Monday 21 September 2020 Nutley's Creek

 With 20+kmph winds forecast today we decided to ditch a Bithry Inlet paddle and instead opted for a more sheltered Nutley's Creek peregrination. With an 11.07am, 1.74 metre high tide at Bermagui River Entrance we calculated we needed to start paddling from the Campground off Nutley's Creek Rd at 9.30am (as it turned out we should have started half and hour to an hour later).

Carrying the boats down to the water we noticed a Jacky Lizard, perfectly disguised on the remains of a campfire.

Taking to the water

we ready to start paddling at 9.35am - on glassy water - where was the forecast wind!

Up the long straight the water was still shallow and lots of skates were seen.

Knowing the shallows up the creek would still be exposed we stopped at the confluence of Nutley's and Coolagolite Creeks around 10.05am for approx 15 minutes until the water level had noticeably risen.

Heading up Nutley's Creek the depth of water looked good

But no, we had mistimed it. It is strange to see water flowing upstream.  Having done the noble deed of dragging L - in his boat - through the shallows

I returned for my stranded Castine

Into deeper water again, we took advantage of the gentle push upstream and floated along

Another, longer stretch of shallows we managed to pick our way through

There were masses of fish going every which way - for once V got to see her fair share!

V leads the way, weaving a course through the obstacles

Until we came to this log laying right across the creek. This was when it became apparent that we had started too early.  L declared this would be a good spot for lunch.

Obstacles littered the way ahead, so it was reluctantly decided that this would be the limit of our paddle up Nutley's Creek.

Getting out of the boats proved a little tricky and L decides to reverse park along side the sunken log.

   While we sat on the log laying across the river eating lunch we were entertained watching a school of mullet (?) waiting for the water level to rise so they could get under the log and head downstream, as the level rose only a few were brave enough to run the gauntlet of our dangling legs. Oh, and just behind and to the right of  L in the pic below was a wombat hole and S who was sitting nearest to it swore she could hear said wombat growling or snoring in its den.

We stopped for lunch at 11.00am and got underway again 54 minutes later. You can see how much the water has risen in that time. And it was still rising when we began our return paddle. If we had timed it right we may have been able to scrape our way over the log as lots of the obstacles beyond it had disappeared under the rising water.

We poddled away back downstream

Noticing lots of new wombat holes along the way. And it was about here the forecast wind arrived and we could hear it the tops of the trees.

Beyond the scum on the water are the now submerged shallows where we had to drag the boats.

When we reached the confluence it was slack water and we decided to have another break and wait for the tide to turn to give us an assist against the breeze. 

35 minutes later we took to the water once more, the tide now in our favour.

Off the long straight are a couple of lagoons, normally too shallow to explore. This one was littered with oyster bommes and with the water level now rapidly falling we didn't venture far.

However, it did look inviting

A little further down the river was another lead into which we ventured - no oysters in this one -

which led to a bijou lagoon

Returning down the lead to river,

where we discovered L who had paddled back upstream looking for us. Another 10 minutes of paddling and we were back at the campground and we decided to call it a day, finishing our paddle at 1.45pm

Back in Bermi, a delicious gelati went down a treat and was a perfect end to our paddle on this very warm day.

Trip Notes:

High Tide Bermagui River Entrance: 11.07am 1.74metres

Started the paddle at 9.35am, should have started between 10.00 - 10.30am for maximum water depth up Nutley's Creek.

Put In/Take Out: Camp Ground, River Road off Nutley's Creek Road

8.8kms

4hours10mins

Friday 18 September 2020 Clyde River: Shallow Crossing upstream to tidal limit

 Not knowing how much water was coming downstream (Gauge at Brooman: .72ms) we opted to start our paddle while the tide was still coming upriver.  Accordingly we left home at 7.00am, collecting R on our way up to Shallow Crossing. Travelling north we were thankful we eventually left the dank drizzle behind us, though the day remained overcast and grey.

Upon reaching Shallow Crossing we found the water still flowing strongly upstream and we set about unloading the boats and getting ready to paddle.

It is an awkward launching spot and we took to the water one by one, the early birds

congregating for the usual catch up on the news

L was the last to launch

and by 10.20 we were away upstream,  assisted by the now easing tidal flow.

L, in Precious today, waits for us to catch up.

Bank erosion caused by the floods.

Fire and flood damage, along with the grey misty day gave a rather somber feel to the paddle and it felt and looked like a completely different river. 

Frequent reed beds made for awkward paddling - however the incoming tide was stronger than the downstream flow.

Cruising on upstream

Reflections abounded on the glassy water

At 10.57am and about 3/4s of the way upstream, at the next reed field we noticed the water flow was now going downstream. I presume the downstream flow was now stronger than the tide. The water was more shallow and one had to watch for rocks lurking beneath the reeds.

35 minutes later and it was L to the rescue - reaching the first little rapid, R with her bung shoulder could only make it half way up.

Joining R& L in the eddy, R & I returned back down the first section of the rapid, whilst Lawrence paddled his 16.5' boat back up the second section to join S&V and continue their paddle upstream. Meanwhile R&I found a safe, if rocky little haven just below the little rapid where we sat it out waiting for the others to finish the paddle upstream. By the time we had got ourselves out of the boats onto the slippery rocks and found somewhere to sit it was only a short while before the others returned.......

For comparison - same rapid, taken from the same spot, two years ago.

........ much sooner than expected, having paddled only a little further on to the next rapid (and tidal limit?) before turning around. I'd like to think it was out of consideration for R and me, or maybe they just piked, but if they'd got through the next rapid, a lovely long pool and new territory lay ahead of them (see map).

L led the way down the top section of the little rapid followed by S.

disappearing out of sight to negotiate the corner she reappears on the lower section.

Then it was V's turn and lastly L.

Somewhat disparaging about our choice of resting spot, they nevertheless joined us just after 11.50 for lunch

At 12.40pm we carefully took to the water once more

L, last to launch with little rapid in the back ground.

For comparison, pic from roughly the same spot, two years ago

We poddled our way back downstream

and into a light drizzle

which did nothing to hamper our enjoyment.

With the downstream flow and the outgoing tide Shallow Crossing soon hove into view

and we ended our paddle at 1.35pm.  The water now cascading over the downstream edge of the crossing.

After dropping S&V at Bunnings in Bateman's Bay and the compulsory stop at Bodalla for an ice cream, we all met up again at G&R's for an early dinner comprised of various takeaways gathered by G in the afternoon - a most convivial way to end another good paddle.

Trip Notes:

River Height: Brooman Gauge .72metres

High Tide at Clyde River Bridge (Bateman's Bay): 9.03am 1.4metres

High Tide at Nelligen Bridge: 9.33am 1.4metres.

(See entry for 12 September 2018 for details of the same paddle when there was no downstream flow to speak of, but a higher tide of 1.65metres)

8.8kms

3hrs 15mins