DAY 29 - ECHUCA/MOAMA

ECHUCA/MOAMA

DAY 29


Ah yes.

I have decided from today onwards that I wish to reincarnate as a paddle steamer.

There could be worse forms of existence than chugging gently up and down the river all day long, people admiring you, everyone on board relaxed and enjoying the ride, puffing off a bit of steam every so often, tooting your horn just because you can, the sound and feel of a beautifully reconditioned motor rhythmically thumping along at a speed that is neither fast nor slow…..

Today I took a ride upon the P.S Pevensey.

It is the second oldest of the fleet that still operates from the Port of Echuca.

The oldest is the P.S Adelaide, which dates to 1866.

Pevensey dates to 1910 and was made into a movie star during the 1980’s when it headlined as “Philadelphia” in an Aussie TV series called “All the Rivers Run”.

There was an option to take an all day ride with the Adelaide – this included lunch at a nearby wine estate and I guess the rest of the time would have been spent on the river.

As it happened, an hour on the Pevensey was sufficient (and just a little more budget friendly)……

This is not an experience that should be compared with climbing K-2 blindfolded or BASE jumping off the Chrysler Building, however it is something I could easily recommend to anyone.

In fact my Top 5 list of “Things to do in Australia” has now officially received a new entrant.

Don’t ask me for the other 4, but I would say at the very least Melbourne, Noosa, Tasmania and southern coastal NSW would all make the cut…..

With the pungent smell of burning redgum still in my nostrils and the errant hooting of paddle steamers in the night still wringing through my ears, I continue my onwards journey tomorrow.

It has been a wonderful stay in Echuca and the next destination is set to be Kerang.

This afternoon’s weather has taken a downward turn - for the first time on the trip.

A cold front has moved in from the southwest, bringing rains and what I expect will be a gusty headwind tomorrow.

There is something close to 100 km to be covered, which may now be tough going in the conditions.

Next report: Kerang…..