Before we start, a sad sight we saw when in Bermagui on Thursday - the fishing boat Volition caught on the rocks.
Saturday, 1 March 2025
Friday 28 February 2025 Bega River: Mogareeka to Blackfellows Lagoon
Sunday, 16 February 2025
Friday 14 February 2025 Cuttagee
A quick St Valentine's Day paddle between showers to play some more with the new kayak.
We launched at 8.40am and had another serene and happy paddle.
The Seaward Mantra kayak
Having watched them for awhile, I paddled back to the northern side of the lake to rejoin L and we explored Woolybutts Bay before pulling in for morning tea. After which we poddled quietly back to our launch spot.
Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Wednesday 12 February 2025 1st paddle of the new boat Cuttagee
I love my Castine 145 however it is a hefty beast weighing a tad over 30kgs and as decrepitude marches onwards alongside our advancing age we are finding it increasingly hard to lift and carry around. The search for a lighter replacement has been seriously hampered by the recent discovery that kayak outlets in Australia are closing down en masse. For instance the two in Canberra selling sit-in recreational/touring kayaks have both closed. Of the five in Melbourne selling similar products only two remain. The two in Huskisson have closed.
Chances of finding a suitable replacement for the Castine were looking decidedly dim when I found a website, Synergy Paddlesports, a wholesaler based in Huskisson advertising an Ascente sea kayak and the kayak pictured below - its blurb stating it was designed for larger paddlers!
As the company's most recent social media activity was back in 2022 I didn't hold out much hope as I dialed the number. Much to my surprise the owner, Ross, answered and yes indeedy, he still had a couple left. Turns out that Synergy Paddlesports was the importer of Delta Kayaks and was licenced to build Seaward Kayaks in Australia (Ross built L's Chinook) although the Mantra was imported from Canada.The visit to his workshop was fascinating. Kayak moulds galore. I don't know if Ross is making kayaks any more as his latest project is a huge catamaran that has taken 6 years to build from scratch and is now nearing completion. If anyone is interested in everything fibreglass or how catamarans are built by hand Ross has a You Tube site, Life on the Hulls. L has been sucked right in. Compared to a catamaran making kayaks must be a doddle.
Anyway, to cut a long story short we came home with a new kayak. Due to other commitments, windy days, rainy days, windy and rainy days, today was the first chance we had to try it out.
We set off for a short paddle, with plenty of stops faffing about adjusting foot pegs, back rest etc until we got things right. Along the way we spotted a pair of immature sea eagles perched in neighbouring trees which called for another stop.
That enough for now. In the next blog I will talk about, from my perspective, the pros and cons of the new kayak. Someone has already enquired about the Castine 145, but I will be keeping her. Nothing can beat it for spaciousness and load carrying - perfect for multi day kayak camping (while we still can!)
Trip notes:
See previous entries for Cuttagee Lake
Monday, 3 February 2025
Wednesday 29 January 2025 Jaggers Bay, Bermagui River
Another early start to take advantage of the 1.9m high tide.
Getting ready.
Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Tuesday 14 January 2025 The Murrah
Another lovely day, a high tide of 1.9m and the CKC's first paddle of 2025.
L&I were running late and arrived at the bridge to find our fellow paddlers had their boats unloaded and nearly ready to embark. Consequently there was only time for a brief hello whilst L&I undertook the old farts version of haste to unload the boats and get onto the water.
Once launched the chat began in earnest; we hadn't seen each other for over a month and there was lots to catch up on.
We paddled down the river, serenaded by bellbirds and a family of kookaburras and turned off to explore the back lagoons, the 1.9m tide allowing us clearance to poke into the furthest reaches.
Close to the entrance we pulled in and it was decided that L would fly the drone whilst S&V crossed the lagoon for a swim before paddling back to join us for an early lunch.
We had the pleasure and frustration of many bird sightings as we paddled and sat. Multiple sightings of Sea Eagles, a Kite (frustrating because unable to tell which one), Ibis, Spoonbills, Seagulls, Terns, a Greater Egret, Pacific Herons, a pair of Pied Oyster Catchers and a heron (frustrating because it was the size and shape of a Striated Heron but was dark grey).
By the time we were ready to head back up the lagoon the tide was well and truly on the way out, however the breeze which had sprung up was, for once, in our favour and did much assist us as we paddled back against the outgoing tide.
Trip Notes:
High Tide at entrance 9.17am 1.9m
Launched at bridge about 9.10am
9.5kms
Wednesday, 1 January 2025
Wednesday 1 January 2025 Bermagui River: A family paddle
After a string of windy days the kayaking god came through and aligned the tide and weather to provide near perfect conditions for a paddle with the younger generations.
To avoid the potential boating chaos around the bridge we put in a kilometre upstream at the end of S River Road at the edge of the Saltmarsh.
A quick pause for a family photo, then around 8.45 we were ready to take to the water.
The high tide having not reached our launch site we floated the boats to the edge of the river and then climbed aboard and paddled across the river before heading upstream.
A few tips from L and the girls were paddling well and I.F was handling R's dagger with ease.
Halfway up and everyone is still smiling - a good sign.
We stopped for a 10 to 15min leg stretch at the old campground. Having worked out the kinks and being revived with a Caramelo Koala everyone was keen to continue our journey up river to the confluence of Coolagolite and Nutleys Creeks. After paddling up the long straight we turned the corner to see in the distance the little beach at the confluence full of campers and so pulled in at the corner for an early lunch.
With the addition of 4 willing workers in next to no time we cleared another patch of burnt shrubbery and created another huge bonfire ready for burning during the autumn break.