Friday 2 October 2020 Wapengo

 Wapengo was our chosen destination this week and with an 8.31am, 1.5m high tide at the entrance, and 8.30 start from the Oyster Sheds was decided upon so we could first head up the creek. 

Someone's new winter wet boots have arrived and they couldn't resist modelling them today even tho' the temp is slated to get to 24oC!

The way we will be heading first off, up toward the top of the lake and the entrance to Wapengo Ck.

We took to the water at 8.30am

and headed out onto the still glassy water of the lake, hoping the forecast wind would not eventuate.

Heading up and across the lake,

we missed the entrance to the creek and had to backtrack for some time before finding it.

Here they come.

Little oyster shed on the creek bank and a sea eagle on the white pole in the left foreground

which was being dive bombed and hassled by a determined magpie,

Here are some pics from S's camera

Despite being continually dive bombed

the sea eagle showed no inclination to move. However as I approached it took a bead on me

and only felt the need to depart as the rest of the crew approached.

Paddling on up the creek.

We pulled in for a leg stretch and some morning tea about 9.45am.  At 10.05am S&V departed to paddle the rest of the creek whilst L&I continued to de-kink.

Taking to the water again

we floated for a few minutes before espying V&S's returning at 10.25am.

Heading back downstream on the now outgoing tide, we once again passed the old oyster shed

The breeze was starting to stiffen as we entered the lake and being very uncomfortable once again I made the decision not to continue the paddle.  We rafted up whilst L dug around behind my seat and extracted his lunch. We then parted ways, V,S&L to continue paddling down the lake and I to paddle back across the lake to our entry point.

For my part the last part of the lake crossing was a bit tricky, I missed the 'lane way' through the oyster beds and instead had to weave my way through; the wind and the outgoing tide wanting to push me onto the oyster beds whenever I had to paddle parallel to them. With a couple of close shaves I made it back at 11.25am.

Meanwhile the others had a glorious float, ably assisted by the tide and the wind down to the mouth where they found a sunny, sheltered beach on which to land for their lunch, far from the maddening crowd swarming over the beach on the southern side of Bithry Inlet. On their way the saw another Sea Eagle, skates and a massive school of fish heading upstream which took several minutes to float over,

and this swarm of crabs where they lunched.

Upon their return however, they faced a hard slog - into a now 20+kmph headwind and against a strongly flowing outgoing tide, only getting some relief for the last kilometre of so when they could tuck in beside the shoreline out of the worst of the wind and finding an occasional eddy for some further relief. However the consensus was it was worth the slog, the float down having been so good. 

Here they are returning at 1.25pm.

Trip Notes:

High Tide at Bithry Inlet Entrance: 8.31am 1.5metres

Put In/Take Out: Boat Ramp, Wapengo Oyster Sheds

Started at 8.30am for tidal assist up Wapengo Creek.

S&V: 15.65kms

L: 14.2kms

M: 9.00kms