Tuesday 21 December 2021 Bermagui River: Meandering through the mangroves

 Before we get on to today's paddle a couple of pics:

After our fabulous paddle on a very full Cuttagee Lake on the 14th November the Lake was manually opened on the 19th November :(

 It had just closed again when on 9th December we had over 100mls of rain and it opened naturally.

The Murrah, on the 10th December, on its way down after the 100+mls of rain.

Next, at 7.00am on the 8th December, a first for us, a Red Neck Wallaby on the 2nd storey terrace!

She thought about coming inside through the open door

but luckily for all concerned thought better of it and after

a couple of cautious circuits around the terrace hopped back along the verandah and down the stairs. I can only assume she ventured to such dizzying heights to avoid the advances of the amorous male who has been relentlessly pursuing the three lady Rednecks who inhabit our garden.

Lastly, on the 12th December, out the kitchen window, a very common sight - one of the Eastern Grey Kangaroos who took up residence in the garden during the last part of the drought in 2019 and never left.

Now to today's paddle for which L decided we should dig out Big Red (and dust off and disinfect - going by the various foot prints and shit shapes, all manner of little creatures had been using her as a party pad.

We set of from slipway beach at 10.00am, 15mins before high tide at the entrance and paddled upstream. Once under the bridge and past the jetty we headed to river left and paddled up the inside of the oyster lease so we could take advantage of the 1.8m high tide and explore the mangroves. 

Having passed over a huge stingray we headed into the mangroves 

While weaving our way through we spotted a Striated (Mangrove) Heron.

We pushed and wove our way through the Mangroves until

the way ahead cleared and we realised we were paddling over the wetlands.

Heading back to the river having completely cut the corner.

Back in the river we cruised up stream for a few hundred metres weaving our way through paddle boarders, kayakers and fishing boats. Seeking more solitude we cut through more oyster beds to river right and paddled up the oyster bommie strewn channel between the mangroves: at this tide height, we cleared the hazards with feet to spare.

Back out into the river at the next bend we continued upstream and 100 metres or so short of the next corner we headed into the faint lead on river left that L had noted on our last paddle.

After some ducking and weaving we entered a clear area and then

it was back to ducking and weaving once more giving me plenty of opportunity to practice my bow draw stroke with much advice issuing from the back seat on how to improve it :)

 Nearing the top of the lagoon we started looking for a place to pull out.

Having found a spot we pulled in at 11.00am for morning tea.

About 40 mins later we resumed our meandering, heading north(ish), upstream to see how far we could get.

Sticking to the shoreline, only diverging into the mangroves when fallen trees and other obstacles barred our way we made it a couple of hundred metres past the point in the pic below before admitting defeat.

Has this old mangrove put out air roots?

After spending another 20 mins or so weaving and winding, getting air bogged and pushing, heaving and polling (and improving my bow draw) we made it back to the lagoon and thence out to the river where we relaxed for a bit and let the current drift us gently downstream.

Round the corner we hugged river left to the point where we crossed over for our last venture into the mangroves on river right. On all our ventures into the mangroves we saw zillions of fish; big fish, little  fish, short fat fish and long skinny fish down to fingerlings barely 2cms long. V would have been beside herself with glee. No sign of the resident Sea Eagles though.

After coming under the bridge some dick in a motor boat decided to play chicken with us. First with R who was ahead and then with L&I. Three times we changed direction to avoid him, as had R and three times he changed direction to come at us head on, only bearing off slightly to avoid us when about 20 metres away. What a knob, thankfully he was sticking to the speed limit so his behaviour wasn't alarming, merely irritating. 

After pulling in at slipway beach at 1.00pm R waded out for a cool off while L retrieved the car and trailer.

Upon delivering R and her boat back home we discovered G had prepared lunch for us and was only awaiting our return before heating up his caramelised onions and firing up the BBQ to grill his homemade delicious hamburgers. Yum, yum, yum. A perfect way to end another perfect paddle. Thanks G.

Trip Notes:

Put in/Take out: Slipway Beach

High Tide at entrance: 10.16am 1.8ms

7.75kms

Thursday 25 November 2021 Bermagui River

 We had been looking forward to paddling Cuttagee again and perhaps getting a bit further up the creek. However L went into town early on Monday morning and discovered that the lake had been artificially opened very early that morning. So, sadly, no Cuttagee paddling for some time to come.

Once again this week's weather has been shit for paddling, and like the previous weeks there was a small window of opportunity this morning so L and I took a chance and hit the Bermagui River at 10.42am, to take advantage of the 12.35pm (1.6m) high tide for a quick float up the river.

The air was thick and heavy with the threat of rain.

And like wise, the water felt thick and heavy, despite the help from the incoming tide.  Even L felt it today and suggested that we weave and poddle our way through the mangroves on the inside of the oyster beds.

Turning the corner we felt the push of the tide and whooshed silently past the only other people we saw on the river.

Speaking of silent, even the birds were muted today, only the faint twittering, far off in the forest, to be heard now and again.

As we paddled the breeze picked up, gusting from every which way but that forecast. L, ever optimistic prepared his sail and got a few minutes sailing before the gust died away.

Lots of Skates to be seen today as were water spider/walker insects.

Having landed at the campground at 11.45am, we had an early lunch and by 12.40pm we returned to the water to head home.

Paddling against the incoming tide we stuck to the margins.

After rounding the corner the wind hit again so we crossed to river left and paddled down the narrow margin between the mangroves and the oyster beds. The mature Mangroves heavy with seed.

As we rounded the next corner an imperious Sea Eagle ignored our presence.

River right was the go on this next stretch

At the next corner there was no where to hide,

However, L managed to get 5 mins of sailing in before the wind fell off. Having packed up his sail he suggested a leg stretch and we pulled in to the north eastern edge of the wetlands for a 15min stop. 

Back on the water, on a now outgoing tide, L opted for more mangrove meandering during which it started to drizzle and the breeze completely died away.

Once back out on the river proper we let the tide take us down past the jetty and under the bridge, our paddle ending at 2.15pm. As we packed up the boats the drizzle turned to light rain, it got heavier as we drove home and hasn't let up since - our timing was right!

Other birds seen today: Striated Heron, a pair of Pied Oyster Catchers and a small flock of Topknot Pigeons.

9.95kms

Tuesday 16 November 2021 Kalkite up Eucumbene River Valley, Lake Jindabyne

With the lake at 89.19 % full and a suitable weather window we took the opportunity to revisit a paddle we did in January this year when the lake was at 75%, when we had all commented that this would be a beautiful paddle if the lake was higher.  And so it turned out to be, with vegetation down to the waters edge and the dry sclerophyll looking impossibly lush, the flooded river valley was a stunning place to paddle.

We set off from the Kalkite boat ramp at 9.50am under blue sky with a chilly breeze at our backs,

heading for a point just over the tip of L's boat.

A little way up the arm, sheltered from the breeze and starting to thaw, we slowed down to enjoy the surrounds.

And so we continued, across the big pool,

this time finding many places suitable for a leg stretch or lunch.

Once through the wide bit 

the valley narrowed.

Soon we were approaching the limit of January's paddle,

not far beyond this rock outcrop.

After having paddled over the rock garden that halted our progress on our previous outing we encountered willow trees, their vivid green a stark contrast to the Australian bush.

We had to weave our way through this long clump that stretch up and across the river. Now a river for we could feel a slight current.

Once through the willows another long pool.

Through the narrowing

and another long

and beautiful

pool beckoned us on.

As the current increased we knew we were reaching the end of the pool.

Soon we heard running water and sadly we 

 

reached the limit of our paddle at 11.05am.

To watch R's video press play, press full screen, press play again.

We had made it close to a kilometre further than on our previous paddle.

Having turned around we let the current float us 

back downstream,

to the narrowing where there was a perfect rest stop beside 

Bough Creek.

While we refueled we admired our birthday gifts from S&V.

The first 'obstacle we would encounter after lunch.

After 45 minutes listening to the birds and the burbling Bough Creek (and admiring our gloves) we hit the water again.

First through the 'obstacle' and closely following narrow section L & R watched while I ''found' all the submerged rocks and then

they both sailed through with their boats unscathed.

We retraced our steps, soaking up the scenery.

L&R found an easy route back through the long clump of willows.

A little before reaching the big wide pool we ran into a head breeze and paddled steadily on, hugging the bank and taking a few breathers along the way.  Expecting to encounter a strong breeze and choppy water when we reached the lake proper, we were surprised to find the breeze much lighter and the paddling a lot easier.  We guessed the breeze was being funneled up the valley. 

By 1.35pm our splendid paddle was over and it was time to pack up the boats and head home.

Trip Notes:

Put In/Take Out:  Kalkite boat ramp (2-3kms beyond the village)

Lake Level: 89.32%

11.36km

3hours 45mins