NB Aqualife: 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.