We dropped Susanne and Steve off at Pericoota Marina around 9am this morning. We had thought someone from the houseboat company would meet us and take us into the marina so they could disembark safely and we could offload rubbish, but no one appeared, so we did it ourselves.

We passed this maritime policeman near the marina.

Mick then took the wheel and we headed towards Echucha for about 10Km looking for a suitable place to moor for the night.

As we were going against the current, this took almost four hours. We actually had to turn back and moor at a place we saw earlier on our trip on the Victorian side of the river. We just got tied up as the wind came up. There was no fire tonight as it was just too dangerous.

We had company from some fast-going speed boats and several other houseboats. Noticeably more traffic on the weekend.

We enjoyed a light luncheon and a glass of wine, celebrating our successful mooring without the guidance of Steve, who has done two trips on the Murray before this one, and who tutored us very well during the first part of this trip. He would have been proud of us.

Mick then got to work on preparing dinner for us all, baked leg of lamb which he thought would feed six (enormous serves), but as there are now only four of us, we will be eating the leftovers tomorrow as well.

We had a pair of kookaburra entertain us too. They were quite tame and took meat from Mick’s hands.

Derek and Helen taught us how to play Bridge during the afternoon and we had beginners’ luck and won the rubber!

Derek and Mick enjoyed a Marguerita again tonight. Only one night left to drink any alcohol left on the boat and they are doing their damnedest to achieve that outcome!