Nature Euphoria

After a few days of resting and contemplation by the river, I had some big decisions to make. With a broken canoe and stage three restrictions coming into place (to prevent the spread of COVID-19) the potential to continue my paddle journey down the rivers was dwindling.

Upon reaching Shepparton, things began to change, from the depth of the deep river, winding from Murchison we slowly emerged back into civilisation. Pirate rafts, fridges and cars in the river and trees indicated this.

The river flows into lake Nagambie; as the water begins to flow slower and the river grows wider, inundating the banks and spanning across the landscape. The meandering river transforms into a vast body of water that lays by the rural town of Nagambie, forming lagoons and peninsulars, wetlands and marshlands that at times seem more familiar to Louisiana than Victoria.

A Sacred Kingfisher darts under a small silver wattle, crouching over the bank in the golden light of early evening. He joins a friend, together they sing and sway on a branch overhanging the water, as we slowly pass by in silent reverie.

Floating down the river as it runs through Murrindindi shire, a place so familiar to me, is the perfect way to settle into my new lifestyle and anticipate the long journey ahead. 

Making a paddle is easy, all you do is get a piece of wood and remove everything that isnt a paddle.

The mountain ash trees grow tall, reaching towards the sky forming a vast forest canopy and the dense community of tree ferns blossom out of the understory below.