Tuesday 23 January 2018 Kiah Inlet - Towamba River

G&R and S&V brought their boats over on Monday afternoon and we loaded the trailer in readiness for our early departure on the morrow. We left home at 8.15am and the first stop was to collect G&R and their gear from the end of Hazelnut Drive, where they left their car beside the Towamba River.

S&V were waiting for us at the Edrom Rd turn off and followed us to our put in point down a track off the Davidson Whaling Station Rd. After a lengthy delay due to road works on the Edrom Rd we finally reached our destination and at 11.15am had the boats unloaded and were nearly ready to get them down the hill to the water

We all love the National Parks Service, but sometimes they do make life difficult

However it was worth the effort

We started paddling at 11.45am

Heading up the Towamba after L&I checked out the campsite Gus had told us about. Definitely a good spot for a future kayak camp.

Taking a short cut

Being tide assisted we cruised along

Taking in the sights

Oops, looks like I was going to be late for lunch

Lunch at 1.10pm, 5kms from the start

We ate and chewed the fat for 45min and took to the still stunning water again

L in his new, yet to be christened water chariot

3kms futher on we reached the beach at the end of Hazelnut drive where G ended his paddle

The crew returning back to the beach after helping G load his boat

Relaunching at 2.57pm and the tide had just turned

Making our way back downstream

The forecast breeze thankfully didn't materialise until late in the afternoon and we only had to paddle against it for the last part of our journey across the inlet

The end in sight

Who is that, lurking in the trees?

We made landfall at 5.00pm

And with the help of G -  who not having scarpered off home to relax and unwind, had driven an extra 21.5km and patiently waited to help us get the boats back up the hill (thanks G) - we had the boats back up at the cars by 5.17pm

After the slow process of unpacking the boats and loading them it was decided that Eden was a good destination for a fish and chip dinner.  Accordingly we all met up down the wharf for an unhealthy dose of salt and saturated fat as we debriefed the days paddle. A unanimous thumbs up and a 9.5/10 was scored.

L&I finally reached home at 8.45pm with only enough energy left to loosen the tiedowns before staggering inside.

Trip Notes:
Put In/Take Out: Track on left just before Davidson's Whaling Station that leads to the other end of DWS beach
Take Out for G: End of Hazelnut Drive, off  McMahons Rd
16kms
5hours 45mins
High Tide at Eden 1.06pm, 1.52metres
River Height: @ Towamba .46mm