Wednesday 6 May 2020 Nutley's Creek and Bermagui River

High tide at the Bermi bridge was at 7.58am 1.4m and according to L & G's observations on a previous trip, high tide reached the campsite at the bottom of River Rd two hours later - more on this in due course! So the plan was to launch from the campsite at 8.30am to give us enough time to reach the confluence of  the Coologolite and Nutley's Creeks, paddle up Nutley's and back to the confluence before the tide turned.

Once again, barely a quorum of the CKC made it onto the water, and what water it turned out to be.
8.10am and we have the boats lined up ready for packing as mist flows down the river in the chilly morning air.

After some minor readjustments

at 8.20am we were away, heading upstream

Hitting the sunlight was very welcome (not so much for the owners of pogies) and my fingers began to thaw.

The way ahead looked inviting

Glassy water as the last of the mist slipped by

 Looking back downstream

R, in the lead passing the sandy beach that marks the confluence of Coologolite Creek and Nutley's Creek and the start of the Bermagui River, approx 2km upstream from the campsite.

We paddled up Nutley's Creek, cruising quietly up to these Great Egrets

They tried to hold their nerve

But eventually caution won out and they took to the air

 Shortly after L noticed the tide had turned and was now running out!!!!!
What happened to the calculations you might ask? Well, obviously L&G got the 'two hours later' at the campsite all wrong. It was now just after 9.00am, if their observation was correct we should have until 10.00am or a little later before the tide turned up here!   Hmmmm

With a low high tide and a shallow section ahead we decided to paddle on through the shallows to the next big bend and turn there.   While negotiating the shallow section one could feel the pull of the outgoing tide and we had to put a bit of effort into our strokes. Once back into deeper water, we could resume our regular 'poddling' style.

Nearing the next big bend  at 9.10am and

having reached it we pause for a moment

before making the turn and making our way back down stream, separately and silently, enjoying the solitude and bird song,

to the confluence and the sandy beach, where we pulled in for an extended morning tea, where while sitting like lizards, soaking up the sun and gazing upon the amazing reflections in the water, we discussed,

among other things (one of which was L's amazement that Betty B and I could talk on the phone for nearly two hours and how anyone could talk about toilet paper for 20mins :) ), where was I, oh yes - the pros and cons of Kristy McBain and Andrew Constance and which of them will win the by-election; and of course there was lots of discussion about America and the Trumpeter. How could the median IQ of one of the wealthiest countries in the world be so low? - another topic for a future conversation perhaps.

We returned to the water just after 10.00am, having whiled away a little over an hour, relaxing in the sun.

We drifted back downstream

Past some amazing reflections

The water was still glassy, the forecast breeze never having appeared

We watch a Sea Eagle fly upstream toward us

and land in a tree beside us

With the outgoing tide, paddling was optional

We got back to the campsite and agreed we would like to keep paddling, G having kindly said he, if required, would come down to the river and drive L back to the campsite to collect the car. So we poddled on.

This lagoon, which I have marked on the map, has in the last week become completely blocked by a new installation of oyster lease beds.  It seems as though the Bermagui River is suddenly exploding with oyster beds. I wonder if they do any environmental damage?

The first time we have seen the dreaded oyster bommes fully exposed. We had no idea they were so large

and numerous; normally we paddle the river on a much higher tide.

We pulled in at the beach on the right for a quick leg stretch and watched an ultralite fly by and here we are setting out again, into a now fast outgoing tide.

We whizzed back down the river passing yet more oyster bommes

and this lone Spoonbill keeping company with some Pied Oystercatchers

R keeping well clear of the exposed sandbank just upstream of the bridge

We pulled in just downstream of the boat ramp at noon and we were barely out of our boats when G arrived to give L a lift back to our car.

R and I unloaded our chairs and deployed them and sat in the warm sun, and watched a powered paraglider fly around as we nattered away whilst we awaited the return of the cars, a pleasant end to a fantastic paddle.

Once we had the trailer loaded we didn't linger as I was anxious to get home to check on the what turned out to be the not so wild kitty I had caught in the trap the previous afternoon.  Much to L's relief we got home to find the council ranger had already been and collected the cat and the trap as he feared, quite rightly, my heart was melting fast.  By its reactions, once in the cage - it was smooching my fingers this morning, I'm sure it was either a dumped Christmas present or got lost or left behind in one of the numerous fire evacuations this area had to endure during January.

Trip Notes:
High Tide at Bermagui Bridge: 7.58am 1.4m
Put in: Campsite at the bottom of River Rd
Take out: Bridge boat ramp
11.4kms
3hrs 40mins

Breaking news, "as we go to print", Andrew Constance has pulled out and will no longer stand for the by-election. All that speculation at morning tea 'gorn' for nought :)