PADDLERS will be mustering at 7am tomorrow morning for a spot of breakfast before striking out on the annual marathon canoe trip along the Macquarie river from Wellington to Narromine.
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Known as the WomDomNom, the four-day paddle-a-thon will involve 100 paddlers who are aiming to arrive in Narromine at lunchtime on Sunday
The third annual WomDomNom paddle covers a 150-kilometre stretch of the Macquarie River and has grown in popularity since it was launched in 2011, with numbers doubling from 2012 and a now there is a wait list for the 2014 event.
Organisers were surprised and honoured in October when the WomDomNom paddle was announced as the 2013 PaddleNSW Charity Challenge Event of the Year.
This year paddlers are raising funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation.
Organising committee president Andrew Mackay said the WomDomNom was a fully supported paddle with the organisers providing all catering and arranging transport of paddlers camping gear and vehicles. Paddlers simply head off each morning with their water and snacks and enjoy a great day on the river with meals provided enroute and their gear waiting at their overnight campsite when they arrive.
A shuttle bus run is included, so paddlers have their vehicles on arrival at Narromine on Sunday.
Mr Mackay said supplies and accommodation for the event will inject more than $10,000 into the economies of Wellington, Dubbo and Narromine, with the committee supporting local suppliers in each of the towns enroute.
"Of the 100 paddlers taking part in this year's event, we have almost 70 travelling from Sydney and towns right up to the north coast," he said.
"It's a great opportunity to show off our beautiful river and highlight the fine array and quality of the foods produced in the Orana region. Several of the paddlers are spending a few extra days exploring the area so it's also a perfect chance for us to promote local attractions and events such as the historic Lion of Waterloo in Wellington, Lazy River Estate in Dubbo and the gliding championships and aviation museum in Narromine."
"We've been very fortunate this year to gain the help of Narromine identity Susie Collett who is organising a welcome barbecue for the 100 paddlers and their supporters when they arrive at Narromine's Rotary Park on Sunday."
The paddlers will leave Oxley Park at Wellington at 8.30am on Thursday. They are expected to pass through Dubbo around 10am on Saturday morning and arrive in Narromine by 1pm on Sunday. They plan to have a GPS locator broadcasting their position on their website so that people can track their progress along the Macquarie.
