The Dink Network

I have lost countless hours going back to the Spirit with Skard and forth. The Spirit tells me to go along the blood river with Skard and that she'd help me find a boat. I've been roaming the destroyed world unendlessly talking to Skard whose only reply is invariably the same: "Let's go talk to the Water Spirit". If she gives me that reply once more, I swear I'll go nuts! I don't want to give up just yet, I've been a fan of Dink for years and I just love Pilgrim's Quest and all of SimonK's dmods. Can you just give me a hint or something? I'm already at level 23 and I think my Dink will die an old man before he can get under the Machine Mountain.;(

Please help??? Thank you!