The Yarra River

The last few weekends, we've been enjoying the Yarra River - when the weather is hot enough!  Last weeked we tried out a kayak - Ulf is pictured on it here.  We decided to float downstream awhile and see what's it's like, as we had never been there before.  I was on an air mattress and Ulf in the kayak and off we went.  After the first bend we decided to try and head back, but the current was too strong for me.  I was going to walk back along the bank, but a couple who were enjoying the sun there, suggested that I simply float down further and Ulf could pick me up in the car at the next canoe launching place downstream.  The man told me that I was more than halfway there.  So Ulf paddled upstream against the current, stopping once for a break.  The water was flowing a lot faster than usual and was a metre higher than normal as well (from all the rain).  So I floated dowstream by myself....

The first set of rapids were kind of fun.  The second and third were bigger and scarier, especially since I was by myself.  Dead trees and live ones were in the path of the current so I had to manuvere myslef through each rapid so as to avoid them.  By the fourth rapid, which was by far the biggest at 40cm at least, and which ended with white foam(!), I had had enough and was desperate to get out of the water!  I was without any life jacket or helmet - just my hat and sunnies, t-shirt and water bottle!  At the first opportunity I got out of the water.  There were bench seats on the river bank, so I followed the path in the right direction until I reached the carpark - 20 minutes later!  We found out on the map later that we were only one third of the way to the next launching ramp!  That's the last time I trust a stranger's advice!

Yesterday we visited the river again, but this time it was moving slowly and the water level had dropped by about a metre.  It was peaceful and serene as we floated around and listened to the birds.

Above:  The gum tree in the front yard is flowering - lovely!