Riding the Scorpions Tail

  Hay to Balranald Day 1. Arriving in Hay at 11am after driving from Wagga Wagga. After my trip earlier in the year, Hay looked familiar, but I was only there to get on the river again. Not wanting to leave my packed kayak for too long, I left it at Sandy Point and parked the car in a visible part of the main street. Then I bought a coffee and walked quickly back to my boat. I was on the water at 12.30, intent on making Hay Weir to camp. I struggle, off the couch. Five and a half hours of paddling, in water most backed up from the weir so no current. What I call dead water. I see a small black snake in the water who scoots away, hits the shore and then impersonates a dead stick. There are birds of prey (BOPs) and pelicans at the weir. Being a Sunday there are quite a few fishing tinnies out but they are mostly respectful when they are passing. The landing looked obvious, a muddy base to a road running up to the flat land above. I stepped out in the mud, and went to pull the boat to...