NB Aqualife: Wednesday 5 April 2023 The Murrah

Talk about a day beset with car troubles! The plan was to paddle the Tuross River. However the usual tow vehicle had to be in for a service. So we had to use the KIA instead. It wouldn't start - various warning symbols and annoying beeps being the only sign of life. Finally worked out the keyfob battery had died and we didn't have a replacement. Got that sorted, hooked up the trailer - the trailer lights wouldn't work. Got that sorted. Discovered one of the KIA tyres had a slow leak (which accounted for one of the warning symbols - never did work out the others). Limped into town, inflated the tyre and collected R (who was carless this day) then got a call from S&V - their car battery was dead and on the charger - could we delay departure? An hour later still no signs of life from the little white car. Plans for a lovely day out on the water about to be scrapped when L suggested the Murrah instead.

So back past home we drove, and on to S&V's. Somehow we managed to cram them and their gear into the KIA. Four, by then, hot and grumpy people stuffed in a car is not to be recommended. R worked hard to lighten the mood and restore the peace and by the time we reached the bridge calm had mostly prevailed.

So instead of a 9.30ish start on the Tuross we pushed off at on the Murrah at 11.00am on a still incoming tide.

We paddled over many small schools of fish swimming upriver on the last of the incoming tide. On the trip down river we passed a bloke in a canoe and then an imperious Sea Eagle

A truly magnificent specimen.

While paddling downstream, the Murrah worked its magic; any lingering grumpiness evaporated and a feeling of wellbeing had been restored. About 45 mins later we were cautiously approaching the entrance on a now strongly outgoing tide. At noon we pulled in for lunch.

Where we stayed for an hour and 15 mins. During which S&V braved the waters for a swim (although still too wimpy for kayak fall out practice), L flew the drone, we ate a scrummy lunch prepared by R, enjoyed the beautiful autumn day and had fun mostly bagging the Alone Australia series and guessing where it was filmed. The Reece dam on the Pieman River would be my guess.

As we got ready to depart the lone canoeist returned, reprovisioned for a couple more nights. Paddling back upstream against the outgoing tide was a bit of a slog, however we were aided by the slight breeze at out backs.

Halfway back we pulled in for a quick 'nature break' and R came within a bees dick of an involuntary fall out practice.

The dunking avoided we paddled on and watched two Sea Eagles flying into a tree just ahead. As we approached a Wedgetail Eagle flew out of the next door tree. Then one of the Sea Eagles flew off

while the other remained and obliged for photos before it too took wing.

So, the question is do Sea Eagles and Wedgetail Eagles happily share territory?

Having made it nearly all the way back without running out of water, we had to walk the boats the last 20 metres or so, very grateful it wasn't more seeing we were paddling the Murrah totally out of sync with the tide. By 2.10pm we had the last of the boats up on the bank. All that remained was the pack up. And unlike our drive to, our departure from The Murrah was in a car crammed with replete (in every sense) and thoroughly happy old paddlers.