I'm delaying my weekend coverage: others have posted a good selection already. Here is the start of the Mon.17.7 journey of PS Ruby and PV Coonawarra from Wentworth to Mildura. I'll edit more into this post, in pairs, every few days.
Roderick.
170717M Mon.17.7.17 PS Ruby and PV Coonawarra Wentworth - Mildura.
* 7.45 Darling River at Wentworth, a first-light departure, passing PV Hyperion. (Roderick Smith)
* 9.02 Murray River at 847 km - Ruby, Coonawarra and houseboats waiting for a 9.30 opening of Abbotsford Bridge.
* 9.33 Ruby passes under Abbotsford Bridge, with Coonawarra lining up to allow for the current.
* 9.35 Coonawarra passes under the bridge. This had been its regular beat for many years, on its weekly schedule.
* 10.18, near Coomealla, both paddleboats.
* 11.10, 860 km, Ruby. This is the upstream end of a channel which cuts 9 km, but was too shallow even for my boat. I came in half way from each end, but there was a 50 m gap in the middle which had a narrow channel between rocks, and which could have required me to raise the motor, and walk the boat through. In summer, yes. In winter, no.
* 11.12, Coonawarra at the same spot.
* 11.26, both.