The Tuross at Coomerang Forest Road Bridge
and the ashy silt deposited up the road by the floods.
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
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
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