Day 5 Burrowye Reserve, Murray River to Elvish Island, Lake Hume ( 40 km)

The 1st few hours this morning we were paddling anticipating arriving on Lake Hume. The river gradually widened and we were probably in the upper reaches of the Lake although the countryside was still riverine and Simon would not agree that we were on the lake until it looked like a lake.

At one point we pulled over for morning tea on sandy edge below a higher river bank. While we were there a couple of cars suddenly arrived on top of the bank. The family of the property owner had come down to the river to fish at the very spot where we had pulled up.


After that we pushed on and found ourselves on the lake itself. We paddled on until lunchtime which we had on a lakeside field that had both pelicans and sheep grazing.


Our 1st potential stealth campsite offered some protection from the elements but Simon wasn’t happy so we paddled on. Simon’s comment about this campsite "If it looks like rocky ground and feels like rocky ground you can better your bottom dollar it will be rocky when you go to lie down on it" (What a softy!!).

The wind picked up and we had to push hard into the wind. Although we had been paddling for a long way it was good to work into the wind. we must be getting a bit fitter at this kayak business.

Following the map we pushed up the north side of the lake until our progress was blocked by a mud bank connected to an island. We turned back and paddled around the other before deciding the wind was too strong and we should pitch out tents on the island.

There wasn’t much protection but the wind dropped later and the island turned into the best campsite of the trip. To send messages to our families we did have to climb up to the highest part of the island.

The almost full moon above the lake with hundreds of dead trees was a beautiful evening scene.