Sunday 24 July 2022 Cuttagee

 We headed out for a quick paddle however it turned into a pearler of a day and we lingered much longer than originally planned soaking up the sunshine, chatting, enjoying the birdlife and lots more chatting.

As we hit the water at 10.40am we espied A taking off down the lake, a quick shout out and he turned around and joined us.

No video today, the editor has gone on strike!

Halfway down the main lake A left us - his primary goal was excercise and we were going far too slow.

At the mouth of the creek there was a brief discussion on where to go - as is nearly always the case a venture up the creek won out. The water level has risen a couple of inches and with careful navigation we made it a little further to one of regular break sites.

After spending a delightful hour or so loitering on the pebbly beach we returned to the water, on the look out for fish and other wildlife and we poddled back the way we had come.

Diverging into the back water, 

which was looking its best, and

waking up this large male kanga as I paddled past.

Upon our return to the lake, we could see a couple of kayak fisherman across the lake and with their progress one way and ours the other flocks of swans were flying, landing and launching every which way.

The paddle ended at 2.30, we'd spent 2 hours longer out on the water than planned such were the delights of the day.

Trip notes:  see previous entries.

Friday 15 July 2022 The Murrah

Weather Willy had high tide at the mouth today listed as 1.4ms at 9.44am.  However when we arrived at Murrah Bridge about 9.00am the water level was too low to start the paddle and there was no sign that the water level at the bridge was rising.  Hmm, somewhat perplexing. We retreated to Cuttagee beach and admired the view for 20minutes or so before returning to the Murrah to try to launch once more. 

By the time we got onto the water at 10.10am the level was a smidgeon higher and after a bit of boat dragging

there was just enough water to float.

I was busy watching all the bird life on the river when L called 'Wedgies in the tree'.

Luckily I had to GoPro on and hopefully got some good footage.

When the first bird took off we could see it was clutching something furry. (By pressing pause in the video just after it has taken off you can see something held in one of the eagle's talons.)

In the absence of our usual paddling buddies L took the opportunity to practice flying the dreaded drone, so we poddled about, stopped lots and sent the drone aloft and hence covered little distance.  

After dragging the boats through this section we 

stopped for lunch only to discover I'd forgotten to include forks with which to eat the cous cous salad (so much for trying to eat healthily!). So it was just a muesli bar for us.  However it was lovely to sit in the warm sun and watch, and listen to, all the birds going about their business.

After lunch we slowly made our way back up the river, our paddle ending at 1.35pm.

As to the mystery of the low water level, we can only surmise, as we didn't make it down to the mouth, that the entrance is now very narrow and not much water is coming in at high tide.

L, whose editing skills are expanding rapidly has produced a short slowmo of the Wedgetailed Eagles

Ooh, I was spot on with my long moaning oohs when I hit the oyster covered rocks. My boat is now sporting several deep gouges :( :( :(

 Trip notes:

Put In/Take Out: Murrah Bridge

Tide at entrance: 9.44am 1.4m

6.53kms

Monday 11 July 2022 Wallaga Lake/Dignams Creek

Since planning the paddle the weather forecast had deteriorated somewhat and the lake was looking beautifully bleak when we arrived at 9.30am. As the kayaks were unloaded

discussion quickly turned to how many layers we each were wearing. However El Captino assured us the day would improve. We set off about 10am paddling down the lake, heading toward Snapper Point where we pulled in for a quick break.

 Heading up Dignams Creek

About 2.5km up the creek we paddled into a small backwater and found an easy access to the bank for lunch. Approx 50 mins and a boot swap later, L took over the GoPro and we took to the water to begin the return journey.

View back down the creek. The creek is a sanctuary zone and fish were rising and jumping all over the water. It was a delight to see but sadly reminded us of the ravages visited upon Cuttagee by the commercial fisherman.

Paddling down the other side of the island at the mouth of the creek.

In Dignams Bay

How's this for a Rorschach Blot

Another stop at Snapper Point whilst L flew the drone.

After which we thought we just had the slog back up the lake to our launching site. How wrong we were - the lake had another suprise in store for us - a wallowing? seal.  After observing it for awhile we paddled around the corner and saw it's pal hauled out on the rocks.

Disturbing its slumber as we drifted by it sat up, gave us the eye, 

and then, presumably perceiving no threat, flopped back down to resume his/hers former activity.

Continuing on we spied yet another seal, wallowing far out in the lake as we paddled steadily (approx 4kph) up the lake, reaching the take out at 3.15pm. From a not too promising start, the weather did indeed improve and we had another enchanting paddle on one of the lakes scattered down the 
Far South Coast.

And finally, for those who have been waiting with bated breath:

Trip Notes:

Put In/Take Out: End of Fairhaven Point Way

Lake: Open

High tide at Merriman Island: 8.21am 1.4ms

14.15kms

5hrs 15mins