Tuesday 12 May 2020 Cuttagee

For the first time in many, many months the CKC turned out in force for a paddle on their local lake.

Once again S&V paddled round to meet us and had to wait a little until the rest of us were ready to embark. We set off up Little Cuttagee at 9.10 leaving A behind, still flying his drone.

However it wasn't long before he joined us on the glassy water

Lot's of catching up to do - we haven't seen each for awhile

Heading down the main lake, the water was still glassy

 We turned into Cuttagee Creek, where the jelly fish seem to congregate

Entering the beginning of the big bend, where the reflections were mesmerising

 We paddled up the creek and pulled into the little stony beach approx 100metres short of the Backwater crossing. The stragglers pulled in at 10.20 and we all found ourselves a spot in the sun to have our morning tea and catch up on each others news.

At 11.10 we took to the water once more

As we paddled along we could here some unusual, for us, bird calls coming closer and suddenly we were lucky to see a group of four Glossy Black Cockatoos flying over head shortly followed by four more - very exciting.

We made our way back downstream and picked out way through the upstream entrance to the Backwater

 Exploring part of the Backwater

 We rejoined the creek at the big bend

 As we paddled out into the main lake we found ourselves paddling into a slight head breeze. As we paddled flight after flight of swans took off, flying back up the lake on either side of us.

Once we turned off the main lake the breeze dropped off and we made a very leisurely return to our launch sites making land about 12.30pm.

S&V having paddled on to their launch site, the rest of us unpacked our boats and then sat around and polished off the left overs from morning tea, enjoying the sun and a further gossip. A lovely relaxing end to another fine paddle. I must point out here, that L, who proclaims to be loving the lockdown, was sooo busy chattering that it was left to R & I to load and tie down our three boats.

9.15km (+ an extra .5km for S&V. And  about the same for L who kept disappearing, looking at possible launch sites and camping spots for the Tammie Norrie)
3hrs 20mins