Werribee’s Stewart Nicol is taking part in his 30th YMCA Massive Murray Paddle.
The Footscray Canoe Club paddler set off on this year’s 404-kilometre journey on Monday to raise money to support community building projects in rural Victoria.
In the past two days, he and his fellow paddlers have travelled 187 kilometres along the Murray River from Yarrawonga to Tocumwal and on to Picnic Point.
In the next three days, they will pass through Echuca, Torrumbarry, Murrabit and Swan Hill.
Mr Nicol, 59, has missed only a handful of the five-day challenges since first taking part in the event in 1980 as part of an air force team.
“We used to put in three or four boats and compete against the army and navy,” he said.
This year, Mr Nicol is part of a TK2 touring kayak, alongside fellow Footscray Canoe Club member Adele Walker.
The pair trained on the Maribyrnong River three times a week to prepare for the event. Mr Nicol said the first day was always the hardest.
“After the third day … you learn to push through the soreness,” he said.
Mr Nicol sees the event as a chance to challenge himself, but it’s the people he meets on the Murray who keep bringing him back. “There are some real characters on the river,” he said.
For details go to www.massivemurraypaddle.org.au.
