Tuesday 3 August 2021 Cuttagee Lake

 Cuttagee closed a couple of weeks ago, and the commercial fisherman was back in Little Cuttagee two day after the lake closed so we knew there would be enough water to get up the channel.

We met up at K&A's at 10am.   Unfortunately A, who had a sore and lumpy arm from yesterdays flu injection, was not joining us however he came down to help with the boats and see us off.  By 10.20 we were all afloat and paddled up Little Cuttagee under the watchful eye of a Sea Eagle flying overhead.

It was still quite shallow up the straight and thick with glutinous algae and weed.  K in her pedal hobie found it hard going.

Once into the main lake we headed up the lake, paddling into a much stronger head breeze than forecast.  We all thought it was worth the effort as we would get a great wind assist when we turned around. 

Just before the entrance to the creek we pulled into the side lagoon to land for morning tea out of the wind.  Having lingered for some time - there was lots to talk about; for once politics didn't dominate, that hot topic being eclipsed by the olympics (our Prime Marketeer must be thanking God for the Olympics right now).  K&L were so engrossed they failed to notice the rest of us relaunching at 12.05pm!

Those of us who heeded the call to boats

poddled round into the creek to await their arrival.  When they joined us we paddled up the long straight section relieved to get out of the wind when we reached the corner.

Now sheltered from the wind we could enjoy the scenery 

and note the changes to the creek wrought by the last flood that blew Cuttagee open.

Having reached the new pebble plug in the distance S, her spirit of adventure to the fore, got out of her boat to drag it across the barrier and continue upstream. Much to her chagrin she failed to cajole the rest of us into following suit and whilst we turned around she reluctantly re-entered her boat to trail us  down the creek.

Heading back we were looking forward to the wind assist on the way home. Rounding the big bend we were disappointed to find the wind had dropped had dropped to a mere breeze.

By the time we reached the mouth of the creek even the breeze had died away. In compensation we passed these spoonbills

and on the opposite side a lone pelican

who, along with the spoonbills,  reluctantly took flight upon our approach

Half way up the lake we were sliding along easily on glassy water.  

Having ploughed back down the algae infested straight back into Little Cuttagee we arrived back at K&A's at 1.45pm to find A there to greet us. We arrayed ourselves around their picnic table and between lots more chatter, ate our lunch and basked in the warmth of the sun.

Lake: closed

9kms