Packing our gear into the boats
Even though it seemed a long drive to the boat ramp beside the dam wall we were on the water by 9.50am.
The dam wall, just around the corner from the boat ramp.
The spill way - the last time we paddled Brogo water was pouring over it.
At 68%, the dam was a little lower than we expected however it was still enticing
Enough gawking, its time to paddle
Despite M's best efforts to lead the party astray and having being wisely ignored by the said party we reached the old campsite (where we had camped on our 1st Brogo venture) near the top of the lake at 10.40am and stopped for morning tea.
While resting we were priveleged to watch a sea eagle hunting from its perch (hope S has good pic) ......... and so she has :)
and were entertained watching a Blackfronted Dotterel hunt along the shoreline
After a very leisured - 50min - break we poddled up the old Brogo River
at 12.06 we (well S&V) reached the paddlable limits of the dam at this level. The rock along the old river, on the left of the photo, looks like granite and there is none on the other side of the river. It looks completely out of place but can't be - I need a geologist to explain:)
Paddling back downstream one realised
that it must have been quite a spectacular gorge back in the old days before it was dammed.
Succulent looking plant spotted growing in a couple of spots along the gorge
Female? water dragon, perhaps taking refuge on a rock in the middle of the water. The males we saw further on had quite a greenish hue to their skins.
Back at the end of the rocky gorge, the water dragons were still about, 3 males in pursuit of 1 harrassed female.
One of the males, having lost the battle
The second of the vanquished males
And there unfortunately my battery died, never again - well maybe not - will I be able to have a go at S!!! Because the 3rd male, right in front of L and I and totally disregarding us, jumped into the water,
and grabbed the hapless female, who unseen by us had been hiding under water, by the back of the neck, dragged her up out of the water for about 4-5' and proceeded to mate with her.
A little further on we encountered a motor boat whose occupants slowed to warn us they had seen a tiger snake swimming across the dam in the vicinity of where we were currently floating! That news gave us the impetus to stick our paddles in the water, or in the case of one of our party, put feet to the pedals and get moving to find a suitable spot for lunch.
At 1.10pm we pulled in to the camping area at the end of Nelson Creek bay.
While not a great disembarkation point
it did lead to a great luncheon site
After a lingering lunch - the unaccustomed warmth made it a lazy sort of day - we headed back onto the water at 2.40pm
We slowly paddled back to the boat ramp which we reached about 3.10pm.
And lastly, backing the trailer back down the ramp to load the boats and gear.
After unpacking the boats, loading them, packing the unpacked stuff into the cars, changing shoes etc it was decided a gelati back in Bermi was a just reward for our efforts. Meeting up again at the Gelati shop at the Wharf we all indulged in what must be some of the best gelati in the country. Yum.
And then, to make a perfect day even better, back at G&R's after unloading their boats and gear, we sat on the verandah and over a cup of tea watched 3-4 whales close in to shore, tail slapping and breaching etc and they were still at it long after we'd finished our tea. Wonderful.
Thanks to R&S for their pics.
Trip Notes:
Put In/Take Out: Brogo Dam Boat Ramp
Dam Level: 68%
11.1kms
5hrs 25mins (inc.approx 2hrs 20mins of breaks)
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