Last Thursday L&I set off on a jaunt down to Tamboon Inlet to join our friends KT, GT, Jan and John (with whom we paddled the Glenelg a couple of years ago) and other members of the South Gippsland Walking and Adventure Club for a get together and a couple of days paddling. Jan and John have a very slick camper trailer and KT & GT have recently purchased one. Fearing I would have a serious case of camper trailer envy, especially if the weather turned bad, I arranged to hire something similar from the conveniently situated Far South Coast Camper Hire in Bermagui.
Our hybrid camper was a bit of a beast and at 2.5tonne empty a hefty weight to tow. However when we reached Peach Tree Camping Ground at Tamboon and located our site, we had camp set up in no time. Site no.4 was a bit lumpy and sloped but it had the best water view.
For those who are interested, the hybrid came with all the bells and whistles, including a king size bed (which, after we added a thin foam mattress and a topper, proved very comfortable), indoor shower and loo (of which we didn't avail ourselves) and an outdoor shower (which we did).
We had been planning a Glenelg reunion paddle on Friday however the day dawned windy and stayed that way, so we spent the day, as we had the night before, with more catching up, telling of tall tales and of course the inevitable political discussions interspersed with knitting, fishing knot tying, reading, sleeping and eating. A fun time was had by all.
Avenel, the SSWAAC paddling El Capitano had arranged a long return paddle up the Cann River for Saturday. L&I decided to start at Furnell Landing thus saving approx 5km of paddling. Even with lots of motor boats launching and leaving there was plenty of room for us to launch safely.
We hit the water at 9.10am and scooted out of the launching area to clear the way for the next boat coming in.
We slipped through the water with ease and
in no time at all the entrance to Lake Furnell appeared on the left.
Enticing as it was, we gave it a miss and headed on upstream.
At 9.50am I pulled in for a seat readjustment and a leg stretch.
Setting off 10mins later we paddled on.
Till we came to an area hard hit by the fires;
the reflections mesmerising.
L found the entrance to the anabranch - begging to be explored
With the sound of some Cajun classics
twanging away in my head we penetrated a few hundred metres before being stopped by fallen branches as far as the eye could see.
Retracing our steps
back to the last obstacle;
weaving our way through
we returned to the river and nearly opposite was a sandy bank upon which we stopped at 10.55am for morning tea.
We resumed our journey at 11.30am
and paddled on up through the ever shallowing water. Noting as we went that this beach would be a good site for lunch on our return.
Looking good so far. However beyond the next bend
sand plugs appeared and we had to search for deeper water, now paddling against a discernible current.
At this point L is floating - just - in the deepest part of the river. I ground out and after a walk out into the river to look round the bend I returned with the news that sand plugs abounded as far as I could see and no detectable route through.
Somewhat doleful that we wouldn't reach Reedy Creek (the upper limit of the flat water) we turned around and floated downstream on the slight current.
One last look back upstream :(
Having run out of current we paddled on past this inviting looking sandbank,
the water gradually getting deeper
back to the sand bank we had picked to be our lunch spot on the way up. There to find the SGWAC midway through their lunch. We joined them and whilst we ate some of the more intrepid paddlers pushed a little further upstream. Upon their return we took to the water at 1.45pm
and paddled straight back to Furnell landing, reaching it about 3.30pm. The club members pulled in for a break and regroup whilst L&I disembarked.
The paddle back from lunch took about 1 3/4hours. I made it without a leg stretch - yippee - thanks to the modifications L has made to my seat.
Trip Notes:
Put In/Take Out: Furnell Landing
17.6 kms
6hrs 20mins
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