Saturday 25 June 2023 Wallaga Lake: Couria Bay & Merriwinga Creek

 An outstandingly glorious day on which to paddle -  and only two days after the Winter Solstice.

After getting home from our paddle last week and discovering we had missed the middle, and longest, lead of Merriwinga Creek we decided to revisit Wallaga Lake and paddle Couria Bay and creek and savour the exploration of Merriwinga Creek upon our return.

Back from their culture fix, we met S&V at Payne's Island a little before 10.00am and set to unloading the boats and

getting ready to paddle. At 10.15 we launched and although the entrance looked inviting we resisted its allure and 

headed under the bridge as planned, paddling across the lake to Couria Bay.  Once there we hugged the northern shoreline exploring all the little bays as we poddled and chatted our way up the arm.

Before reaching the top of the arm and with everybody's tummies rumbling we crossed to the southern shore which was bathed in sunshine and headed back up the bay looking for somewhere sheltered to pull in for some morning tea.  At 11.50 we found such a spot.

As we sat basking in the sun, morning tea morphed into lunch.

Taking to the water again at 12.55 we headed back up toward the top of the bay and after a couple of false starts on my behalf we found the entrance to Couria Creek.  Although shallow the water was crystal clear; sadly the banks were soon clear of any vegetation other than kikuyu and it wasn't long before we were halted by a fence crossing the creek.

Once back in the bay we headed straight back to the bridge and the entrance to Merriwinga Creek. As we entered we met a couple an their dog in a canoe exiting the creek. A little further on we met someone inflating paddle boards at Serendip.

As we paddled on, looking for the lead, kanga's kept popping up their heads from the tussocks to check us out which accounts for the myriad of tracks through the tussocks you can see at the end of the video.

Having found the lead we wanted we entered and were soon in single file, negotiating the tight turns. Large schools of fingerlings and small schools of 20-30cm fish darted all around us. At one point I caught a glimpse of a large bird I couldn't identify - if you can, please let me know.

The first real obstacle we encountered was the walkway across the creek. However with some repositiioning and some hoicking and shoving L and I got across and of course, S&V just cautiously floated over. 

As the creek narrowed the obstructions grew in number; the reflections were mesmerising and the sense of adventure high.  Eventually, for the gals, caution won out and at 2.37pm we called a halt here, as seen in the pic below.

However, L in a 16'6" boat threw caution to the wind and paddled on for another 70m or so. The last half of which, he said, were somewhat anxiety ridden - the choice being continue on and hope to find a widening in which to turn or back paddle negotiating tight bends and obstacles. Luckily he found a widening and with a lot of difficulty managed to turn his long boat and make his way back to us. 

As we paddled back we heard voices and as we approached the last bend before the creek crossing we had the slightly disconcerting sight of the heads and shoulders of three seemingly disembodied people floating across the top of the reeds.  Merriwinga Creek was proving to be a popular spot this fine winter's day.

Back at the crossing I picked a better line and managed to get across the walkway with a minimum of hoiking, likewise L. S once more floated across and V having missed the sweet spot required just a little shove.

As we poddled back a I managed a snap of one of the several kangaroos we saw. As per usual the GoPro battery had died well before we had got back to the crossing. Speaking of which, there was so much chatting, nattering and gossiping going on for the first half of the paddle that L, had to, with a great deal of time and effort, (he repeatedly tells me) replace the sound track.

Having paddled back down the creek we crossed the lake, landing on Payne's Island at 3.25pm thus ending a truly delightful outing on Wallaga Lake.

Note: The limit to which L paddle up Merriwinga Ck is wrong. It should be about 1cm less on the map.

Trip Notes:

Put In/Take Out:  Payne's Island

Lake Closed

13.12kms

5hrs 10mins

Saturday 17 June 2023 Wallaga mouth and Merriwinga Creek

 With the weather being forecast to turn cold next week we decided to take advantage of the sunny day and opted for a little paddle around the part of Wallaga Lake that lies east of the bridge.

Collecting R along the way, we drove to Payne's Island on the southern side of Wallage Bridge to put beside the conveniently located public toilet.

On the water at 10.25am we headed over to Honeysuckle Island and paddled up its northern shoreline as we headed toward the closed entrance following the deepest channel we could find. 

As you will see in the video, as we drew closer to the entrance it was sometimes a bit of a squeeze between the rocky shore line and the edge of the sand plug now blocking the entrance.

After back tracking a little we found a shallow channel that cut across the sand plug and this we followed until we were passed the entrance and could head to the eastern shoreline. By now the wind was gusting quite strongly from the northwest and it was a slow slog until we rounded the corner where we were sheltered from the worst of the wind.

Passing a little stretch of sheltered beach we turned in Merriwinga Creek.  Here, we were completely shielded from the wind and had a very pleasant time exploring, as L dubbed it, the labyrinth. (Upon viewing the drone footage that night we realised we'd missed the entrance to the longest lead of them all! - a good excuse for another visit before the lake is opened again). 

Upon our return to the lake we headed back to the little beach we had passed earlier and pulled in for an early lunch at 11.55am. 

Enjoying the sun upon our backs we lingered long until a change in the wind direction left us exposed to its vagaries. Nearly through packing up the wind died away which gave L a chance to fly the drone. 

Getting back onto the water about 1.40pm we paddle down to the wonderfully antiquated wooden bridge. 

And as is becoming a habit, as we drew near the GoPro battery went flat.

Whilst there this equally antiquated truck passed over

Returning under the bridge we headed back to Payne Island,

ending our paddle at 2.00pm.

Trip Notes:

Put In/Take Out: Payne's Island

Lake closed

6.37kms (R guessed correctly)

Tuesday 13 June 2023 Wallagoot Lake

 It was a bit of a dud day for a paddle on the Far South Coast - being unusually cold and overcast.  However it was the only day KT & G were available.  They are back up this way again, based in Merimbula, doing some walking with their local club.

Along with R, we met at the Yacht Club at 10.00am and after greetings all round, got ready to launch. 

By 10.30 everyone was ready to paddle.  

Heading first for the entrance, we passed over heaps of jelly fish, some of them tiny. Once we reached the bottom part of the lake the water shallowed and we found most of  the sand banks had disappeared and the deeper channels had filled with sand.  However with some toing and froing, pushing and shoving we finally made to the deeper water at the closed entrance - all except L who had followed a promising channel for some way before it petered out. By the time he had backtracked a long way we making our return. 

While at the entrance we saw a Swamp Wallaby eating on top of a little dune - you might spot him on the Go Pro footage - and then spotted another sitting quietly on top of the rearmost dune.

 

Speaking of Swampies, I think Old Wal has met his maker - we haven't seen him for over four months. Here is a short clip of Old Wal from a couple of years ago. He was a regular visitor to our garden for more than 10 years and a demon in S&V's vegie garden when they forgot to close the gate :) :)

After returning to the main lake L called for a confab - the question - it being so cold, did we want to call it a day or continue paddling? The short wearing, hardy Victorians were quick to speak for paddling on, and why not - the cold breeze was starting to weaken and feeble sunlight was breaking through the cloud layer. 

Here's the mornings GoPro footage:

A tad before noon we pulled in to find G had already scouted at our lunch site, a sunlit patch tucked behind some tussocks.  Having donned more clothing we settled down to enjoy our sangers, other assorted goodies (courtesy of R) and a good catch up.

40mins later, with a deadline to meet, 

we took to the water again to continue our paddle up the lake.

With the day being so drear we'd packed the Go Pro away. And wouldn't you know it, bird sitings came thick and fast. First this Kingfisher who let us pass close by before flitting off.

Next was a small flock of swans who ignored our presence. Then four pelicans glided low, as in just a few inches, over the water, parallel to us, for 75 metres or so before pulling up slightly to bring their feet forward for a bit of a ski until they were floating quietly on the water. Beautiful.

Finally, just as we called to G, in his usual spot out front, that it was time to head back, he called back and pointed 'what's that'.   

We all looked. Out in front of him was a black blob appearing and disappearing into the water. "A seal" somebody said. "No, it couldn't be" said L and I.  As we quietly paddled closer it popped its head up to have a good look at us and by golly it was a seal. We sat and watched until at last it vanished from our sight, wondering how it came to be in the lake.

After that little delay it was time to paddle steadily back across the lake to the Yacht Club, once again mesmerised by all the jellyfish floating by. We beached at 1.45pm,

giving KT & G plenty of time to pack up, load the boats and have a last chat, before heading back to Merimbula and the Walking Club meeting.

And for KT, who had read on line that Wallagoot was last open in 2008. The lake was open when we paddled it on Thursday 8 July 2021 (and it was a beautiful sunny day!).

PS. I'm pleased to announce the Far South Coast turned on a perfect winter's day for day 1 of the Walking Club's hike.

Trip Notes:

Put In/Take Out: Wallagoot Yacht Club

8.33kms

Lake Closed.

3hrs 15mins

Friday 9 June 2023 Tuross Heads and Horse Island

At 6.35am it was looking a beautiful day on which to paddle.

The plan was to explore a small portion of the expansive Tuross River delta followed by lunch at the waterside Pickled Octopus.  

Leaving home at 8.00am we collected R, filled up with diesel and visited the other two petrol stations in town before finding an operating air pump with which to pump up one of the tailer tyres after which we set off the hour long drive to Tuross Heads. 

So somewhat behind schedule it wasn't until 10.25 that we launched the boats toward the eastern end of Lavendar Bay.

We had a delightful paddle, with frequent sightings of the resident Sea Eagles - at one stage watching four of them circle majestically overhead.  However the highlight (which I missed, being busy changing the GoPro battery) was just after we had started the circumnavigation of Horse Island - an Emu entering the water and swimming across the Island. Luckily R caught most of its swim on her phone.

By the time we got back to Lavendar Bay at 1.25pm we had to hustle to pack up, load the boats and change in order to get to the Pickled Octopus for the much anticipated lunch.  Which, I have to say didn't disappoint - in fact it exceeded expectations - the Green Curry, especially, was to die for and the Thai Beef Salad was not far behind.  Needless to say we waddled back to the car a couple of hours later replete and extremely satisfied with the days outing.

Trip Notes:

High tide at the entrance: 1.12pm 1.4m

High tide at Sandy Point: 1.56pm

High tide at Tuross River - West Tuross Head: 2.47pm

(At approx 12.10pm there was just enough water to get round the southern most point of Horse Island.)

Put in/Take Out: Lavendar Bay

10.3kms

Sunday 4 June 2023 Baragoot Lake

 Just a quick little social paddle today. Starting off at 10.50 one of our party was especially relieved to see we could easily pass under the bridge. Lots of bird life, a Spoonbill - haven't seen any for quite awhile, Chestnut Teals, a Sea Eagle and a kingfisher were among the highlights.

We were unable to explore far up Mangans Creek as a huge tree has fallen across the creek and a few more inches of water is needed to progress further. 

After completing about 2/3rds of the lake circumnavigation we pulled at 12.15pm for what turned out to be another long lunch. Setting off again at 1.35 we poddled our way back down the lake.

Editing the GoPro footage, L had his work cut out. About 10mins into the paddle I moved my hat and the brim intruded into the footage from thereon until R took over GoPro duties after lunch. It was a long and boring process getting rid of it during the editing.

Upon returning to our launch site, while the others pulled in, I continued on and up into the lead to Barragoot Bridge and the bird reserve.

Having picked my way through shallow water to get to the lead I was surprised to find there was enough water to get through. After paddling a little way into the reserve

I turned and paddled back under the bridge

and pulled in at 2.10pm, 15mins after the rest of the crew to find the last of their boats being loaded.

Trip Notes:

Put In/Take Out: Baragoot Bridge

Laked closed

7.36kms