When GRovers go canoeing, we do it in style! The idea of a Gourmet Canoe Trip was spawned from a Gourmet Hike we had done many years ago. A gourmet expedition is like a normal expedition, but with "gourmet" food taken along for the ride. Of course, there's a limit to how gourmet you can get when space and weight is limited, and all you have to cook on is trangias and shellite stoves!
GRovers Gourmet Canoe Trip was held on November 28-30, 2003, travelling from Berri to Loxton along the River Murray and Katarapko Creek. We had 17 people on the trip. Yes, that's right. SEVENTEEN. If you've ever had to organise a group that large with canoes, tents, food, and most importantly, motivation, you'll understand how hard it can be.
Friday night was spent at the Berri Caravan Park, and on Saturday morning, we had a rather leisurely start. Breakfast was pancakes (on the Caravan Park barbecue) with berries, bananas, mangoes and maple syrup. Accompanying breakfast was plunger-made Kenyan coffee - no skimping on the gourmet, you see!
After dropping the tents, packing the boats, and arranging the car shuffle to Loxton, we finally started out on the water rather late at 12.30pm! After a few kilometres of paddling, we went through Lock 4 and eventually stopped for lunch at 3.30pm! Lunch was a great spread of breads, meats, cheeses and dips, and the beach where we had set up was rather pleasant. One advantage of travelling in Canadian canoes was that we could take collapsible tables with us, which helped for food preparation and serving. While we were finishing lunch, a rather short and windy storm swept through, but died down after a few minutes, leaving us once again with pleasant weather.
After this point, we left the main river and started down Katarapko creek, coming to the stone wall weir shortly thereafter. A great lot of teamwork allowed us to transport all of the boats across the weir safely and continue on our way.
After reaching our chosen campsite at 6.00pm, relaxing a little, and setting up tents, dinner preparation began. Entree was freshly prepared bruschetta (although the bread had been toasted earlier), followed by a main course of home-made spinach and basil ravioli with a tomato-based sauce, and a dessert of baked mocha cheesecake. We even had a little evening entertainment, as Jordan had brought his didgeridoo along, and gave us a little "native" serenade.
Breakfast on Sunday was croissants with tomato and cheese, or a chocolate sauce. Some brave souls even tried having a leftover piece of cheesecake on their croissant, however, it was discovered such a move wasn't as good as it sounds, as the cake was far too rich! Once again, breakfast was accompanied by plunger brewed coffee.
After the boats were all packed again, we started the final stretch of our paddle, and progressed leisurely down the remainder of Katarapko Creek, back into the Murray, finishing up at Milich Landing near Loxton.
I would like to thank the GRovers caterers who arranged and prepared such lavish meals, and a special thanks to Roy Stevens of Renmark Scout Group for the loan of their amazing Canadian canoes.