Monday 19 October 2020 Bermagui River

 Not having paddled for a couple of weeks a gentle float up the Bermagui River on the incoming tide seemed like a good idea.  With a high, high tide of 1.9m due at 10.50am at the entrance (11.42am at the bridge) we set of from the Slipway beach at 9.55am.

When we started out, like life living with Covid, things looked pretty grey

However as we paddled under the bridge colour began to seep into our senses and by the second bend 

the river was showing us all her beauty and for us, at least, all was well with the world once more - for a while.

It is only on a high high tide such as today that the wetlands flood

We poddled on up the river

Ably assisted by the tide - note the post.

We drifted quietly along drinking in the peace and quiet.

 

L certainly couldn't make the 'too much chattering going on' claim today.  It was so quiet we could hear the jumping and plopping of fish just around the next bend.

Of course when we got there they stopped. R & I sat still and they started again, but sadly I couldn't catch it on film and only managed the rings in the water they left behind.

We cruised on

L looking to see if the high high tide gave us another lead into the mangrove forest.

We stopped for morning tea at the camping spot just before 11.00am and hauled out for 40ish minutes until the tide started to slacken. 

Taking to the water again, R spotted a beautiful looking jelly fish, the type of which we had never seen before; then she spotted another and another. I paddled over her way thinking "I'm going to do a V for sure", however I did get a good sighting of one.  And it looked like the one in the pic below (which was taken at night), except the body was only tinged blue around the bottom edge. Size wise, I'm guessing, the body was 80-90mm long and about 60mm wide.  

If my research is correct it is a Southern Jimble (Carybdea Rastoni) a member of the Box Jellyfish family :( :( :(.  However, be alert not alarmed - the article says that while is has a nasty sting, unlike their tropical relations they are not deadly!!!  Now I really want a pair of those knee high wet boots!

 Blissfully ignorant we headed back down river and for the first time explored the little mangrove forest just downstream of the campsite.

It was fun wending our separate ways through the trees.

Back out on the river we paddled on down to the large mangrove forest and ventured in to the hidden little lagoon and thence one more wended our way back out.

Having come approx 1.5kms downstream and whiling away some time in the mangroves, when we came back out into the river the tide was going out and we had an easy poddle/float back down the river. 

Leaving L to a nature break R&I paddled down to the bend where the fish had been jumping. The fish were still jumping and as we rounded the bend a sea eagle dove on a fish - and missed. Perhaps our sudden appearance ruined his aim. He climbed steeply up into the tree overhanging the corner and took up his perch once more. The fish resumed their jumping so we sat in the eddy, waiting for L, hoping to see the eagle hunt again. However it just fluffed up its feathers and hunkered down to stare us out so as soon as L appeared we continued on.

After a quick stop at the bridge boat ramp we road the current under the bridge, always fun, and ended our paddle at 1.15pm. After packing up, we didn't linger, as is our usual wont, and instead headed straight home and in the case of L&I after washing out the boats and gear we retired for a what was supposed to be a nanna nap but which turned into a dead to the world deep sleep.

Trip Notes:

Put In/Take Out: Slipway Beach

High tide:    Entrance 10.50am, 1.9metres

                    Bermagui Bridge 11.42am

10.9kms