Monday 31 January 2022 The Murrah

 A 2 metre high tide at 8.13am at the entrance allowed us to start our paddle with a foray upstream.

By 9.15am we were on the water and

heading upstream.

At least I was - having realised there was silence behind me I turned around to discover no progress had been made by my fellow paddlers. Too much chattering!

I poddled along quietly against a slight current, enjoying the solitude until the other three caught up before the sharp left hand bend of The Murrah .  Instead of heading up the river we proceeded straight ahead into

Arnolds Gully.

The peacefulness and reflections silenced everyone and 

we cruised along absorbing the ambience of the surroundings.

Having gone to the right around the reed island we passed a bank of shrubs

festooned with 'Spanish Moss'.

Back out from our path round the reed island we were hit with more mesmerising reflections.

So many vistas to catch the eye.

Having reached as far as we could go up Arnolds Gully,

we turned around and headed back downstream, under the bridge and

passed a big male kangaroo

who after a good look decided we didn't pose a threat.

As you will see from the map we wended our way down to the mouth of the river (for pics of the lower section see previous Murrah blog entries), during which we entertained by a variety of raptors checking us out: one, which may have been a Swamp Harrier, Whistling Kite or Little Eagle which gave a long downward note whistle as it flew overhead; a couple of Sea Eagles and a pair of Wedgetail Eagles circling low over the wetland.

We spent a lazy 50 minutes over morning tea down near the entrance before beginning our steady paddle back upstream against the now outgoing tide. Arriving back at the bridge at 12.25pm we found appreciably less water than when we put in. Another glorious time on the water was over.

Trip Notes:

Put In/Take Out: Murrah River Bridge

Tide at Entrance: 8.13am 2.0m

9kms

3hrs 10mins

Friday 21 January 2022 Bermagui River

 With a high tide of 1.8ms we thought we would be able to replicate our paddle of the 21st December when we explored the mangroves.

Setting off at 9.45am

Following the leader into the mangroves.

 However although the tide was the same we had forgotten the effect of all the water coming down river after the big rains and today the water level was about two feet lower and we could not penetrate into the wetlands or far into the mangroves. So we made our way back to the river and continued upstream.

Passing where, in December, we entered the mangroves leading to the hidden lagoon. You can see how much lower the water level is.

Cruising on up the river,

we stopped for a leg stretch at the campground and then paddled a further 1.66kms up stream to the big bend at Sea Eagle spit where we turned around and

headed back to the campground for lunch. 

Not the most salubrious spot at the best of times, today it was disgusting - some (from the discarded protein and muscle building powder containers) body obsessed bloke had left rubbish, including used nappies strewn across the campground. I lament what sort of person his child will grow up to be.

We didn't linger for long, L requesting a kayak swap for our return paddle. Here he is in my Old Town Castine,

And here I am in in his Seaward Chinook

Once round the next bend we braved the oyster bommies and went to the inside of the oyster leases.

Paddling steadily along on a mainly slack tide it took an hour to complete our return journey.

Back at Slipway beach unpacking the boats at 1.45pm

Trip notes:

Put In/Take Out: Slipway Beach

Tide at River Entrance: 11.13am 1.8m

13.5kms

3hrs 55mins

Tuesday 4 January 2022 Eucumbene Arm, Lake Jindabyne

 Our first paddle of the new year, and what a beauty it was. Upon our arrival at the Kalkite Boat Ramp it was immediately apparent the water level was quite a bit higher than on our previous visit in November 2021.  Back then https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/generation/live-data/lake-levels/ showed Lake Jindabyne as 89.32% full and for this outing 98.79%. Comparing photos of the November 18th paddle and this one the lake was 4'+ higher.

No parking below the cattle grid this time.

Once again we lucked out with the weather: there was a small window of forecast good paddling conditions in the otherwise wet or windy weather and so it proved.

Setting off at 10.00am heading for the Eucumbene Arm

Last time, these hitching rails were high and dry.

Heading up the arm this

water skiing boat overtook us and

turned out to be a pain in the arse. Going up and down the arm and turning tightly whenever the skier fell, the boat created multiple huge washes that visibly eroded the vulnerable banks with each pass.

And here he comes back again for yet another run. With most of the main lake in which to water ski I don't understand why the boats are allowed in such a relatively narrow area where they cause so much damage, especially at this level.

Beyond the ski boats limits, toward the middle of the big pool L searches for a

 bit of shade under the drowned trees for a floating rest.

After cooling off in the dense shade we headed up the pool and turned left into last arm, at the end of which was a merrily burbling waterfall.

Retracing our steps along the delightful arm,

we turned and headed upstream, birdsong and the quiet splash of our paddles the only noise to be heard.

The willows just beyond the rockface mark the limit of our November paddle.

Sadly we only made it a further 60 to 70 metres to where L, try as he might could find no route through.

Hang on! The word is passed back -

there might be another route!

Again we were blocked by a tangle of willows, rocks and rushing water.

Having spent a good 5 minutes or more searching for a way through we turned around and as we retraced our route, we started looking for a likely spot to pull out for lunch.

Having pulled in at 11.45am we sat and relaxed, enjoying our surrounds for half an hour when we noticed the ominous colour of the clouds heading our way. 

Hurriedly finishing lunch we were back on the water at 12.30pm hoping to beat the rain home.

Relaxing having seen blue sky ahead, we poddled our way

back downstream.

Passing the Bough Creek confluence where we stopped for lunch last November - our little landing sight now well under water.

No need to wend our way through the willows and rocks this time, there was plenty of clear water.

With lots of differing birds and flora to draw out attention,

we mooched our way downstream.

Back past the last of the willows

and out into the widening arm.

Retracing our route through the big pool, we diverged up the last arm on the left for a couple of hundred metres hoping for another waterfall. Sadly it was not to be - the arm ending with a whimper rather than a bang. 

A little over halfway back we pulled in and S & I got out for a leg stretch, noting the dark clouds had caught us up.

15 mins later we continued on.  Having passed through a half hearted rain shower we came out into the lake and sunshine.

Ending our paddle at 2.10pm we packed up and headed home still in sunshine. However we weren't home long before it started to bucket down. 

About 5.00pm I noticed the box drain outside the door was overflowing and water rising rapidly threatening to inundate the house. With the rest of the party deep in the throes of an afternoon nap my crys for help went unheeded and I was left to my own devices. Still in my paddling gear, getting wet wasn't the problem,  it was the thunder and lightening accompanying the storm that unnerved me. Donning my crocs, in the hope they were made of rubber I ran for the rear box drain to find it covered in about 8 inches of muddy water. Having to kneel in the water to grope about for the grate it became irrelevant what the crocs were made of! Fortunately the grate came up easily and with a bit more groping the blockage was soon cleared and after some burping and mad bubbling the water started to drain away and disaster was averted.

However the storm wasn't finished with us. Around 7.00pm after the afternoon nappers had arisen and were having their pre dinner drink there was a thunderous crash and the world went white ... and then dark - we had lost power. About 20 mins later L twigged it might just be us that lost power and looked out the window, sure enough the surge breaker thingies on the power pole had done their stuff and were hanging down.  

Now, I'm telling you all this because a) I felt like a bit of a hero braving the storm all by myself to clear the drain and b) to give Essential Energy a shout out.  I only had to wait on the phone for about 10mins to reach a cheery local girl who was most helpful and an hour later our power was back on, the surge breaker thingies reattached by a, despite the heavy rain, cheery -  no problems, guy.

Finally, the view from the house - sunrise over the Monaro.

Trip Notes:

Lake Jinabyne level: 98.79%

Put In/Take Out: Kalkite Boat Ramp (about 3kms beyond village)

11.87kms

4hours 10mins