The 18 articles for this Franklin River rafting adventure (including one for each day of this trip) are linked below, with a brief outline of the highlights from each day.
The articles have been back-dated so that the ‘publication date’ of each article matches the actual date of the events being described in that article.
- Introduction
- Day 1 – Collingwood River Bridge to Franklin River Junction
- Wallabies shagging, snakes swimming
- Paddling, wrapping, patching
- Water level 50cm
- Day 2 – Collingwood Junction to Irenabyss
- 11.5 hours
- Huon pines
- Log Jam portage
- Jess knocked out of her raft by her paddle
- Jamie’s Nasty Notch near miss
- Paul’s paddle breaks
- Day 3 – Irenabyss - Planned Rest Day
- Rain
- Another spare paddle found
- Scones
- Day 4 - Irenabyss to Fincham Crossing
- Water level 80cm
- Fincham track and hydro hut
- Only rafting day of entire trip with no dragging, lining or portaging!
- Day 5 – Fincham Crossing to Jericho Walls
- Water level 65cm
- Nik flipped out of raft
- Nik loses his paddle
- Debacle Bend debacle
- Day 6 – Jericho Walls to Brook of Inveraestra
- Water level 50cm
- Paul’s repaired paddle gets bent
- Day 7 – Brook of Inveraestra to Corruscades
- Crocker, Dean, Hawkins, Newland memorial
- Massive portage
- Lost and found
- Day 8 – Corruscades to The Cauldron (Eagles Nest)
- More huge portages
- Seal launch at Thunder Rush
- Day 9 – Cauldron (Eagles Nest) to Rafters Basin
- Dicey portage at Cauldron
- Scones with jam and cream
- Trout
- Massive overnight rain storm
- Day 10 – Rafters Basin to Hobbit Hole
- Water level 150 to 200 cm
- River flooding
- Nik flipped out of raft again
- Nik loses Jamie’s paddle
- Paul’s bent paddle breaks again
- Cut out a make shift camp due to river in flood
- Day 11 – Hobbit Hole – Unplanned Rest Day Due to River in Flood
- Stuck in make shift camp due to flooded river
- Water level 250cm
- Day 12 – Hobbit Hole to Newland Cascades
- Water level 150cm
- Nik flipped out of raft for third time
- Nik does not lose David’s paddle!
- Sean flipped out of raft
- Rock Island Bend
- Sleeping in caves
- Day 13 – Newland Cascades to Holey Cliff
- No portaging!
- Day 14 - Holey Cliff to Sir John Falls
- Sculptured rocks
- Final rapid and final portage
- Gordon River in still silence and solitude
- Impromptu beach party
- Snoring
- Day 15 – Sir John Falls to Strahan
- Snakes
- Beach
- Swim
- Reunited
- Luxury Gordon River cruise
- Epilogue
- David’s Franklin River Expedition Review