Mini-Run Renmark to Customs House 13-20 August 2021This multi-day out-and-back event, organized by Lindsay Dent, gave opportunities for boats ranging from canoes to house boats. 12 boats were registered, including small- to medium-sized cruisers, trailer sailers and a couple of small houseboats. 22 participants attended an excellent pre-cruise dinner at Jimmy's Thai in Renmark on Friday night. Saturday to Monday the fleet travelled up to Customs House, with a visit to the Woolshed Brewery at Wilkadene for lunch on Saturday. Camps were made at the Murtho Forest Landing public reserve and with permission, on private land near Chowilla Island. Two boats were pulled out at Customs House so that the owners could meet work and other appointments. Monday night was spent near Customs House just inside the SA-Vic border and from Tuesday to Friday 10 boats cruised back downstream with the assistance of a significant current. Camps included one near the 614km mark, Murtho Forest Landing and again with permission, on private land near Wilhelms Bend. Friday night people camped either on the finger wharves or at the holiday park at Renmark. Approximately a dozen people travelled out to The Mallee Fowl restaurant for quality food and quirky decor. The weather was excellent for the whole week, with bright sunny days, some cool evenings and virtually no rain. Programmed raising of water levels above Locks 5 and 6 to flood wetlands gave us the opportunity to explore the creeks of this stretch of the river. Three canoes were deployed at various times during the trip and were used to explore Woolshed Creek and the backwaters around Ninkle Nook Bend. Some intrepid skippers took larger vessels in to explore the backwaters, including the Amazon and Little Hunchee Creeks as far as the high footbridge.

Photos above and below by Lindsay Dent. Click on small images to enlarge and cycle through.

Photos below by Paul Knifton. L > R: Renmark wharf the night before departure; campfire cooking with the Biji Barbis at work; Lock 6 (2 pics); exploring the Amazon, up to the high bridge (6 pics). Click on a photo to expand and scroll through.

Photos below by David Jones (Krackacan). L>R: Renmark morning (5 pics); dinner at Jimmy's Thai; The Woolshed Brewery (3 pics); Murtho Forest Landing camp (2 pics); part the fleet on sparkling waters; swallow and Lady J; Solway; Nu-Lee; Medina; campsite Jenga; Chowilla Station; Lindner's.