Thursday 20 February 2020 Bermagui River

We had been planning to paddle the Tuross River but after inspecting it earlier in the week while on a trip up to Bateman's Bay and discovering -

The Tuross at Coomerang Forest Road Bridge

and the ashy silt deposited up the road by the floods.

Further upstream, the river bed from Tyrone Bridge

and the river itself still thick with ash -

how severely impacted by the bushfires and the heavy rainstorm that followed the river was
we decided to paddle closer to home on our beloved Bermagui River.

Accordingly a plan was made to meet down at the slipway beach at 7.30am to take advantage of slack water (any earlier and the troops would have mutinied).

The fellas having reneged it was a girls own trip today.

It felt like it was the first time we had seen Gulaga clearly for months

 and joy of joys the river was in good shape

Being efficient little bunnies we were on the water and ready to paddle by 7.50am

Paddling up river we were surprised and a little shocked to find so many areas closed to us by new oyster beds. These were just before third bend.

About to go round the bend

A bit of chat went on as we paddled

The river still remaining surprisingly clear

Passing under a Sea Eagle at the next bend

And up passed the entrance to the mangrove swamp - the tide being too low to allow us to explore today

We reached the camp area at 9.30am and pulled in for morning tea. The camping area was still pretty clean and tidy - one positive outcome of the fires I suppose - though someone had left behind the wooden chair.

At 10.25am we took to the water again to head back down river. Some discussion was held re heading further upstream but S decided us otherwise by pointing out the strengthening breeze we would have to face on the way home.

Having lingered so long over morning tea we got quite a strong and very welcome tidal assist on our way

When we got back to the corner featuring the new oyster beds the 'delta dames' decided to cut the corner through the mangroves; alas alak the water level was too low and after some too close encounters with oyster bommes they had to backtrack. Meanwhile I floated on down the river being gently swept along by the current and took in the views. In this case a Pied Oyster Catcher on an exposed oyster bomme.

The 'Deltas' caught up with me under the Bermi Bridge and we paddled the short distance back to slipway beach arriving at 11.30am , the return trip having only taken 65minutes.

G bless his little heart, having seen up arrive back drove down to help us load the boats.

By the time we were done it was 11.55 - oh time for lunch!. Unfortunately S&V had jobs to do so R&G and I took ourselves off to Octopi for lunch. Delicious as usual.

Trip Notes:
Put in/Pull out:  Slipway beach
High Tide at the Bermi Bridge: 7.56am 1.3m
10.4kms
3hrs 40mins

Friday 14 February 2020 Murrah River

Our first paddle since 13 December last year, and after the constant tention of the last six weeks, oh how we needed it. The recent bushfires have sadly burnt through most of the places we have paddled over the last couple of years -  I looked back through the blog and it is horrifying how much has burnt.  However as you will know (if we get round to completing the previous blog) the little strip of coastline within which we live has been spared.

You may remember while we were away last year exploring the UK canals the Murrah Lagoon closed -for the first time in over 50 years.  Well, the recent rain has filled it up close to breaking point and for the first time we were able to paddle upstream of the bridge so naturally it was the no.l paddle on our list for 2020.

Accordingly we met down at the Murrah Bridge; the river was so full instead of driving down onto the sand we had to launch through the gate.  Besides the usual group of suspects we were joined by Andy and D'd so we were quite a crowd.

After launching which took a while as we could only get two boats at a time onto the water

 we headed under the bridge to explore new territory upstream

Look what was in store for us

Beautiful

There is quite a mob of us today

 Reflections

So taken by the view of these cows, I missed the fork to the left and continued

merrily on upstream for another 600 metres or so

to be confronted by this

Sad for our foray to end so soon, but happy we had already got so far we turned around to retrace our steps. Then L piped up that maybe this was just a backwater and the river went left where the cows were.  And so it proved, having turned left by the cows we once again proceeded upstream, this time paddling against a notable current that got stronger the further we went

Just where the river narrowed and shallowed and the current was strong we met John (?) Gowing, owner of the farm through which we were paddling.

We stopped for a chat, crowding into the eddy

 - he'd never seen the river and lagoon this full and so benign, this full and it has always been a raging torrent in the past.
Chat over the intrepid pushed on up through narrows and proceeded on for a couple of bends before being blocked by fallen timber.  Meanwhile R and I turned around and floated back down with the current to find G and for me to find somewhere to get out for a leg stretch.

Not finding G at the sandy little beach just downstream of the junction, R proceeded on while I did some stretches on the beach and waited for the others - and there they go

Catching up with G&R before the bridge we decided to head downstream of the bridge to find somewhere suitable for morning tea. By now the sun was out and it was getting quite warm

Back under the bridge

and life is good :)

Though we have all lost our paddle 'fitness' - even the yoga guru himself!

After sa 35 minute stop for morning tea on the grassy bank

 we continued our journey down to the mouth.

We reached the mouth of lagoon to find it was starting to break open. Being a chicken and not wanting to paddle against a strong current if the break opened up I turned around and headed straight back aiming for the grassy bank where we had morning tea.

Hopefully the others took some pics of the mouth which I can insert here!!!!  Thank you R. Where are S' pics from her newly charged camera????

The intrepid paddlers returned to their boats

and headed back up the lagoon

past the flock of seagulls sculpture

Meanwhile I had a very quiet trip back up the lagoon seeing a couple of sea eagles, a variety of cormorants, swooping swallows, herons and pelicans.  When we regrouped V&S decided to head for home and A after some dithering joined us for lunch back on the grassy bank. This time we sat with our feet in the water thus avoiding the ants and keeping cool.

After a 40 minute  lunch we headed off on the last part of our paddle

The sun was hot and G discovered a unique use for his lifejacket

Nearly at the end of our first magical paddle of 2020.

Trip Notes:
Put in/Take out:  Murrah River Bridge
10.6kms
4hrs 40mins