Sunday 26 August 2018 Mueller River, Croajingolong NP

This was a will we/won't we trip. In the week preceding our scheduled departure the forecast steadily worsened and some of the less intrepid pulled out.  Then a few days before D day the forecast began to improve - somewhat - and R was back in which motivated S&V, who were suffering a severe case of FOMO to declare they too were game.

On Friday the forecast changed once more to gloomy - cold, windy and some rain - but it was too late, shopping was done, dinners and cakes were being cooked, camping gear pulled out of storage and sorted and most importantly the boats were loaded.

So late Saturday morning, under sunny skies, we set off, heading south to the wilds of Victoria, namely Croajigolong National Park and the Thurra River Campground. R,L&I arrived at the campground to find S&V already at our designated sites, No's 1&6. No. 6 giving us direct access to the Thurra. BUT alas, alak the plug had been pulled and the river was a shadow of its former self and didn't look navigable upstream. Alternate plans would have to be made.

After much deliberation of where to set up our tents - R wasn't going to sleep where a tree or part thereof could fall on her, which after much study, severely limited her options and memories of waking to water coursing under our tent at 3 Mile were still fresh in L and my minds - we set up camp, pleased to discover that Parks had installed two new picnic tables in the communal campfire area, both of which we claimed.

Plans were laid to depart camp at 8.00am the next morning and paddle the Mueller River and Camp Creek (off the Mueller). However, after a freezing nights (lack of) sleep it took a long time to thaw and L found it impossible to motivate the formerly keen kayakers and departure from camp wasn't until about 10.00am. It is only a short drive from the Thurra campground to the Mueller and we were taking to the water by 10.30am

Waiting for L to find his boat at a better launch site than the one the rest of us had used.

 We headed around the bend and set of upstream

 

Is that a new paddle? An early present for the birthday girl

S had the bit between her teeth and was off. There is nothing that she likes more than a new waterway to discover. Meanwhile El Capitano is still checking the map

20 minutes steady paddling into a light headwind

And we were into still water and the poddling began

Appreciating the lush surrounds

A lovely river with lots of bends

 So different from the forest we are used too

Reflections

The one problem with the Mueller is there are no salubrious spots to get out

As the river narrowed, the obstacles started to appear

Looking after the new paddle

The underwater obstacles started appearing, or not appearing, thick and fast, but S was in her element.

The end of the line, for us, was reached at the 5km mark

We started to retrace our steps with R leading the way.

Roots

About 1.45pm we found a spot, where with some difficulty, we could get out, to stretch and eat our lunch (40mins).

Relaxing waiting for everyone to launch post lunch.

Dry bush on the left, lush on the right?

Nearing the end of our paddle. Because of our late start it was decided to forego Camp Creek. It would have to wait for tomorrow

Looking to toward the closed (currently) entrance

 

Looking for a spot to disembark

Perfect

 Looking back to the entrance

Our paddle was over by 2.30pm. L retreived the car from our original launch site at the boat ramp and we loaded up and headed back to camp.  As we drove back over the Thurra bridge it was noted that something strange had happened whilst we were away -  the height of the river seemed to have risen by 1 or 2 feet. The stick L had stuck in at the shoreline in the morning was well under water.  How could this be??? However there was no time to ponder the question, we had to get out of our wet gear and into layers and light the fire before losing the sun.

Just after 3.00pm Paul the lighthouse caretaker arrived, doing his rounds, and joined us at the fireplace with the latest weather update. It wasn't looking too good. Gale force winds and some rain overnight continuing for the next two days. Enthusiasm for camping for a third night quickly evaporated.

After another sumptuous dinner and time spent round the campfire we retreated to bed with waiting to see what tomorrow would bring.  The change came in bringing a light sprinkling of rain and gale force winds but our camp site was remarkably sheltered with barely a breeze whilst we lay in our tents and listened to the wind roar through the treetops.

Trip notes:
Put In/Take Out: Mueller River Camping Ground
10kms
4hrs 10mins