Thursday 29 March 2018 Bermagui River

After our little hiatus it was decided a cruisey paddle on the Bermi River would ease us back into the rigors of kayaking. High tide at the Bermagui Bridge was 8.14am, breeze was scheduled to kick in at noon so L layed plans accordingly.

Leaving home just before 7.30am, with S&V following we dropped their car at the boat ramp and proceeded up Nutley's Creek Rd and then down the River Rd to our put in point where we met up with G&R.

After unloading the boats and getting ready

We took to the water at 8.30am and headed upstream

 Came across a Sea Eagle eating something.

It was with some reluctance it left its catch - what turned out to be a large blow fish

 It landed further upstream and waited for us to pass before returning to its meal.

Reaching the Nutley's Creek confluence at 9.10am, L noted the tide had turned and the choice of continuing on against the current or stopping for morning tea was easily made! During which we demanded instruction from L on how to avoid been swept into rocks on rapids. With the aid of the sand and a stick he drew diagrams and explained. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if the eager audience was left any the wiser. We lounged around, all trying out the new chairs with side tables that R&G had purchased - one of them for me - thank you. No more juggling of mugs, tea bags, milk etc.

After a break of 40 mins we began our paddle back downstream, this time flushing not one, but two Sea Eagles from their blowfish meal.

We had a leisurely paddle, ably assisted by the tide, back down stream

We flew down the last kilometre or so and had to exert ourselves to avoid being swept under the bridge, finishing our paddle at 11.25am.

While the others went to retrieve the two vehicles left down the end of River Rd, V, R and I unpacked the boats and got them ready for loading then relaxed in our deck chairs gongoozling the kayak hirers battle the outgoing tide with amusement, sometimes concern and a definite feeling or superiority :)

Upon the vehicles return we loaded the boats, changed our retired to Sundeck for a not particularly well earned, leisurely lunch topped off with some gelati in a cone.

  Trip Notes:
Put in: River Rd, off Nutley's Creek Rd
Take out: Bermagui Bridge boat ramp
Hight Tide: 814am 1.8m
8.7km
2hrs 50 mins

Friday 9 March 2018 Snowy River - Willis Campground to McKillops Bridge Part 4 Final Day

We had to make a concerted effort to be away early this morning to make it back to Dalgety by 3.00 -3.30pm in order to get to Canberra in time for the celebratory dinner.
Richard packing our boats for our last morning of paddling.

Packed and ready to go

Christian taking to the water. We are reluctant to leave knowing our adventure is soon to end.

A final hitch of the shorts before clambering aboard

More clothing adjustment going on

We head off at 10.00am

Yet more clothing adjustment - maybe our clothes are beginning to stick!

We don't seem to be too keen on paddling today

Another beautiful long pool

L being the last down, Richard heads back to his boat

Lots of chatter at the back

McKillops Bridge, marking the end of our journey, hoves into sight.

Watching a huge old goanna amble across the sand

And this is called spot the Sea Eagle. Richard said there must be something dead nearby to attract both the Sea Eagle and the goanna.

With Alison waiting to greet us, we pulled out short of McKillops Bridge on a rocky beach from which a path led up to the road. Several trips were necessary to get all our gear up to the waiting vehicles.

Alison had laid out an early lunch for us, Pumpkin soup, rolls and plenty of chilled watermelon, all of which went down a treat.

Richard had thoughtfully arranged for a conservationist mate, James Fitzgerald of the Two Thumbs Wildlife Trust to come and drive the four of us and our personal stuff back to Dalgety so we would get there by the time required whilst Alison, Richard and Christian remained behind packing up the rest of the gear.

James drove us back to Dalgety by yet another scenic route, this time via Bonang and Delegate.

Distance paddled 3.6km
Approx 1hr 20mins

For different reasons, the trip exceeded all our expectations. For all of us the lack of 'white water' was a bonus because we hadn't undertaken the trip for 'thrills and spills' - we wanted to quietly paddle the Snowy to access and experience a wild place, a part of the county that we could not otherwise get to. On the other hand, with Richard and Christian on hand to guide and help us the little bits of white water we did encounter became fun. Christians enthusiasm and unflagging energy and Richards experience and depth of knowledge combined to make a terrific team as they shepherded us down the river. We paddled through a far more varied and interesting terrain than I was expecting.

And lastly, the food - flavour, variety and quantity exceeded our expectations; as did the whole camping side of the trip. The lads worked hard to make us as comfortable as possible. And the boats; whilst they were a bit of a pig to paddle on the flat water, they came into their own on moving water, and whether facing the right direction or not (V and I went down quite a few gravel races backward, and annoyingly never got 'stuck' when doing so) they nearly always got us through without mishap (L and I each had an unplanned dismount).

To top it all off, the weather gods smiled upon us and we had perfect weather for whole trip; warm days, cloudless balmy evenings and crisp post midnights, AND astonishingly no mozzies or bugs.

Trip Notes:
Put In: Willis Campground
Take Out: McKillops Bridge
Distance 30.5km
Paddling Time (incl. Morning Tea & Lunch Breaks): 14hrs 10mins

River heights:

Date 2018	Dalgety Weir	Burnt Hut	McKillops Bridge
Tuesday 6/3	.93m (399ml/day)	.11m (198ml/day)
Wednesday 7/3	.91m (369ml/day)	.11 (196ml/day)	.48m
Thursday 8/3	.86m (199m/dayl)	.32 (372ml/day)	.47m
Friday 9/3	.84m (212ml/day)	.26m (313ml/day)	.45m

Thursday 8 March 2018 Snowy River - Willis Campground to McKillops Bridge Part 3

Early morning mist rising from the river

Here we are, at 7.30am, slightly less bright eyed and bushy tailed watching and waiting for the billy to boil.

Richard and Christian tie down the last of the gear as we think about launching.

We are underway at 11.00am, a slight improvement on yesterday

A quick pit stop. I forgot to mention that we also had a stop for morning tea each day with a variety of muesli bars, nut bars and fresh fruit on offer

 The beginning of another CKC raft up!

I think this was the biggest highest rapid encountered on our entire trip. With Christian taking up position at the top of the rapid and Richard halfway down to bounce off, we all made it safely down. Although I think it was on this one that I forced Richard to go for a swim while he kept me high and dry.

At 1.20pm we stopped for lunch

And today both V&S decide to cool off before lunch

After lunch we wove our way through a rock garden

A heavily laden Christian makes paddling look easy as he seeks a way over the shallows. I think that is the Suggan Buggan River valley coming in from the left right in the distance, approx 1km from our lunch stop.  Richard and Christian pulled in at the confluence and walked a short way up the Suggan Buggan to replenish our water supplies whilst we lazed in our boats.

Through a beautiful pebble bedded section after the confluence.

Looking back upstream. If you stopped paddling in the pools the boats would slowly do a 306o

S in the middle of a 360o

 About 4.45pm we pulled in for the night, approx 5km downstream of the Suggan Buggan confluence. Once some much needed lolling around was completed,  L and I moved our boats and pitched our tent right where he is standing.

After a huge BBQ dinner and lots more talk we made our way to bed. Not long before dispersing for the night the three girls caught sight of a most unusual shooting star thingie. It was low on the horizon and huge, extremely bright with a greenish haloed short tail. Of course the blokes thought we were seeing things.

This time I went to bed prepared - and took my chair - and sure enough when I got up at 2.00am the moon was once more shining brightly upon the valley and the river and I sat in the chair for some time and took in the beauty of the night, eventually being driven back to my cosy bed by the chill in the air.

End of Day 3
Distance paddled 11.8km
5hrs 30 mins