Yesterday the elements aligned - a 1.8m tide at 9.29am, a light easterly breeze rising slightly later in the day (to assist us back up the river on the outgoing tide) and a clear sunny 23c day. Near perfect conditions to kayak The Murrah.
Upon arrival at the bridge we found two vehicles and trailers; we weren't the only ones taking the opportunity to get out on the Murrah.
Having launched at 9.30am on the incoming tide we found just enough clearance on the left hand side to enable clear passage until the water deepened at the 1st bend.
Meandering down the river we met a fellow kayaker and stopped for a quick chat before continuing on. Once we had very cautiously negotiated the oyster strewn rocky section we checked out the entrance before R called for a tiffin break.
Shortly thereafter we pulled into a little beach with shade at one end. There we had some tea and cake and in R's case breakfast and cake. L launched the drone and captured, as you will see, some lovely footage of The Murrah entrance.
By the time we were ready to return to the water the tide had turned so once back in the kayaks we headed across the shallows to the deeper water on the other side of the inlet. From there we paddled slowly back up river. Along the way we encountered a couple of kayakers coming downstream. They were on a road trip, heading north and paddling some the beautiful inlets, lakes and rivers that abound along this stretch of the coast.
Shortly thereafter we encountered a bloke in a tinny and he imparted a bit of possibly useful information - The tide has to be at least 1.4m to enable him to launch from the bridge and he has to be back at the bridge a couple of hours after high tide at the entrance. I should have asked, in relation to the tide, what time he had to launch.
Another stop was called for, this time for lunch. As we sat enjoying ourselves another couple, this time in a double kayak went past heading downstream and then another kayaker came back upstream - we've never seen the river hosting so many people.
L launched the drone again and soon after began madly swearing. Turns out he'd forgotten to change the battery and the warning bleep had started. All was well, he managed to get it back in the nick of time. Left a shaken man by the near disaster R and I, politely ignoring the self deprecating mutterings coming from beside us, watched the river flow by a while longer until L recovered his usual insouciant disposition.
Then all that remained was a short 1km or so paddle back to the bridge and thus the end of our (mostly) restful and soul nourishing outing on The Murrah.
Here is the video link:
Trip Notes:
High tide at entrance: 9.29am 1.8m
Put In/Take Out: Murrah River Bridge, Tathra-Bermagui Rd
8.1km
