Packrafting the Goobarragandra River
Chris and Dom snuck out of work to take advantage of the wet weather and headed out for a cheeky packraft on the Goobarragandra River.
Unroll, inflate, pressurise. As usual with packrafts, it's a quick setup. They literally inflate in minutes (not an understatement).
It was a cold and miserable, the type of day where it just drizzles all day. Bad weather doesn't worry Chris with his power ranger dry suit. As a wise person once said, 'there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear'.
Chris and Dom started at the Thomas Boyd Trackhead, for a taste of some smaller rapids before heading up to what is known as 'The Chute'.
Chris going over the game plan. This bridge forms part of the Hume and Hovell track that passes through the Thomas Boyd Track Head. The track head is a great spot to camp. Spend your days hiking, fishing, paddling, swimming followed by nights around the campfire.
Approaching the first set of rapids.
All smiles after a successful first run!
The beauty of pack rafting is doing a quick run, hopping out and walking back for another go.
A little bit of a scrub bash getting back up to the road. It's no trouble for the durability of a Kokopelli.
Time to move on to some bigger rapids upstream. The lazy option was taken and the packrafts were strapped to the roof, rather than deflate and re-inflate when we got to the next spot. Arguably this would take just as long. Lucky they are light!
Scouting the next rapid, this one is known as 'The Chute'. It's Dom's first time taking on grade 3 water so Chris is doing a little coaching.
The sensei showing the student how it's done.
Dom's turn, note Chris is ready with the rescue rope ;)
Weeeeee! Nailed it.
A quick debrief before another attempt.
A solid start.
A not so solid finish.
Ooof.
And then all smooth sailing back to the car shuttle.