You may remember that on the return journey of our last kayak trip to Lake Tuross, the electrics packed it on the car. So it was with some trepidation that I hitched up the trailer, telling myself 'well its engine, gears and brakes still work - what more do we need'. V followed me in her car to act as my brake lights and indicators. S, who came with me for moral support and I made a pact of no farting as we realised the windows didn't work either. I must say it was somewhat disconcerting driving along not knowing what speed we were going, how much petrol was in the tank etc.
But all went well and we made it the Fairhaven launch site undetected by Mr Plod and to my relief found no one else there - I could drive straight in, around, unload, out and around to park - no reversing required!
Boats unloaded, we were just about ready to hit the water when we were visited by a Fisheries and Wildlife Inspector. That's him in the tinny zooming toward us.
Upon closer inspection he decided we were harmless, as in not fishing and was quite chatty. From him we learnt that indeed Council had got the green light to open the entrance to Wallaga Lake and they were just waiting for the right combination of tides and weather to do so. It seems that we got this paddle in just in the nick of time.
We took to the water at 10.25am, in near perfect conditions.
The water level was so high I was temporarily discombobulated as to where we should go as the channels were barely discernible from one another. This is looking from Narira Creek, across Meads Creek to the lagoon beyond.
S, who was in charge of the map, led us on the correct path and we were on our way up Narira Creek
Just before we reached the bend the Fisheries tinny overtook us and snuck into Black Lagoon, no doubt trying to spring illegal fishers
Rounding the bend
A couple of different landscapes from our journey upstream
Opposite the dunny on the big bend we picked our way up a small channel into what I'm calling the Secret Lagoon as I can't find a name for it and its not accessible at normal water levels. Swans taking flight
Paddling north to the head of Secret Lagoon
We disturbed more swans on our return down the Lagoon
Paddling back out the entrance to return to Narira Creek
After paddling up the creek for another 45mins, during which a farmer warned us of an electric fence across the creek, which he didn't 'think' was on, we decided to turn around a guestimated 200 metres short of Riley's something Rd ford/bridge.
Heading back down
Back under the fence, which fortunately turned out not to be on. Negotiating it was a bit of a tricky manoeuvre for S&V in the double; S having to get under it and then back paddle so V would have time to grab the wire and lift it before she got garroted. V holding up the wire. There was a further fence the farmer had neglected to mention but we managed to slide over that.
Back down the creek
with wattles in bloom
To our lunch spot, arriving about 12.40pm
After a 50min break we took to the water again and proceeded upon our return paddle
As ever on the Wallaga system, Gulaga is waiting. The breeze is starting to make an impact
Sheltered from the breeze for awhile
We detoured down Meads Creek. (if you compare this photo another pic from a similiar spot from our other Narira Ck paddle, earlier this year, the difference in the water level is about three feet)
And into the lagoon to avoid the stiffening breeze
Where were were lovely and sheltered
However when at last we had to return to Wallaga lake, the wind was straight in our faces and the water the choppiest we've been on. I had ocassional waves breaking over the bow of my boat - I do love my scupper holes and when we had to turn sideways to the wind we had to contend with the roll of the waves. It was quite a hard and relentless paddle back to the launch site. But we made it safe and sound just after 3.00pm.
Quick as we could, we loaded the boats which is a bit trickier with the new rack system, and headed for Jim's to drop of the car to be serviced and the electrics to be fixed. Whilst I was handing in the keys V&R swapped the trailer onto their car for the last part of our journey home.
While not the most attractive of paddles, tho we did get to see lots of varying country, I'm really pleased we did this paddle as it will be a long time before we get such high water levels again. We encountered lots of birdlife and in addition to the usual suspects we saw Sacred and Strawnecked Ibis, a Little Pied Cormorant, a pair of courting Mallards, Maned and Black duck, an Egret and two Bitterns.
Trip Notes:
Put In/Pull Out: Fairhaven Point
13.2kms
4hrs.40mins
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