Monday 18 May 2020 Narira Creek

We had such a nice paddle on Wallaga Lake and Narira Creek last Friday it was decided to do a repeat performance but this time venture further up the Creek. We put in at Fairhaven Boat Ramp (if you can call it that) and upon our arrival we faced a very different atmosphere from last Friday.

The four of us set off at 8.04am

Sound was muted and a pelican in the distance stood out against the grey

The first bit of colour we come across, a mother duck and her brood which quickly hid themselves upon our approach

This pelican nonchalantly crossed in front of V

to join his mates

 We continued on up the creek

Next was this young Wedgetailed Eagle

who took flight as we approached

and flew across the river

to land in another dead tree (dead standing trees are very important to our wildlife - not only for perching but nesting as well. Gladys take note!). The eagle was quickly joined by a couple of Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes.

Suddenly a land breeze hit as the mist flowed down the valley

A Great Egret flying by

We continued on up the creek past the entrance to Black Lagoon to the 3.17km mark intending to explore the lagoon that goes off to the right at that point however we had only proceeded approx 40 metres up the entrance to the lagoon before finding further progress blocked. The adjoining landowner, I suppose, having dumped a truck load of earth into the narrow channel to construct a vehicle crossing. So much for fish migration!

So we back-paddled our way out of the channel and crossed the creek to narrow sandy point to have a cup of tea. While we spent 30-40mins having a yak and a snack the last of the mist burned off and when we returned to the water under sunny blue sky.

We continued upstream for a further 1.13kms

to see where the January bush fire had reached.  (You can see where the fire reached on the Google Earth map, dated April this year, at the end of this entry.)
About 4.46km from our start point we paused for a moment

before turning around and heading back downstream.  Gulaga looms as we round this bend,

 heading toward where we had stopped for morning tea.

 We continued to glide downstream on the silky water,

 past interesting reflections

 After paddling about 3kms from our turn around point we turned into the entrance of Black Lagoon and at 10.55am found a spot to pull in for a last leg stretch and to finish the remains of our morning tea.

Sitting in a grassy paddock we chatted away for 35mins before taking to the water once more to resume our journey.
Heading down the backside of the island at the entrance to the creek.

We didn't get very far up the shallow entrance to the first lagoon, L finding further progress impeded by fallen branches - a pity as it looked interesting and on the map the lagoon looks as though it would be a haven for bird life.

Having made our way back to the creek and we paddled on to the entrance to the next lagoon and turned in

We poddled down the quiet and seemingly remote lagoon,

 just cruising along enjoying the scenery

We exited the glassy water of the lagoon into the choppy waters of Wallaga Lake and paddled past the numerous entrances into Narira Creek, arriving back at our launch site at 12.15pm.

A most enjoyable paddle.

10.5km
4hrs 10mins