When we first got to this beautiful little valley, we heard from an Aboriginal friend of ours that the Bundarra valley was "women's business". I've since found out that's wayyyyy true. Cath Catherine McCoy, Carrie Aronson, Jim Isabel Betts, Heather Hand, Heather Brown, Helen Packer, and a couple others have the strength and wisdom of the ages. They've also kicked my ever lovin' behind a few times, along with the ancients whose spirits, like The Dude, abide. They lose no chance to humble me when necessary, which those who know me know is often. I went 34 years and 119 trips down the Grand Canyon without a flip. Then I had 4, all in Lava Falls, in 6 years. My buddy Hamish McMaster showed me the Haka on a Tamur river trip in Nepal for my 60th bday, I learned it, and since then I've done the Lava Haka (Laka?) above Lava and it's done its job. So, naturally, after a friend and former OARS Dories client reminded me to pull in that energy, I just did it on our deck. It's about the big red hairy man up in the sky (which is what we presently have), courage, inner strength and the grace and power of friendship and family and tribe. My darling is by my side, we're as ready as can be, as is our property. Feel the energy with us friends. Whatever happens tomorrow or whenever is up to the great spirit, as Bronco would have said.

Cool section of the Mitta, cool footage!

Every year for the past decade FOTM has had a great volunteer day (Give Back Day), followed by a super fun event with all our Victorian whitewater boater friends and locals, and then a Fun Run down the Mitta Gorge with "river pards" and folks who've never experienced the river before. Great community, and great river. You all do yourselves proud. Very humbling.

Paddling the Bundara River, spring 2016, below Jeffe & Carrie's house. The best rapid on the river: Loki falls.

This is the nice little falls on our nice little river, and my wife in her nice little 8-foot cataraft (yes, I'm a bad boy and busy videoing rather than rescuing. I left that to my La Trobe university guide students!)

Jeffe & Carrie's place... 23 years of creating paradise.