Tuesday 29 June 2021 Pambula River

 An easy paddle was planned: high tide at the river entrance was 12.29pm (1.4m) and we had to be finished by no later than 3.00pm.

L&I arrived at the carpark at the end of Coraki Drive at 10.30am to find the rest of the group already there, sitting on the park bench, their boats unloaded, packed and ready to go. Timing our launches for between the little swells that were coming in, we were all on the water by 11.00am.  Being the last to launch I was surprised to see how far the incoming tide had drifted the others upstream.

Rounding the corner I could hear oohs and aahs coming from across the river as the Delta brigade drifted over a large school of big fish.

Looking upriver toward the last bend before the lake.

Having woven our way through the Oyster beds and sand spits in the lake we proceeded up the river on still clear water.

At the junction of the Yowaka River, and our destination for a break, we found this catamaran which in the past has been moored back down the river before the lake.

We pulled in just behind the catamaran at 12.20pm and relaunched at 12.50pm to head back downstream. With high tide in the lake being 70 minutes after the entrance the level of the water had risen considerably and we had a quick trip back through the lake into the lower section of the river.

For once the forecast breeze had sprung up, on time and from the correct direction - but not for us - as we paddled back downstream into a cold head breeze.

Thumbs down was given to the wind sheltered, but shady and oyster strewn site across the river and

 we paddled on down to Severs Beach, the site of a vast aboriginal midden, arriving there at 1.45pm and where we pulled in, careful of the little oyster bommes, for lunch. 

Having found a sunny spot somewhat sheltered from the breeze that was coming straight up the river we had a relaxed and leisurely lunch until L idly asked the time and suddenly it was a mad scramble to pack up and get back on the water.

As we took to the water  at 2.30pm it was decided that because of the breeze and now outgoing tide it might be a bit choppy at the beach where we launched. Therefore to play is safe and lessen the possibility of getting tipped out of our boats we would land at the more sheltered beach just upstream of the rocks.

By 2.55pm, after a few exciting minutes at the end, and with L the only one to receive a lapful of slop, we were all back on dry land, another paddle on the beautiful Pambula River was at an end.

Trip Notes:

High tide at River Entrance: 12.29pm, 1.4m

Put in/Take Out: Car park at end of Coraki Drive

10.8kms

4hrs

Tuesday 22 June 2021 Blackfellows Lagoon to Mogareeka

 The morning after the longest night of the year dawned grey and gloomy, unlike the forecast and burrowing further under the doona thoughts of cancelling were briefly entertained.

What a mistake it would have been. It turned out to be one those magical paddling days, not a breath of wind, the only thing to ruffle the water was the current, bird life abounded and let us creep close, we didn't see another soul and to top it all off the current was such we hardly had to paddle except through Blackfellows Lagoon. Minus the time we took for our AM tea stop we spent 1hour 30mins minutes on the water in which time we poddled/floated 8.37km.

Due to the time of the tide (low tide at the entrance was 11.28am) we decided to do a one way paddle from the boat ramp at Blackfellows Lagoon down to the bridge aiming to reach the bridge by noon. After meeting R at Mogareeka and transferring her boat and gear we headed round to Kalaru.

We made it onto the water only a few minutes later that scheduled at 10.03am

This kingfisher was the first of many bird sightings.

With the low tide there was no exploring the reed beds today, instead it was searching for the deepest channel to reach the entrance to Blackfellows. Having taken 20minutes to paddle the lagoon we paused at the entrance to the river to ponder our options and what route to take over the sand plug to get there.

We chose correctly and once in the current were whisked gently downstream. Other than needing to keep an eye on the water depth to avoid grounding out on sand plugs, and putting in an occasional corrective stroke our only requirement was to sit back and enjoy the ride and

the birds and

and scenery floating by.

From doubtful beginnings it had truly turned into a magical paddling day.

Having pulled in at 11.00am for a spot of morning tea we spent a very pleasant half hour soaking up the sun 

before launching again onto still glassy water.

The current though no longer noticeable was still moving us along at a good clip.

We cruised along

taking it all in. Even talk of Barnaby at morning tea couldn't penetrate the bubble of serenity in which we found ourselves.

We arrived at the boat ramp at 12.00. There must still be a reasonable amount of freshwater coming down the river after the rain a couple of weeks ago as the water was still flowing out.

We discussed our options - a) wait for 1-2 hours and ride the tide back up to Blackfellows Lagoon or b) go an have lunch at the pub.  Decisions, decisions, it was a tricky one. L put foward the deciding point -

being we didn't know how much fresh water was coming down the river and it might be a bit of slog paddling back up. So pub lunch it was.  L&R left me to unpack the boats while they drove round to retrieve the car.

While waiting their return I noticed that the tide did not turn until about 12.40pm.  S&V who were returning from Bega met us at the pub. We got a table inside onto which the sun poured, we had a fantastic lunch and the icing on the cake - two whales close enough in to see with the naked eye breeching non stop for 20 minutes or so. Oh yes, and the Sea Eagle soaring around the edge of the cliff just outside the window. So convivial was the setting and company we spent far longer over lunch than we had on the paddle.

Thought of the day:  Sometime do the same low tide paddle, and take bicycle locks. Paddle downstream, lock up the boats, go to the pub for lunch and then paddle back up during the middle couple of hours of the incoming tide.

Trip Notes:

Put In: Blackfellows Lagoon boat ramp

Take Out: Mogareeka Boat ramp

8.37kms

2 hours.

Monday 14 June 2021 The Murrah

 With a month having passed by since our last paddle we were keen to get back on the water and headed down to the Murrah.  A low high tide of 1.3metres at 11.17am made picking a start time a bit of a guess - too early, not enough water to get down the river; too late not enough water to get back.

We arrived to find a bit of flow still coming down the river after the recent rain; without it we may well have had to do quite a lot of boat dragging.

Taking to the water at 11.27am we were pushed gently downstream.

There was just enough water to make through the first couple of bends after which we had to weave our way through sandy shallows .

Bird life was on display today with good sightings of:

Great Egrets, both types of cormorants, Sea Eagles, Grey Herons,  Azure Kingfishers etc

Apologies for the terrible pics - the bird photographer forgot her camera - AGAIN!

Best guess for this bird is and immature Striated Heron

Second guess - a Black Bittern. Although it doesn't look like it in these pics the bird legs had a yellowish tinge to them.

You can see how shallow it is by the depth of L's paddle.

We decided to try the lagoon and made it up the channel only to run out of water 30 metres from the junction. Lots of heaving and poling later we turned around and headed back to the river.

You may remember from our last paddle down the river all the silage bales wrapped in green plastic that had been washed down in the flood.  The farmer has done a fantastic job and has removed all the plastic from the bales left stranded on the wetlands. You can just see them in the distance over L's boat.

A flock of resting pelicans

Down near the mouth R chose our lunch site.

Having hauled out at 12.22 we admire the view

It was a bit chilly to linger for long, besides which we were conscious of the tide, now flowing strongly out and none of us fancied dragging boats through soft sand. So after only a break of 30 mins we set off again.

Paddling into a head wind and against the tide was a bit of a slog but Sea Eagle and other bird sightings kept us entranced.

As we went back past the pelicans they began to stir and first one took off

and then the rest of the bunch took off flying over our boats

Some of the hay bales I mentioned earlier.

Nearly back, only one more bend to go,

our paddle finishing at 1.45pm.

Trip Notes and maps: See earlier entries.