NB Aqualife: Saturday 13 March 2021 Rose & Jaggers Bay, Bermagui River

This morning L&I took ourselves off for a quiet and short paddle up the Bermi River; today being about the only day since we got back from Tamboon Inlet with only a light breeze forecast.

We got onto the water at 8.30am, before the crowds appeared and headed up the river passing a Nankeen Night Heron in the Mangroves opposite the bridge boat ramp.

Cutting the corner across the oyster lease, there was plenty of water underneath us so the oyster bommes did not post a threat.

Heading up the river we

decided to explore Rose and Jaggers Bays - something we haven't done before and what a joy they proved to be. Just as we arrived at the intersection we were lucky to see a Sea Eagle take off from its perch, glide down, snatch a fish out of water, return to another perch and start on its snack. Sticking between the shoreline and the oyster beds we poddled first around Jaggers Bay

Looking back toward Gulaga from the head of the first bay/arm of Jaggers.

Exiting it we were startled by a fast moving oyster boat, causing us to rock and roll for awhile and worse, lose the reflections.

Just waiting to be admired there are a number of magnificent spreading Spotted Gums on the eastern shore of Jaggers Bay.

As the water settled down after the departure of the oyster boat the reflections returned.

A couple of strange shapes,

this one reminding me of Jen Mollison's sculptures

Jaggers Bay is bigger than I thought and well worth the paddle. We still have a ways to go yet.

On the western shore of Jaggers Bay we stopped for a leg stretch at a spot where old timbers can be seen in the water lying at right angles to the shore. Apparently this is where timber cutters of old rolled logs into the river to be floated downstream to the mill.

Leaving Jaggers Bay we continued upstream heading to Rose Bay, the bush looking and smelling wonderful after the recent rains.

Looking back down Rose Bay

After circumnavigating Rose Bay we headed back downstream on a slack tide and stopped for morning tea on the edge of the wetlands. We were no longer the only ones on the river and watched a parade of paddle boards and fishing boats go by.

After 40minutes or so we took to the water again heading back downstream on a now outgoing tide.