What did I learn?

Some stats:
Total number of days 71
Rest days 14
Rowing days 57
Days sleeping in a tent 54
Total Distance 2,105.62
Rowing distance 1,982.45 
Motor distance 123.17 
Average daily distance 36.94
Total rowing time 312:29:52
Average daily hours rowing 5.48
Pace (minutes per 500 metres) 3.37

What did I learn?

• Rowing seats are no built for any distance over 2km's. Butt cream is an absolute must, buy about 500 ml. The most likely reason the trip would have come to a very early end was the lack of co-operation between seat and bum. Thankyou Bruce! (for providing, not applying..)
• Blisters are unavoidable, they will eventually turn to callouses, in many places the next blister is next to the last callous, it's a vicious cycle that probably only a brickie would avoid. Gloves don't work, even specially designed rowing ones
• Emus can swim well, so can snakes, thanks Josh for pointing one out.
• Snags are unavoidable, not all but many
• With a beard, I look like my late father, I possible knew this but it's the first time I grew a beard
• R.E.S.P.E.C.T. is a great song to row to, in north west Victoria, no-one can hear you sing (I hope!)
• Great people meet at the Mildura Rowing Club
• The rules for camping on the banks of the Murray river are confusing, many people try to use this confusion to their advantage with Private Property signs although I don't know what that advantage is
• A lot less people utilise the Murray River than I thought, please don't tell anyone, keep it a secret
• Humans are screwing up the river, both through over grazing and bank erosion, felling of the next layer of Redgums and using water craft where the wash erodes the banks. To reverse the Man made destruction is way too late for most of the SA river, NSW can learn from Victoria but it will only get worse
• I was reckless when crossing the second bit of Lake Alexandrina, I should have spent the night at Narrung, I blame the "Summit Fever" effect, I just wanted to get to the finish. Know about the effect of Summit Fever, recognise it and avoid it. I was lucky
• Don't rely on luck.

At the end, the boat still works and did a great job, it needs some love and attention to the hull but it's still water tight, the oarlocks and sleeves are showing some wear but still very functional. 
The motor did what it had to when it was needed which in the grand scheme of things was a whole 6% of the time.
While most of any day was spent on my own self reflecting, I met so many wonderful people on the way, fishermen who gave me a beer while on the water, people who shared their dinner or campfire with me, locals who gave recommendations, other people staying on the river or riding alongside the river who shared stories and experiences and particularly the hospitality of total strangers who helped repair the boat without question.
I learned a lot from listening to ABC podcasts along the way and would highly recommend them.
The Facebook Group, Murray River Expeditioners has been a great and regular source of knowledge and inspiration before and during the trip, finding out what others have done, the ability to ask questions and get quick and accurate responses, knowing you're not alone and at times, connecting with others doing the same thing really made this trip a great experience. Special mention to Josh West, we spent a few days chasing each other and finally caught up, check out his posts on Facebook under Trekking West.

Things lost

• One arm warmer, I know where it is, in the water by Woolshed brewery,
• A drink bottle, no issue, I had four
• About 9 kg’s because of so much exercise combined with no esky so no dairy therefore no coffee and no alcohol until I stopped where there was a pub. It’ll come back...

What will I miss?

• Spectacular sunrises and sunsets
• Warm nights by sandy beaches
• The changing nature of the river on a daily basis, at least for the first two thirds
• Seeing Australia's magnificent wildlife doing wonderful and crazy things.

What won't I miss?

• Sleeping in a tent
• Mud
• Inch ants although I rarely missed with my crocs
• Wake boats and Jetski's
• Waves, good in the sea but not on a river, snags, I wished I missed them more often than I did.

Things I wish I missed

• Covid, I almost got away with it.

Would I do it again?

The purpose of the trip was to see bits of this great country that I have never seen, meet some new people and test myself both physically and mentally while I am able.
Again, a big tick for all of these things, while there is no way I'm rowing down the Murray again, there are so many places I saw that I'd like to go back to and see in more detail. 

There is no doubt, a trip like this cannot be done without support and tolerance from a very understanding partner, thanks Deb, I won't do it again!