We were both half-hearted about a paddle today. However the thought of a 1.8m high tide and some water coming down the river from the recent rains spurred us into action. And oh boy, we were pleased we made the effort.
After an encounter with a Bull Terrier, once a favourite breed of ours, we set off just after 11.00am. The high water allowed for a deep penetration and exploration into and over the wetlands before returning to the main flow by paddling over the top of the beach that normally seperates the wetlands from the river.
Weaving through mangroves and paddling over areas usually too shallow we made our way up the river and turned into Jaggers Bay. Here too, the high water allowed us to spend a delightful hour investigating all the bays and little backwaters hidden behind the mangroves.
At 12.30pm we stopped for lunch at the bottom of the old track used by timber cutters. You will see in the video old timbers laid at right angles to the shore. The story goes that the logs were hauled down the track and then rolled down the timbers into deeper water where the they were then gathered and floated down to the mill in Bermagui.
Launching again at 1.30pm we completed the circumnavigation of Jaggers Bay and cut across the river and paddled our way down the northern side of the river. Rounding the last bend before the bridge we felt the full effect of the headwind and paddled the last 300metres or so over choppy water, reaching our pullout point at 2.20pm.
Before we go; yesterday, during a long overdue draw clean out I discovered this old photo which hints to the reason Bull Terriers have a soft spot in our hearts.
A 'Bullits' preferred bed is.......... their man mattress :)
Trip Notes:
High Tide at Entrance: 12.30pm 1.8ms
Put In/Take Out: Slipway Beach
8.35kms
3hrs 10mins
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