KAYAKER Mick Jerram found himself staring at floating logs.
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The Katherine-based tour guide couldn’t shake the habit of looking for lurking crocodiles in the croc-free Murray River.
But gusty weather was his real enemy on day two of the Murray Marathon — he was earlier blown out of his kayak by the worst paddling weather he has known.
“A couple of people capsized and I was one of them,” he said.
“You could see the surface squalls and think ‘surely it will drop off’ — it was like that from start to finish.”
Mr Jerram has status at the five-day event as a former winner — he won the double kayak category in record time when he completed his fifth and last marathon 20 years ago.
This time beating his own clock is the aim.
His latest record is that his 3500-kilometre trip makes him the interstate paddler who has travelled the longest distance to compete.
It took him two weeks to drive to Yarrawonga, after a stop with friends for Christmas and car trouble at Alice Springs.
Mr Jerram yesterday splashed his way from Tocumwal to Picnic Point. That’s 190 kilometres so far — with 214 to go to Swan Hill.