Saturday 19 February 2022 Wapengo

We decided to paddle Wapengo today because the weather was fine and the tide time good.   Normally one paddles against the tide both ways. However L devised a cunning plan:  Start early, paddle down to the mouth against the current, have morning tea and ride the current back up into the creek, have lunch and ride the outgoing current back down to the oyster shed. It worked like a dream.

Ready for the off.

Our fellow paddlers, running late worked like little beavers to make the start time.

High tide was at 10.54am (1.75m) so we started paddling at 9.30am and made slow but not overly arduous progress toward the mouth.  

It was only the last 300m or so that was hard work.

I'm guessing it took us over an hour of steady paddling to complete the 2.6 kms down  to the mouth.

The shape of the beaches had changed since our last paddle. The southern side seemed to have lost sand and the northern side (where we were) had gained it.

We discussed the latest 'Reds Under the Beds' ploy - and who was it that have let the Reds in question lease the Port of Darwin? Ooh, but it was the NT gov't they said, we couldn't stop it.  Well the Federal Government managed to repeal the NT's Euthanasia Law didn't they!  And of course there was lots to diss about the 60 Minutes program and Scotty from Marketing's secret weapon - the wife!  Oh, it was my fault we went to Hawaii - well he didn't have to go! And on Grace Tame, the wife would like their girls [unlike Grace], to grow up with good manners,  and to be strong and independent. This is out of the mouth of a woman whose religion still teaches a woman's primary role is as a helpmate to man and they must submit to the authority of men both at home and in church.  She's about as believable as he is.

Rant off. :)

Launching again at 11.05am proved a bit tricky as the wavelets tried their best to tip our boats as we got into the kayaks. We all managed to avoid a soaking, though some of use got a little damp.

There was still a sizeable current to push us back up stream. Through lovely blue water.

we poddled back,

along the verdant shore.

The water really was gorgeous. 

Soon it was time to cross the lake and head toward Mumbulla Mountain

before turning to head up the lake between the oyster beds till we found the entrance to the creek.

Still being helped along by the current we headed up the glassy waters of the creek.

Until, at 12.25pm we found a green grassy bank to pull out for lunch.

By the time we launched again, at 1.00pm the tide had turned.

Troubles of the world forgotten, we floated along, lost in our own little world.

Until a bit of attention was required to slalom through the oyster beds and paddle back across the lake to the boat ramp.

We pulled in at 2.00pm just before two tinnies arrived behind us so we had to hustle to extract ourselves from the kayaks and clear the ramp. Lovely paddle: Sea Eagles, Swans, Herons, lots of fish, big and small cruising by and large shoals of little silver fish leaping out of the water kept us entertained.

Trip Notes:

High Tide at entrance: 10.54am, 1.75 m

(started at 9.30am paddled down against the tide, then paddle back up with the tide up the creek on the slackening tide. Had lunch paddled back down the creek on the outgoing tide)

Put In/Take Out: Wapengo Oyster Sheds

12.8kms

4hrs 30mins