With rain forecast for most of next week, L and I decided to take advantage of the last sunny day for awhile and go for a quick paddle on Cuttagee. We left home just after 10.00am and after a stop for a natter with the neighbours we arrived down at lake and launched around 10.50am.
Surprisingly, to me at any rate, the water was quite warm and as you will see in the video, there has been a marked increase in the growth of bright yellow and lime coloured algae over the last month.
Whilst relaxing on our favourite little pebble beach up the creek we suddenly heard, from further upstream, slap, slap, slap on the water. A short time later a swan appeared flying slowly and majestically downstream, passing us at head height. It was a magical moment and of course so entrancing that no thought to was given to the gopro until the bird was long gone.
Eventually we poddled our way back down the creek and back up the lake, stopping to talk to a chap who was taking his wooden ocean rowing boat for an outing. L had another try with his sail after which we poddled the remaining distance to our launch site, reaching it at 2.40pm.
There was one last surprise and pleasure remaining. Driving home the neighbours we had nattered to in the morning waved us down and invitied us in for arvo tea AND hot from the oven pumpkin scones. Delightful and delish; by the end of our outing we were replete and happy kayakers.
Oh what a fabulous paddle we had today. Setting off at 11.00am we paddled up the river on the last of the incoming tide. After going under the bridge we wove our way through the mangroves. Once back in the river we paddled steadily up to the confluence of Coolagolite Creek where we stopped for lunch at 12.20pm. Along the way we passed pelicans, herons, cormorants, pied oyster catchers, ibis, and egrets. Schools of fish, large and small darted hither and thither as we paddled over them.
At the confluence we disembarked for lunch and to laze for an hour as we waited for the water level to rise some more. At 1.20 we launched and paddled on up Nutleys Creek there now being enough water to allow us to glide over the shallow sections unhindered. Just before the bend leading to the first shallow section we spotted the first water dragon of the season, sunning itself on a log on the bank.
With the birds singing, insects humming, numerous kingfishers aflitting, an occasional fish ajumping and the clear water speckled with wattle and greybox blossom; with
some sections dark and mysterious, the scene was set for a magical poddle up the creek.
And then if that was not enough, a Sea Eagle flew low up the creek and landed in a tree ahead.
As we approached it took flight again, onward up the creek until it disappeared around a bend.
Looking and listening, soaking it all in we paddled in silence until
a tad before 2.00pm we reached the blockage, which in previous paddles on a higher tides we have managed to wriggle our way through. We sat for a minute or two wondering what might be encountered beyond, before
turning and retracing our route
with the aid of the now outgoing tide.
Despite a quick stop back the confluence for some seat adjustments, the outgoing tide and gusty wind on our backs from thereon made for a quick return to the campground where G, having braved the hazards of the track - deeply rutted, slippery, muddy patches - met us with the vehicle and trailer. Arriving there just after 3.00pm we found G fast asleep in the shade. While G helped load the boats, L cleaned up the mess of empty cans and broken glass left behind by some brainless oiks.
A stop at the wharf for some delicious gelati provided the end point to another delightful paddling day.
The GoPro footage focuses mainly on the Nutley's Creek part of the paddle.
In order to add another tick to the bucket list, we set off early to do a car shuffle and and get on the water an hour before high tide so we could safely paddle down to the mouth of Merimbula Lake. For those who don't remember; the bucket list is a list of all the accessible and navigable waterways between Nowra and Bairnsdale. The aim of the CKC being to paddle them all before one of us becomes too decrepid to get into a kayak :)
After leaving a vehicle at our take out point at Merimbula Top Lake Boat Hire and Cafe we drove down to Mitchies Jetty to launch from the beach beside the jetty. Already a bustling hive of activity at 8.15am in the morning and with the car park 3/4's full we had to de hitch the trailer in order to park. Other than the awkwardness of unloading 14 foot plus boats in a small car park with cars entering and leaving and then weaving through the very friendly and chatty crowd buying and drinking coffee, then finally negotiating the romping toddlers and dogs on the beach, it was a good place to launch.
Taking to the water, a little behind schedule at 8.45am, the dogs and toddlers having left the beach, but R is still answering questions asked by the coffee drinkers as we paddle away.
First we headed down to the mouth. After a quick stop for V to collect some discarded coffee cups which were about to be swept into the water by the incoming tide; obvisouly left by some thoughtless litterers earlier in the morning.
Once we had turned around the sand bar we were into the incoming current and had to paddle quite hard to cross the channel and paddle up to the little beach on the north side of the entrance. Having admired the entrance and colour and clarity of the water we turned and let the current carry us back into the lake.
Having inspected a row of private jettys and a couple of seals snoozing thereon we headed toward the main channel and hence under the bridge into the top lake.
We loosely followed the main channel through the oyster beds up and across the lake, travelling over some mesmerising sea grass beds as we paddled along. Just before we turned to head across the top of the lake the forecast breeze and rain arrived a couple of hours early and it quickly turned cold. Like Coila Lake, last week, Merimbula gets choppy quickly and we slogged our way through a side on chop until we turned into the entrance of Boggy/Miligandi Creek.
Reaching the first bend in the creek we found a sheltered break in the mangroves in which to pull out for a leg stretch and to don some wet weather gear. Some 15minutes later, dekinked and fortified we launched again with everyone keen to head on up the creek.
Not far after the bridge we reached the tidal limit.
With the drizzle easing, and the sun making a fitful return we paddled back under the bridge and
retraced our steps, noticing along the way these nests with tiny caterpillars clinging to the outside hanging out over the water.
Once we exited the pleasant and sheltered confines of creek we paddled steadily, making a beeline for the take out point, pulling onto the little beach at 11.40am.
Before we start here is a couple of pics of what passes for garden gnomes in this part of the world: Early morning nap, and
a wobbly young joey trying to master control of its long legs - going, going
and recovering from the gone.
Anyway, to the business at hand. An early start was required this morning as the wind was forecast to rise in the afternoon and due to its topography Coila Lake is wind prone. Accordingly, we set off at 7.00am and headed up the coat to Tuross Head.
Launching onto largely glassy water at 8.40am and looking east the the closed mouth.
Being easily wind prone and because of its uninteresting shape, Coila has been low on the bucket list. So we had no great expectations for the day, other than being able to tick it off and lunch at the Pickled Octopus :) :)
How wrong we were proved to be. As you will see from the video the bird life was abundant - swans, pelicans, cormorants, sea eagles and terns abounded and at times it was hard to know which way to look. Our progess was slowed so much we didn't have time to paddle the all the lake.
We pulled in to a long sandy beach at 10.15am for morning tea. Looking across the lake to the hills and
looking further up the lake.
As you will see from the video by the time we took to the water again at 10.50am the breeze had begun.
The ruffled water made it hard to see the small granite boulders scattered about on the bottom of the lake close to shore and all of us made contact with one or more - the ensuing horrible grinding noice causing each of us groan and shudder in turn.
Upon reaching the narrowest part of the lake we stopped for a confab. Due to our slow progress, the increasing breeze and anticipation of lunch it was agreed by all to paddle across the lake and head back to the put in point which we reached around noon.
Here is the video
One third of the 180o view of the Tuross River/Lake from the deck of the Pickled Octopus.
With high tide occuring at 11.32am at a height of 1.6m we decided it was a good day to paddle Nelson Lagoon.
Arriving at the Lagoon carpark about 9.50am we set about unloading the boats and attaching the trolleys - or in the case of the Castine strapping it onto the frame L has made for what is usually the wood trolley. The plan had been to hit the water at 10.30am, an hour before high tide.
Once everyone was ready we set off to haul the boats along what seemed an extraordinary long 300m sandy track to the stop of the stairs leading down to the put in point. There, we unloaded the boats and carried them one by one down the steps to the put in.
Waiting for the slomo's to launch.
Eventually we were all launched by 10.50am. For those no longer young, strong and nimble of foot allow an extra 20 -30mins for getting ready to paddle.
Heading for the entrance
L at the entrance
Lilylivered (you all know who) through a gap in the rocks saw this wave approaching and proceeded no further!
Dreaming impossible dreams, perhaps.
Attractive but just waiting to slice up the bottom of kayaks
Back into the lagoon we go
What makes Nelson Lagoon so special is not its surrounds so much as the clarity of its water and the variety of plant life living therein. Floating over these underwater gardens, watching the fish dart along the 'corridors' was mesmerising.
Drifting along watching a Sea Eagle soar.
Heading up Nelson Creek.
Now for the video:
By 3.05pm our paddle was over, our enthusiam for the day now somewhat subdued by the thought of the slog required to get our boats back to the carpark.
Back at the cars, once heart rates had lowered and cheered by the thought no CPR had been required, we slowly unpacked and loaded the boats and readied ourselves for the drive home.
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