Massive Murray Paddle - "Three's a Crowd"

We made it!!!

Friday 24th Nov

Day 5

Holy pig guys! We made it, and in record time, for us! Not only did we make it to checkpoint D by 2pm, we rolled in a whole 45mins faster than we did on day four! Shout out to us for being awesome!

Some important facts y’all need to be aware of:

1. Shanny V has been talking about completing the Massive Murray Paddle for over ten years 
2. In 2016 Jordy agreed to complete the paddle with Shan in two PRS 570 Spirits (Jordy had no paddle experience, Shan hadn’t paddled since the 90’s). The paddle didn’t happen that year due to work commitments, plus Jordy took his Spirit out once and couldn’t stay on it for longer than 30 seconds, it was sold 12 months later 
3. In mid 2022 I (Ashi) reminded Shan of his goal and told him I’d do it with him in a double kayak and so two became three and ‘Three’s a Crowd’ was born
4. In December 2022, while on our annual holiday in Tomakin, Shan and I bought a second hand Trinidad Dagger touring kayak (now not so lovingly named ‘The Pig’) and decided this would be the craft for the job…oh how wrong we were!
5. Outside of martial arts, gym, and two weeks on a rowing machine none of us spent any time properly preparing for this (as in, zero time on the water…ever)
6. Jordy is booked in for shoulder surgery on Wednesday 

None of us had any idea how big a challenge we were taking on, none of us had any real paddle experience, and none of us really had any business being on that river…but we effing made it…and we’d do it again!

Some day five stats:

Ashi: 60.5km

Jordy: 65.5km

Shanny V: 53km

Completed in: 8h 35m

That brings our total paddle distance over the week to:

Ashi: 248.5km

Jordy: 287km

Shanny V: 278.5km

We completed the whole course in: 43h 41m 

What a ride friends! We’re all still processing exactly what has just happened. While we do that, we would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of those who donated, those who cheered us on, and those who continually supported us throughout our Massive Murray Paddle journey. This has definitely been a week to remember, and one that we are most certainly grateful for. Xx

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Day 5 - the start of the end!

Friday 24th Nov Well, I’m sitting here at checkpoint Alpha waiting the arrival of my team mates, Jordy and Ashi … they have been absolutely killing it this week - neither of them have anything more than 10km paddling experience (Jordy much less). They are getting through this week on a cocktail of adrenalin, coffee, protein bars and above all … true grit and determination. We had a couple of hurdles put in our way today (see last nights post) and now add to that thunderstorms from 11am … we are up against it! The cut off time for checkpoint Delta is our finish time yesterday and today we battle rain and probably head winds the whole way. Your prayers worked for the appearance of a better vessel - let’s see if the paddle gods listen and give us a little extra speed on Day 5 - we DO NOT want to miss a leg … we came here to complete the 408km course … and dammit - we will! I’m grateful for my buddies In the kayak right now and for the Kmart bum cushions I’ve been hoarding for a number of years to keep us comfortable in the craft. Next update - probably tonight and you’ll know if we made it through or not … Keep it real … Share

We're almost there!

Thursday 23rd Nov

Day Four

Well friends here we are, at the end of day four! We were pulling into the finish at 2pm on the dot, for some insight as to why this is exciting take a look at our previous finish times: 

Monday - 6:10pm

Tuesday - 5:20pm

Wednesday - 3:20pm

Today’s paddle breakdown looked like this:

Ashi: 47km

Jordy: 51km

Shanny V: 28km

Completed in: 7h

Let me tell you friends, at the end of day one we could not imagine reaching this point and now we are one day of paddling away from having completed the whole course! 

Things we’re grateful for today:

• a slow cooker to have dinner ready at the end of the day when we’re unable to move our arms
• Jordy’s weird little nano presso coffee machine at 4:30am
• Carbon fibre paddles

Update: It’s just been announced that tomorrow’s cutoff is 2pm at checkpoint D and any crafts arriving after that time won’t be able to complete the full course. For those who have been following along, you will see that we arrived at the finish today (which also happens to be tomorrow’s checkpoint D) at 2pm!

The pressure is on friends, will we make it in time? Will Shan and jordy take anymore dumps in the bush? For the answers to these questions and more check back tomorrow! 

It’s not too late to help us support Dementia Australia, if you would like to make a donation you can do so via our fundraising page. Xx

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I think we're getting the hang of this!

Wednesday 22nd Nov

Day Three has been run and won…not by us…but we did manage to shave another hour off of our paddle time and we now gauge our performance based on how many people are at the checkpoints when we arrive!

Today’s breakdown looked like this:

Ashi: 30km

Jordy: 59km

Shanny: 65km

Completed in: 8h 20m

We are now officially over the halfway mark of the Massive Murray Paddle having paddled 255 out of 408km. We’re on the home stretch now friends!

Some highlights from today:

• We were in the lead at the start for approx. 2 seconds
• We actually passed other crafts on the river as opposed to being the ones getting passed all the time
• We made the finish line while the party was still going down!

It’s not too late to help us support Dementia Australia, if you would like to make a donation you can do so via our fundraising page. Xx

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Day Two

Tuesday 21st Nov This is a picture of me wondering if the boys will get to the finish before the rain does! While I sit here waiting let’s reflect on day two. Things are looking up friends! We sourced a new craft, it’s thinner, lighter, faster and we managed to shave approx. 1 hour off of yesterday’s time! Shout out to Shannon from Sydney Kayaks who helped us out with this bad boy! This is great news and definitely the morale boost this team needed going into day two, let’s just say we were feeling a little sore and sorry for ourselves at 4am this morning! Some stats for comparative purposes: Day 1 Ashi: 71km Jordy: 40.5km Shanny V: 66km Completed in: 11h 10min Day 2 Ashi: 39.5km Jordy: 71km Shanny V: 65.5km (back to back legs!) Completed in: 10h 5m Today we are grateful for: 1. A lighter kayak 2. Slow cooked lamb and sweet potatoes 3. Magnesium spray Update: the rain arrived before the boys did! It’s not too late to help us support Dementia Australia, if you would like to make a donation you can do so via our fundraising page. Xx Share

Day 1 - check point Charlie

Monday 20th Nov Location: Cobram Time: 1:25pm Mood: fragile Energy: gone Well it’s my turn to take a break from paddling for a couple of hours while Princess and Jordy bring us into check point C … they are navigating a 23km stretch of twists and turns while I refuel and get into character for the final 26km leg with Princess. This mornings effort was, basicallly, torture … and we now know a few things: - A plastic Kayak isn’t ideal - Don’t paddle a plastic Kayak next time (if there is a next time) - Upgrade the plastic Kayak I think you get the picture here - we dream of a Mirage 730 … Anyhoo … we took off on time at 7am … 23km with Princess and I in the boat … we pulled into the checkpoint just on 9:30am … so tracking at around 10km per hour … thereabouts … I quick change saw Princess take a break leaving Jordy and I to paddle into CP-B … we maintained the same speed for this 18km section … Once Princess and Jordy arrive we will have another quick change leaving Princess and I to finish the 26km section down to Tocumwal … Shoulders are sore, upper back is sore, knees and legs a little cramped from the confined seating … AND IT’S ONLY DAY ONE! Stay tuned … pray for us … please … Share

Meet the team 3.0

Friday 17th Nov Jordan aka Jordy, aka George, aka Lil B*tch! The Anchorman, first mate to the one true captain (we haven't truly established who this is), 6 foot 4 and unsure whether he's going to fit in the craft ... but he's keen! Hailing from his current posting in Adelaide, George brings some unique skills to this motley crew: - Thic thighs ... "Quad father" style but without the title - Two broken shoulders awaiting surgery "how much more damage can I really do?" - He's hoping to grab some of the comedic genius of his father and Ashi V along the way ... at the end of this trip he will no longer need to explain "why" something is funny - it just will be ... This rounds up the starting squad for this years Massive Murray Paddle ... Three paddlers, one Kayak and an effing long river! Keep an eye out for updates ... thanks for the overwhelming support! Let's smash this Dementia thing! N.B. This update was made without George's knowledge or approval - that is all. Share

Meet the team 2.0

Thursday 16th Nov

I’ll see Shannon’s cute kid photo and raise him an even cuter one!

This is me, Ashi, aka ‘Princess’, aka the real captain steering this ship, craft, kayak, plastic floatation device. 

Look, I’ll be honest, I’ve paddled no further than 10km in a kayak before and while this may not be my maiden voyage, I’m certainly going into this thing completely unprepared. 

Things I bring to this trip:

• the best UV protected rowing ensemble money can buy 
• an unlimited supply of protein bars
• weird conversation starters that are sure to keep the boys either greatly entertained or mildly confused 

Stay tuned friends, there will be plenty more updates to come!

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Fundraising update

Monday 13th Nov So this is me and the daily wardrobe! … more importantly though, we have been overwhelmed with support during the first 24 hours of going live and have decided to stretch the target by a whopping 100% and aim for $2,000!!! … grateful to everyone that has helped us get this far and thanking others in anticipation for your help to get further! … these are the top three concerns from the crew as we lead into the paddle: 1. “What if I need to pee?” - submitted by Princess 2. “Will I fall out of the Kayak” - also submitted by Princess 3. “Where’s the coffee at” - submitted by Jordan Protein bars arriving by the dozen daily, Princess making little bags of snacks for each paddler and rationing the food like we are going to an air raid shelter or bomb shelter for a week. It’s getting real - and I’m not sure any of us are ready for what’s coming. Share

Meet the team!

Wednesday 8th Nov

Shannon aka Captain

Who would have thought this cute kid in long socks and sexy sandals with the world at his fingertips would reach the dizzy heights of team captain for this upcoming paddle.

Well, I have been self appointed as captain, at this stage. Unless Princess decides otherwise I guess. 

Anyway, this is me. Paddler, Karate man, Singer and sit down comedian in a kayak for the trip!

Three things I bring to this trip:

• A swag on knowledge about the Murray
• Accomplished rower 
• I know most of the words to all Matchbox twenty songs 

So stay aboard for the trip, we will be sure to send some entertaining vlogs along the way!

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About the event

Wednesday 8th Nov

The massive Murray paddle will celebrate its 54th year this November. It is one of the longest paddling events in the world and attracts participants from all over to compete.

Spanning five days, the event starts in Yarrawonga and paddlers adventure down the Murray an average of 80km per day. With pre determined check points along the way paddlers can refuel their bodies and keep on top of hydration to ensure a safe experience. 

Each team needs to provide their own “road crew” to assist. A lot of paddlers camp along the picturesque Murray banks at the end of each day, resting up for the early start the following morning. 

Participating vessels vary greatly, kayaks, canoes, stand up paddle boards with individuals and teams taking part of all ages.

Shaping up to be another fantastic event and we will be blogging our experience to the page via pics, wise words, drone footage and some on-board GoPro POV cam action for those watching from home!

We really appreciate your support, both emotionally and financially, pretty sure everyone is going to need a hug and a Kombucha well and truly by day five.  

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What were we thinking?!

Wednesday 8th Nov

We all have a bucket list right? Well this has been bouncing around in the bucket for longer than I care to remember - all I know is I may have completed it more easily back when I first wanted to get this done! 

The participation in this event has evolved from solo paddlers in a single seated Kayak to a group effort where we will rotate 3 of us through a double Kayak - this will be our maiden voyage down the Murray River (with countless others) paddling a little over 400 kilometres from Yarrawonga to the depths of Gunbower forest! This event has been running for over 50 years … The “Massive Murray Paddle”

Our crew are multi skilled, and need to be. Each person is required to have the skills to navigate, paddle, drive, food prep, first aid if required (let’s hope not) and anything else the trip throws at us!

So it will be me, my Princess and Jordan (number two son) that will embark on this adventure and we will leave no man (or woman) behind!

We have ‘all the gear and little idea’ of what we are getting ourselves into. But it has been done before, by many before us, and there will be many more after us … 

Paddling an average of 80km per day, we will have water, we will have snacks and we will have matchbox twenty tunes to paddle the hours away.

Long story short - looking forward to a very cool adventure and raising money for a very worthwhile cause while we are at it!

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