NB Aqualife: Monday 21 March 2022 Bermagui River

It's been about a month since our last paddle. A combination of other commitments and 353mm of rain, falling mostly as endless heavy drizzle which led to swollen rivers, minor flooding and coastal lakes bursting open have kept us off the water.

We took to the water at 10.10am and headed upstream and under the bridge. We opted to paddle up the inside of the oyster beds and head into the mangroves.

Despite being overcast and the water still a little murky from the recent rain we were all very happy to be back on the water. Having not seen each other for over two weeks there was lots to catch up on and the chat was non stop as we slid up the river on the incoming tide.

In what seemed no time at all we reach the campground 5kms or so up the river and decided to push on before taking a break. Too busy chatting L grounded out and broke his paddle apart and with a section in each hand poled himself over the large sand plug.

Once back into deeper water it was time to relax and contemplate our surrounds.

Having caught up with the news it was onto our favourite topic - politics - a never ending choice of subjects - which occupied the rest of the paddle to our lunch spot at the confluence of Coolagolite Creek. Upon reaching out destination we found the beach greatly diminished; only about a third remains - the rest, one presumes, washed away when the river was swollen with the rain.

We landed at 11.35am and

spent a pleasurable hour munching our lunch and exercising our minds.

Taking to the water again, we passed the Coolagolite confluence and continued upstream into Nutley's Creek.

About to go under the power lines for the first time,

then it was around the corner and under the powerlines for the 2nd time - the warning sign looking a bit worse for wear.

This kingfisher enticed us up the shallow straight flitting along from perch to perch in front of us.

A little beyond this point L noticed the tide had changed so it was time to turn and

head back downstream,

espying another couple of kingfishers as we poddled quietly along.

This is why the second powerline warning sign was looking worse for wear!

At 1.45 we pulled in at the campground for a leg stretch . Taking to the water again at 2.10 we

we paddled steadily back, this time assisted by the outgoing tide and less than an hour later we paddled under the bridge to discover two large catamarans had come in an anchored in our absence. I didn't think to take a picture until I had passed them.