Day 3 Tooleybuc to Marker 1266

I was awake early, there was a rooster announcing the day not far away and bird chorus not long after. Simon reckons there were dogs barking and a woman shouting last night but I didn’t hear any of that. I am able to sleep anytime and after solid day paddling nothing could keep me awake.

We packed and wandered down to the General Store to buy salad rolls for lunch. I also got a pie for breakfast and a coffee. Simon got a pie and an orange juice for breakfast. It saved me having to break out the pots and pans to make coffee to have with muesli which is our breakfast when we camp out.

Simon was faffing about trying to find the key to amenities which he needed to return before we left. In the end he gave up and went off to the dunny before we headed over to the boat ramp. He came back with a big grin on his face. Apparently the key fell out when he dropped his dax. Not sure where he was keeping it. In any case he was relieved!

It was a lovely sunny morning although the wind was cold as it has been so far on this trip. After Tooleybuc for most of the morning the river twists and turns constantly. After km we were anticipating “Bitch and Pups” otherwise known as Cochran’s Bend which has a reputation for being difficult - not today though as we past it without realising it. Shortly after we pulled up on a beach for our 1st salad roll. We had paddled 16 km in the first 2 hours so we were on schedule.

After break we paddled on, the river continued to twist and turn through lovely river bends. There were quite a few fisherman about and we had brief conversations with them as we passed. Just on 12.30 we reached the junction of the Wakool River, a beautiful spot. Simon thought of buying NSW real estate and was considering looking at listings when he gets home. I could probably sell him a sandbar!

It was an ideal spot for lunch. We put up our chairs and sat back to enjoy our 2nd salad roll and a couple of biscuits. We had good rest before setting off again.

The afternoon began to drag as we couldn’t find a suitable campsite until something after the time we had agreed to finish. Eventually we found a nice beach on the NSW side and decided to camp there. It was very windy.

Wildlife today: Birds - not as much as the previous days although this ibis was unconcerned as I drifted past with my camera.