Heart of Darkness
Heart of Darkness (1899) is a novella by novelist Joseph Conrad about a narrated voyage up the Congo River into the Congo Free State in the so-called Heart of Africa. There is a lot of river symbolism in this book I often think about when on the Barwon.
'Going up that river was like traveling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings. An empty stream, a great silence, an impenetrable forest.'
Inverleigh to Murgheboluc
Welcome to remote Barwon. Be warned. This section is incredibly long, tough, and treacherous. It will chew you up and spit you out.
Access: There is easy parking and launch from Inverleigh, as you can only tackle this downstream. You'll be looking at about 19km one way.
River height: This is crucuial in your planning. Too low and you'll be dragging your vessel, too high and you'll be on a wild sea. We did this at 1.6 and were constantly capsized.
Preperation: You'll need a PDF, helmet, and somewhere to store your valuables securely. Bring water, sunscreen and snacks.
Rapids: There are stacks along this section. Particularly one very dangerous set with a 2m drop. I have marked a waypoint for here. Please do not take this lightly.
Above all, have fun, enjoy the tranquility and diverse array of wildlife!