That Mad Belgian

[Mountain Rocket]

Seems to have reached the bend in the river where it starts to obviously open up on satellite view. All going well should be a relatively speedy run down the river to Manwoneer Inlet I would have thought?

Edit: Added links for new page:
http://www.louis-philippe-loncke.com/
https://eur-share.inreach.garmin.com/louphi

[rangersac]

Hopefully the wind isn't against him and he can get down to Bathurst with some alacrity, as given the Macquarie Heads prediction (high tide at 2:30pm) he's going to be working against a falling tide to get through the narrows.

[potato]

He's on the river and flying along!

[north-north-west]

Hopefully the wind isn't against him and he can get down to Bathurst with some alacrity, as given the Macquarie Heads prediction (high tide at 2:30pm) he's going to be working against a falling tide to get through the narrows.

I'm not sure how they compare, but the Narrows, being as far inside Bathurst Harbour as it is, would have a different slack water time. But he really does not want to be trying to go through the Narrows on an ebb tide, especially if the wind is behind him.

[rangersac]

I'm not sure how they compare, but the Narrows, being as far inside Bathurst Harbour as it is, would have a different slack water time. But he really does not want to be trying to go through the Narrows on an ebb tide, especially if the wind is behind him.

From experience I seem to recall there was only about an hour or so in it, and given the exacerbated tidal flow through the narrows I think he will struggle to get through there today.

[Mark F]

The wind certainly seems to funneling nicely down Joe Page Bay. An option would be to cross the Narrows tonight but remain on the western side paddling down the little inlet to the camp site behind the beach at the southern end. In the morning cart the raft across the isthmus and continue to Melaleuca.

[north-north-west]

He's near the tip of Farrell Point. *&%$#! is about to get real. All depends on exactly what the tide and wind are doing.

[Mountain Rocket]

How do walkers usually cross it? I assume there dinghies you row across similar to at the New River Lagoon?

[north-north-west]

How do walkers usually cross it? I assume there dinghies you row across similar to at the New River Lagoon?

Yes. Same set-up, but much harder work, especially if the wind is running counter to the tide.

[north-north-west]

Can't have been too bad, he's at Joan Point.

At this rate, he'll be at Cox Bight tomorrow night.

[Mountain Rocket]

Ah fair enough, those blue dots made it look easy! Looks like he's attempting to keep paddling to Melaleuca so the conditions really can't be too bad.

Go Lou-Phi!

[north-north-west]

The channel between Rugby and Beattie. The stretch between Farrell and Joan is not necessarily the worst bit, and the tidal currents will be picking up. (High tide at Bramble was due 2:58.)

[jmac]

At this rate, he'll be at Cox Bight tomorrow night.

Based on his 5:42 ping it doesn't look like he'll make Clayton's by dark; which could mean that he spends extra time faffing around for a campsite on dusk; or if there's enough moon will he push on after dark?

Depending upon how long he spends getting to and at Melaleuca, I reckon he should be aiming past Cox Bight tomorrow.

Louisa River is a sensible goal if he's sticking to his plan of doing the SCT in 4 days. At the least I reckon he should aim for Louisa Creek, to allow him to comfortably get to New River Lagoon the following day.

[Tortoise]

He's just made it past Starvation Bay. Bodes well.

[GPSGuided]

Still on the water at 7pm and making amazing progress. He is on fire!

[pazzar]

He'll be at Claytons by 8pm at this rate. I have a feeling he is trying to get to Melaleuca tonight though. If the wind is favourable, I guess why not!

[MrWalker]

He'll be at Claytons by 8pm at this rate. I have a feeling he is trying to get to Melaleuca tonight though. If the wind is favourable, I guess why not!

That will be a 12 hour day today, so he's been working hard for someone on half rations. But he split it nicely with half walking and half paddling, so he is probably feeling OK.
If the half-moon tonight shows anything through the clouds he should be able to get to Melaleuca.

[jmac]

LP messaged me from the middle of the Narrows to ask if he was pushing against the tide.
I didn't pick up the message until he'd almost turned the corner into the Harbour. Told him about Clayton's but also suggested pushing on to Melaleuca if there's any visibility at all; it's an easy and safe paddle.

[Nuts]

Still on the water at 7pm and making amazing progress. He is on fire!

meh. wind assisted: http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDT60801 ... 5961.shtml

[GPSGuided]

Still on the water at 7pm and making amazing progress. He is on fire!

meh. wind assisted: http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDT60801 ... 5961.shtml

Might of fire and wind! You are a tough one to please. LOL

[stepbystep]

Amazing effort today.

[Mountain Rocket]

Indeed! You can chalk this up to one of the other times he took your advice jmac after pushing on to Melaleuca
He really needed to make good progress today if he's to have any hope of finishing this weekend.

The fatigue must really be kicking in now, especially a few bad nights sleep.

[wildwanderer]

yep super human effort today!

For tomorrow, I wonder how far down moth creek he can paddle? From the sat photo packrafting to atleast the bridge (about 1km) looks doable.

[GPSGuided]

If LP hits Cox Bight in the coming days, he would have completed the north-south winter traverse of Tasmania. He doesn't need to reach Cockle Ck to claim that crown.

[GPSGuided]

OMG, he has hit 'civilisation', Melaleuca wharf! He must be exhausted.

[rangersac]

yep super human effort today!

For tomorrow, I wonder how far down moth creek he can paddle? From the sat photo packrafting to atleast the bridge (about 1km) looks doable.

He could definitely get to the bridge. The Willsons used to keep a pretty decent sized tinny on a ramp just downstream from the bridge, so there's plenty of water for a packraft.

[mikeb]

OMG, he has hit 'civilisation', Melaleuca wharf! He must be exhausted.

Any idea why he went to the wharf rather than to the walkers, hut?

[jmac]

Any idea why he went to the wharf rather than to the walkers, hut?

As you arrive by vessel there's a pretty sternly worded sign prohibiting unauthorised vessels from entering the lagoon (sensitive bird nesting habitat) and insisting all vessels proceed to the jetty. Whether he could see it in the half-moonlight is another question.

[Overlandman]

Fantastic effort, what a legend.
Go Lou-Phi

[Azza]

OMG, he has hit 'civilisation', Melaleuca wharf! He must be exhausted.

Any idea why he went to the wharf rather than to the walkers, hut?

Its a much easier spot to exit the water in the dark, and a well defined track to the hut you can stumble along in the dark without much trouble.
The tracks immediately around the hut are an aboriginal interpretive walk and they go through some rather marshy terrain / tea tree / reeds etc.
The sort of terrain that would be difficult to land in the dark and not end up losing half your gear. There is a wooden platform at one point, but easier to hit the jetty I reckon.

The other spot would be to paddle around to the creek near Deny Kings house where you could access the hut from a little platform on the water.