The entrance to Cuttagee closed while we were up at Jindabyne and the lake has quickly risen to a height where it is enjoyable to paddle. So it was with great anticipation that we set off early in the morning to rediscover the delights of our local waterway.
Hitting the water at 7.05am we had a small window to enjoy our paddle before the forecast winds of 20+kmph hit at 10.00am.
We paddled across Little Cuttagee and up the straight surrounded by fish swirling, plopping and a leaping - magical.
Heading around the top of the peninsular
and down the lake on glassy water
We were very disappointed to see the commercial fisherman hard at work. The lake has barely closed and he's back stripping it of fish.
Checking out the neighbours newly renovated jetty. L most impressed.
Past an abundance of kangaroos lining the shore.
Unfortunately the new seat adjustment seems to have made my sciatica worse and the first leg stretch was required at only 40 minutes into our paddle. Setting off again 15 minutes later
we headed left around the island and circumnavigated the little bay (where I saw the one and only jellyfish) before
stopping again for some more seat adjustment. Determined to keep going and with L&R happy to put up with the frequent stops we headed up the creek mouth to sample
the delights Cuttagee Creek has to offer.
Such as this Sea Eagle
Seemingly unconcerned re sharing the tree with the Sea Eagle were a group of Galahs on the upper right.
Only the lone Willy Wagtail, slightly above and to the left of the Sea Eagle voiced his displeasure with its presence.
A little further on this Kingfisher paused long enough for me to get a pic.
Shortly after our second Kingfisher sighting this kangaroo leapt into the water and headed down the creek toward us before becoming aware of our presence, where upon
he stopped dead and looked around considering his options. After giving us a long stony eyed stare and weighing us up, as the big males will often do, he decided
retreat was wise and we continued on our way to the pebble beach where we hauled out at 9.05am for what turned out to be an extremely long morning tea break. And there our encounters with wildlife continued: Another Kingfisher sighting; finding small mussels (about 2cm long) amongst the pebbles at my feet; a kangaroo jumping down onto the beach only a few metres away from us and crossing the creek to disappear into the bush on the other side; a Sea Eagle flying low and slow down the centre of the creek past us and finally A appearing from down the creek to join us for the rest of the paddle.
In between all the wildlife encounters we noticed the creek was flowing as leaves and debris floated past which made exploring further upstream, despite the shallows, even more desirable. So ignoring the breeze springing up in the treetops we launched again at 10.15am and headed upstream to see if we could make it through and over the crossing. Having the only plastic boat in the group I was encouraged to lead to see if we could make it through against the small but concentrated current without grounding out.
We could and did; the next obstacle being a fallen tree - the trick there not to get entangled in the drooping vine as L did.
These shallows marked the end of our paddle - those with the 'precious' boats unwilling to subject their hulls to a bit of scraping across the rocky bottom :).
So, at 10.35am we turned around to retrace our journey.
Somewhere along this part of of the creek R saw a black and silvery fish leap out of the water and jump clear across the back of L's boat.
Once out of the creek R&I pulled in for another, on my part, urgent leg stretch and seat adustment. We were only there for 5 minutes but between seat adjusting and trying to shore up my broken seat back (at the second leg stretch struggling to get out of the boat with sciatica in one leg and a totally numb foot at the end of the other proved disastrous for the newly heightened back rest) and watching these two kangaroos cross the little bay we completely missed seeing the boys paddle past.
Here is a very basic video of still pics of the kangaroos.
Just as I was about to relaunch another two appeared and looked as if they were going to follow the first two for a swim across the water. However they spotted us and paused, one hiding behind the tree stump and the other back behind the dead shrubs. We waited a bit, R poised ready to take a video but realising the boys must be well past us by now we reluctantly gave up and
went on our way, me with my stool now jammed behind the seat back to hold it up.
Once we rounded the back of the island we paddled into the full force of the wind - which for once had arrived on time as forecast. The original plan had been to finish the paddle by 10.00am but we had tarried far to long up the creek and the 3 unscheduled leg stretches didn't help so there was nothing to be done but slog it out.
R&I caught up with L who was waiting in the lea of the peninsular, A having disappeared down the lake to check the entrance.
At the end of the peninsular L broke out his sail in anticipation of the 'back' wind as we headed down the straight. And for the first time since purchasing it he got a sustained and steady sail,
past this Egret intent on fishing,
right around the corner and back through Little Cuttagee, only collapsing his sail 10 metres from shore.
A caught up with R and I when we were near the end of the straight and said that water was flowing out the entrance in a wide and shallow channel. So the all important (to our paddling pleasure) question is will it open again?
We ended our exceedingly delightful paddle at 12.00 noon exactly.
Addendum: We had 55mm of rain yesterday afternoon and night (Bermagui 8kms away had 66mm). This morning the lake still looks full, so it will be interesting to see what is happening at the entrance.
11kms
