Friday 21 September 2018 Cuttagee Lake

A quick nearly, impromptu paddle, instigated yesterday by V&S who then pulled out as the midnight hour loomed.  So it was only G&R and L&I who met for the paddle this morning.

We set off about 9.00am

And first on the agenda was a paddle lesson for R&me. The bow draw stroke

We took about 20 minutes to cross Little Cuttagee as R&I wove our way across the lake practicing the stroke. Then down the straight we went

Disturbing a large flock of swans as we went

A few minutes later we caused them to take flight again

As so often happens while we stopped for morning tea the breeze sprang up and our return paddle down Cuttagee was into the wind. With those new fins, there is no stopping G and he led us all the way back down the lake.
Coming back up the straight we disturbed yet more swans

Nearing the end of the straight

Once back in Little Cuttagee we had a leisurely paddle home on sheltered waters.
Lined up and waiting to use the disembarking gateway.

Our quick paddle was over by 11.05 and paddled 5.3kms.

Friday 14 September 2018 Bermagui River & Coolagolite Creek

We squeezed another paddle this week, to take advantage of the tides. So we decided to whoosh up Bermagui Creek with the full force of the tide. High tide at the Bermi Bridge was at 12.19, so we took to the water at 9.10am.

A new method of launching. Mount your kayak on dry land and wait for the incoming tide to float you off

Heading up the river

George enjoying speeding along with the aid of his new fins

Stunning water as usual

 Checking out a 'high tide' arm

What does one call this - a cluster of kayaks?

At 10.25 we stopped at our usual spot for morning tea

G&R's account of their trip to Canberra was cut short when G's kayak was spotted floating past where we were sitting, heading upstream at a rather rapid rate.

R leapt into her kayak and took off in pursuit.

G's kayak proved difficult to catch and S&V went to the rescue. We watched them all disappearing upstream as L finished his tea. He then took to the water and casually paddled after them. Meanwhile G and I were entertained watching this octopus swim leisurely upstream.

L reached the recalcitrant boat

lassoed it and paddled back to shore with it meekly in tow. Looking supercool in his new found sunglasses

So that was morning tea finished and about 11.05 we were all back on the water and heading upstream once more.  Once the junction of the Coolagolite and Nutley's Creek was reached, a brief discussion took place and it was decided to paddle up Coolagolite Creek as we had never chosen to explore it before.

It soon became quite shallow and G had to pull up his fins and paddle.

We paddled a little over a kilometre up its length, negotiating a barbwire fence enroute, before turning around and heading back to the junction.

Nearly back to the junction

At 12.20pm G, R&I rounded the corner into the Bermi River to find the 'speedy' boats already beached and their occupants awaiting lunch

 Toward the end of the break R road tested first, V's Perception and then swapped to S's Tsunami only to find the rudder on it hanging at an odd angle.  Upon inspection running repairs were impossible so it was hoiked up out of the way and we packed up and took to the water at 1.25pm, about halfway through slack water.

The 'speedy boats' waiting for the 'slowboats' to get on the water

And we head back downstream

One doesn't realise how big pelicans are until you paddle past one standing in the shallows and you look up at it.

Our paddle ended at 3.00pm.

After packing up the boats and some of us donning less revealing clothing we met up in the Gelati cafe for a well deserved icecream.

Trip notes:
Put in/Take out: SlipWay Beach
17.4kms
5hrs 50 mins (includes 40mins morning tea and 65mins for lunch)
which means we averaged a little over 4kms per hours actual paddling.

Tuesday 11 September 2018 Clyde River from Shallow Crossing upstream

Due to drought the Clyde is barely flowing so we timed our paddle to coincide with the incoming tide. High tide (king, 1.64m) was at 9.33am at the Clyde River Bridge which meant it would reach Shallow Crossing at approx 12.30pm.

S&V arrived promptly and we set off just after 7.30am collecting R and her boat enroute. We arrived at our destination about 10.10am. When we first arrived the river was flowing upstream with a 6"ish rapid falling on the upstream side of the causeway.  By the time we had all taken to the water, about 10.45am,  the difference is height was negligible.

Looking downstream from the crossing. (Compare with second last pic taken approx 4 hours later)

R backpaddling to give room for the next launch

Last to launch, L waits for the wash from a 4WD to disperse

 

Beautiful

Not only was the flora varied, so was the bed of the river, providing endless fascination

See, what I mean

S did some research, only 25% of the land bordering the length of the Clyde River is cleared, making it the most pristine water on the east coast!

The tide is still coming in as we continue upstream

Occasionally we came across stupendous tree trunks, reminding us of what the forest one was

Rock shelves lined the river bed in places

About to encounter our first obstacle

Mmm, which way

There is the opening

Through the opening then a hard right, and OMG its a little rapid falling upstream! R&I wobbled and scraped our way through. The others came through like old pros.

S, very cool as she puts in a supporting stroke.

Following the leader through the shallows

We continued making our way upstream

And to the sound of running water, hit, for us, the end of the line.

The total flow of the Clyde River!  At least the water was running in the right direction!

At 12.15pm we stopped for lunch in this glorious spot - only marred by the noise of a water pump a little further upstream in the next big pool

The little pool immediately upstream of the tidal limit

Looking back downstream

We took to the water again at 1.05pm to start our return journey

With the tide just beginning to turn

Back up through the teeny rapid which no longer existed and through the rock garden

Looking downstream whilst waiting

for the stragglers to exit the rock garden

L, doing an 'arty'

About 2.15pm we stopped for a leg stretch, snack and V&S tried to teach R how to skim stones - won't say anymore than a lot of practice is required!

Then it was a short paddle downstream to Shallow Crossing where, on the lower side, the tide was well and truly out.

We finished the paddle at 2.45pm. We saw quite a few schools of very large mullet? further upstream and V swears on her grannies grave she paddled over a small bullshark. Loads of bird life in the bush on the banks.  It was unanimous that this paddle should go in the top 10.

On the way home there was much discussion re whether we could handle the 23km paddle from Shallow Crossing down to Nelligen, followed by an early dinner at the Bermi Pub.

Great Day

Trip Notes

Put In/Take Out: Shallow Crossing on the River Road
Upstream paddle of 4.4kms
4 hours