicans, monitor lizards, humerous toilet signs and a wonderfully gushing environmental flow into the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park.
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Long straights and endless bends in 40+ temperatures, with the water backing up now from the Euston Weir. Tough, but beautiful, birds everywhere and the evenings still and peaceful. Great section.
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A non-stop day on the river, past the Murrumbidgee Junction, past the journey's halfway mark, and finally to Boundary Bend where much refueling and hydrating (of the heathy kind) goes on.
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Another chance meeting with a cycling Canadian, another 40 degree day, another meet with random men in a tinny, and a great deal of kangaroos.
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A short day, dictated by extreme heat which led to all kilometres completed by 1pm, with the intention of doing more post-siesta. Plan foiled by meeting three men in a tinny, and saving a man's life (kind of)
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Dave was joined out of Swan Hill by a couple of paddlers, Mush and Duff. The Murray is beginning to widen now, entering pastoral country. The pelicans are now joined by cows and sheep, and the occasional trio of Europeans on rope swings.
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A long day between Murrabit and Swan Hill meant a day and a half of rest and admin, much needed! Dave was greeted by the town's mayor (bearing presents) on arrival, and then he put his camera away and slept/worked for a while.
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The expedtion's longest day so far. Over 8 hours on the water and 70km paddled in 40 degree heat. Pulled up in the outskirts of Swan Hill at a lovely camping spot, but surrounded by flies and insects. These are the real horrors of the Aussie summer!
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Really informative morning touring around Barham and the Koondrook Perricoota Red Gum forest with Faye Ashwin and Popsy O'Brien. Another 46km were paddled too, ending at Murrabit around dusktime...
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A short 38km burst to Barham Koondrook along a narrow Murray bordered by River Red Gum forests. Accomodation already arranged, and company that evening including irrigators, sawmillers and a fisherman named Roger, who supplied fishing lessons and beer!
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The Expedition's largest km count to date, helped along in no small amount by Peter and Tim Phillips from St Joseph's in Echuca, and Ruth, who was our land crew for the day. More Blue Miles on the board, and 58km nearer the mouth we go...
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A long night involving a possum and a bag of food wasn't good preparation for a long day starting with an early radio interview and continuing with backed up water from Turrumbarry Weir. Finally though, after lunch on a tree, the Weir was conquered...
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Dave was joined out of Echuca by twelve paddlers from St Joseph's School they just wanted to check he was actually going we think. Later in the day came enormous houseboats, some interesting properties and a swimming snake.
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A much needed two-day rest was slightly foiled by a great day at the Echuca Races, a tour around town and a couple of talks at the local College.
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The Monday of the first long weekend of the summer, especially in Victoria, is carnage. Motorsports ruled on the river and it didn't make easy paddling for much of the 39 degree day. Reaching Echuca was a blessing, an incredible place buzzing with history. Worth the slog!
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With temparatures pushing the mid 30's and a river teeming with speed boats, Dave shoots through the Barmah choke, finds a koala and a blind turtle, and another 40km paddled takes him a day and 10km ahead of schedule.
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Into the 1700's we go, the day being celebrated by two drunk men floating and two sober men playing the drums. The end of the day was fillled with smoke, as a bushfire just a few kilometres away threatened to blow nearer.
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The first in what promised to be a series of hot days, a thirty kilometre romp included a hunt for the expedition's first koala, and a gowing keeness for what used to be a treat, but now is so much more.!
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Bank-hugging cockatoos, flooded canoe clubs huts, water pumps, beaches full of people who are very comfortable in their own skin, enormous fake fish and lawn bowls, what a day!
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The expedition's first capsize, first paddle steamer, and first meeting with a cheesestick maker! The day ends on Thompson's Beach, which believe it or not is one of Australia's finest.
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Farewell to Gael, and some more Blue Miles for the Yarrawonga Canoe Club. Dave's first day of paddling is a long, hot one. The Murray's beaches provide picturesque respite, though, as Dave paddles west.
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Gael's last day on the water is marked by a second open water-ish crossing, this time across the stunning Lake Mulwala. The Yarrawonga Mulwala Canoe Club are out in force again in the evening, as well, adding more Blue Miles to our total.
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Dave's 30th birthday is marked by the expedition's first snake, several unruly power boats, and some company and genorosity from members of the Yarrawonga-Mulwala Canoe club, who join Dave and Gael for some Blue Miles.
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With three days to Yarrawonga the flow is beginning to slow, with water backed up all the way from Yarrawonga wier. Dave and Gael make haste towards an unknown middle-destination, fortified by a tent-delivered breakfast and some fine Nutella spread.
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Fast day on the water. With supplies to stock up on and web updating to be done Dave and Gael put heads down and knock another 27km on the head. Still turtles lined the banks, birdlife prominent as ever, and behold, a pipe putting water back into the Murray.
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A short afternoon of paddling with perfect temperatures and plenty to see. A water gate separating a (dry) wetlands from the Murray, several signs that the river isn't now holding the capacity it used to, and the best camping spot so far..
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Howlong to Howong? Plenty of fallen trees and birdlife filled the day, as we meandered further west of Albury. Highlight was an outside bend thriving with spawning carp, hundreds of them splashing us silly.
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Always great to get back on the river. The sun was shining, Nala the kayak was low in the water, but Prime TV came out to see us off and Ben from Reconnect Wodonga joined Gale and Dave for a few km too.
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'Rest Day' is pushing the bar a bit. Several interviews, including one down by the Murray with the Border Mail. Also plenty of reshuffling, with an Albury stash now needing a kayak home as well.
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A tour around Hume Dam itself, and then back onto the Murray. It's a different river below the Dam, we've paddled from Alpine to tropical in just a few days. A rest in Albury beckons after a fully laden paddle.
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Lake Hume was a good two day paddle, and this was the second. Strong headwinds, more unique views of the Lake and a lunch snack dedicated to a couple of Dave's distance skating team member. Peter and Tim's last day, too.
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This was Lake Hume, for real. Incredible scenery, with dead trees poking their black branches above the surface to create a thought-provoking yet strangely alluring irrigration cemetary. For the first time, Dave and crew were now in open water, then the storms arrived.
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Today the Murray threatened to reach Lake Hume, which especially horrified Peter who was paddling a tub of a sit-on-top kayak and needed all the flow he could get!.
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After a wonderful night with Betty Walton in Tintaldra's B&B it was time to return to the Murray. Later in the day Dave and Peter were to be joined by another paddler, Gael Evans from France/Wales, a fine photographer and wildlife expert.
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This is what the journey was all about, getting on the water. Dave was joined by Peter Dowling MP, from Queensland. He and his brother-in-law Tim had driven 18 hours the previous night and would join the exped for a week. It was time to get personal wih the Murray.
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With the Murray's source claimed, it was time for Dave to gently make his way down from the hills, his kayak awaited! The rushing Murray begins to take flow, he sees the first bridge across the river, and meets a huge mob of very lazy kangaroos.
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After reaching the Murray's Source, Dave had to turn back and follow the path back to Dead Horse Gap. Thanks to Mother Nature, though, this wasn't quite as simple as you might think.
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Before Dave starts paddling he needs to get to the Murray's Source, with a hilly 40km amble from the delightfully named Dead Horse Gap to the Source near Cowombat Flat.
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Ro and Dave head south-east, following the Murray between Albury and Biggara, the first stretch Dave will paddle a few days later. Incredible views over Lake Hume, which exists because of a huge irrigation dam.
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Only two days in the lofty New South Wales town to recover from jetlag, pull together everything needed for the expedition and put some stickers on the kayak.
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