Thursday 23 August 2018 Bega River

It was decided to paddle the Bega River starting at Blackfellows Lagoon and paddling upstream to Jellat Jellat and the start of the great sand plug that is slowly moving down the Bega River.

We met at the Blackfellows Lagoon boat ramp a little after 8.30am and by just after 9.00am we were all on the water. Progress out of the lagoon was slow as there was much to discuss and rant about viz a viz federal politics and Dutton's challenge.

The smoke from the Bemboka fires was still hanging around

Paddling passed the burnt forest from the Tathra fires combined with the smoke haze made everyone a little uncomfortable and conversation went from the current state of politics and Potato Head to bushfire preparation.

As the warmth of the sun stated to make itself felt some disrobing took place

At last we draw close to the entrance to Bega River. Even the patch of tea tree (?)
in the middle of the water was burnt

Just after this photo was taken by R we were overtaken by a lone paddler about 10.00am. Trevor was his name and he had started at Mogareeka.  He was keen that we might join the paddling group he belonged to but given that he had a sleek go fast boat (as do the rest of his group) and they do quite a bit of sea kayaking his offer was met with a marked lack of enthusiasm!

Around 10.30am, not long after Trevor paddled off, leaving us seemingly dead in the water and planning to do twice the distance as us and in half the time, we stopped for morning tea.

Taking to the water again at 11.05am

G. turned back and the rest of us continued upstream pleased to see some unburnt bush

Looking upstream

You know I can't resist reflections

Reflections by R

This pic, taken by R at 11.07am, shows Trev in the distance on his return journey from Jellat Jellat. We met up a few minutes later and he commmented that we didn't seem to have got very far since he left us on his trip upstream and, tellingly,  didn't renew his invitation to join his group!!

V's favourite - an island ahead.

 Due to the smoke haze the lights was very weird today

 We reached our destination of the Jellat Jellat sand plug (same destination as Trev just before 12 noon) and after lingering for a few minutes we began our return journey. As soon as we turned around the wind started and we slogged our way back down river into a head wind and didn't have a chance to draw breath - not counting V's 'nature break' - until we turned back into the entrance of  Blackfellows Lagoon.

Burnt bush at the mouth of the lagoon.

Once into the lagoon, with our flagging energy we slowly poddled our way back to the boat ramp and ended our paddle at 1.30pm

Trip Notes:
Put In/Take Out: Blackfellows Lagoon boat ramp
12.2km
4hrs 30mins