Northern Rivers Social Trip 2020

Day 1: 14/11/20:
​And so, after weeks in the making, D Day came finally! At long last, we were ready to get on the road and kick off our first-ever Club road trip, the Northern Rivers trip.  

On the morning of the 14th November, with trailer carefully loaded and UTE fully-serviced, 15 of us excitedly hit the road to our first destination, Taree, yet not without stopping at our favourite local café on the way, to fill up keep cups and stock up on delicious Italian snacks. One can’t drive long distances on an empty stomach after all - or so goes the (French) saying!

After a 4-hour drive to Taree and in spite of the hot and humid weather on arrival, our intrepid group managed to muster enough energy to go for a walk along the river and explore the rather grandly named Taree Botanical Gardens. There, we briefly communed with the local pelicans and gazed at the Manning river before ending the day at the Golf Club for wine, nibbles, a hearty meal and peaceful scenery, in preparation for the next day, when the rowing was to begin at the crack of dawn. (RH & CF)

​​Day 2: 15/11/20 : The Manning
The NRT team assembled at 6am for their first rowing assignment of the week. It was decided that the 16km Head of the Manning trip around Dumaresq Island was a goer.

Three quads and a double set out in reasonably good conditions. Only a few areas of sloppy water were found and 90 minutes later all boats were done. Trailer packed, we left the In Town motel and headed off for a feed at Raw Sugar Cafe. A one hour drive took us to Port Macquarie where local club rowers kindly hosted us for drinks and nibbles outside their brilliantly neat shed on the Hastings River. A long day over, we hit the hay and hoped the wind forecast was wrong. . . (AP)

Upon arrival at Port Macquarie, our first port of call was to visit our little fury friends at the local koala hospital. There, many of us got acquainted with the local residents, their traumas and stories of survival for the first time, becoming aware of the many threats they face (from dog attacks to chlamydia and bushfires, to name a few) and how we can help to protect them, including through adoption or making a donation. 

For some of us, long-term supporters of the hospital and its amazing work, this visit had been a long time coming and was an opportunity to meet the latest additions and contribute towards their treatment and rehabilitation. For our beloved koalas, every little helps in a big way, so next time you visit Port Macquarie don’t forget to stop by and do some good. (CF)

Day 3: 16/11/20:  The Hastings
Amazingly, as we kept moving further North, the rivers we rowed and club sheds we visited kept getting bigger and wider! Making our beloved Hen & Chicken bay and Parramatta river feel small and crowded in comparison.

And so, as we reunited with our Port Macquarie Rowing Club mates that morning and decided on a composite mixed 8+, a quad and a double before hitting the water, the scenery didn’t disappoint. Once again, we ended up rowing through vast expanses of water undisturbed by undesirable tinnie or ferry wash. 

The imposing Hastings river was indeed kind to us as was the local weather, with close to perfect rowing conditions and bright blue skies above us. Though peaceful for most part, our row was somewhat eventful as all boats but the 8+ unexpectedly ran into a sandbank and all had to contend with one other unusual hazard, the cables of the river ferry running across our course.

​Later that day, after a farewell breakfast and still under the spell of our morning row, we got on the road again, this time to Grafton, where the mighty Clarence river and al fresco drinks at the local riverfront pub were awaiting us. (CF)

Day 4: 17/11/20: The Clarence
Tuesday was our first day without any travel involved so it was a very relaxed day. It started with the usual 6am roll-up at Grafton RC (another huge envy-inspiring shed) and as the water was pretty flat, it was time to break out the singles.

Eight singles, a quad and a double worked upstream for 5km, enjoying the wide open space and minimal wash that these big rivers afford. You could go until you dropped. The round trip of 11km in somewhat humid conditions, followed by less boat loading made for a keenly anticipated breakfast at Toast Cafe which delivered satisfaction across the table.

​The day was then free to enjoy. Galleries, parks and pubs were visited before an impromptu chicken and salad dinner was had, thanks to Suzie et al. Sleep came easily as another day on the Clarence River was still to be done. (AP)

Day 5: 18/11/20:  The Clarence
Before heading off for more breathtaking rowing further North, on the morning of 18th November we said our goodbyes to Grafton with one final row on the Clarence river, this time rowing 12km in the opposite direction.

Indeed, the Clarence river will be remembered fondly for its scenic river bank peppered with cows grazing next to pelicans, Susan and Peanut (two of its affectionately named islands) and the spectacular sunsets from its riverfront pub, the Crown, which had the pleasure of our company on two consecutive evenings...

And so, later that day it is with a heavy heart but also excitement for things to come that we left Grafton for the beautiful Richmond river and the mighty surf in Ballina.

Upon arrival, Ballina didn’t disappoint. A few oysters and a tipple at our hotel were followed by a swim in the river (and the pool!), before nicely wrapping up the day with welcome drinks on the waterfront with our friends from the local sailing & RC. Our holiday motto, Row Hard, Play Hard has never felt so true. (CF)

Day 6: 19/11/20: The Richmond
​The now usual 6am start saw us at Ballina Sailing and Rowing Club on a warm but calm morning. Being coastal, the wind can be problematic but apparently this day was the calmest for two weeks. We met locals Graeme (in his homemade wooden scull), Sue and Max (Joeys OB of ‘56) who joined us in some crews to guide us around.

​There was a definite channel to row as sandbanks leapt out when not looking. We seemed to have low tides all week so they were a clear and present danger. We rowed about 7km on the Richmond River, the shortest journey of the week. 

Once returned and packed up, we were directed to ‘the Israeli’ cafe which produced some excellent plates of all orders. Another local John then led a tour of the Ballina hinterlands for some sightseeing. A lovely morning was reported.

Another hour on the road and we rolled into Murwillumbah and the Tweed River within sight of Mt Warning. Dinner at Johnny Franco’s was a tad slow from the kitchen but 15 clean plates certified the meals as excellent. We thank Rosemary today for her special arrangements in her and Terry’s other backyard. (AP)

Day 7: 20/11/20: The Tweed
For the single scullers amongst us, the early morning row on the Tweed river in Murwillumbah, our final destination, was to be remembered as the best and most peaceful row of our holiday.

Against all expectations, when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the 13km row we completed that morning had everything we could have hoped for and more: a stunning sunrise upon arrival, a gentle breeze and bright blue skies, misty calm waters for us to disappear into, and a river bed wide enough for all to mingle on with zero undesirable traffic, all the while overlooked by the majestic Mount Warning as we rowed out and back to our boating location, courtesy of the Murwillumbah RC. 

Our single scullers were joined by a quad, a double and a pair, who equally shared in this amazing experience and river magic. The Tweed river was entirely ours for the best part of an hour or so, bar a few local rowers. 

After boat loading and checking out, we yet again regrouped over a yummy breakfast, reflecting on our fabulous journey to date and how we could possibly outdo it in future. As the Wise(-ish) Man amongst us said (Charlie): “we came, we saw, we conquered”. This indeed never felt so true as we set out later that day for our return trip to Sydney, already making plans for our next Club rowing holiday. (CF)

Day 8: 21/11/20:
According to Genesis 2:2, “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done”. Good enough for God, good enough for us, I say. A few people flirted with the idea of rowing again but probably deterred by God’s precedent, decided being smote by a wrathful Lord not worth it. So it was a leisurely breakfast instead, and then we covered the last four hours of the trip home to ARC.

Our Shed seemed smaller than ever after touring the large facilities up North. Before the last boat was put away, there was already thought of the next similar trip – South Coast? Canberra? Jindabyne? All of them? And importantly, when? We were extremely fortunate with weather and conditions during this week, and having 15 like-minded people pulling together made the whole tour a stress-free pleasure. Well done to all participants and may there be more to come! (AP)

​