Thursday 26 July 2018 Cuttagee

An even earlier morning paddle. We got down to the lake at 7.45am and it was finger crippling frosty. Once again it turned primarily into a bird watching paddle. Seen were Pelicans aplenty, Great Egrets,
Little Pied Cormorants, Shags, White Faced Herons, a pair of Chestnut Teal, Swans, Sacred Ibis, Royal Spoonbills, Eurasian Coots,  a pair of Sea Eagles, a Wedgetail Eagle and a Whistling Kite, a large flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos and the odd Azure Kingfisher. All bird closeups are courtesy of S and her new camera.

When we arrived the last of the mist was rising from the lake

And the pelicans we disturbed were reluctant to depart

The sun finally found us as the last of us launched

Great Egrets taking to the air as we woke them up

The Royal Spoonbills however, were reluctant to get moving

Pelicans flying over and around us as we headed for Wooly Butts Bay

Heading into Wooly Butts Bay

Azure Kingfisher spotted below Wooly Butts house

Western side of Wooly Butts Bay

The clear water was entrancing to paddle

The little black spots are a flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos - 50+

A pair of Sea Eagles inspecting our progress

After a quick stop for a leg stretch and a muesli bar we slowly made our way back up the southern shoreline on glassy water

Whistling Kite spotted toward the Eastern boundary of the Far End

More pelicans soaking up the sun and preening at the island near the bridge

Inspecting the sculpture at the head of the island

About to turn into Little Cuttagee, our progress was halted by feeding pelicans

That little school of fish, demolished or dispersed, the pelicans slowly drifted off

so we could continue our journey back down the lake.

Great Egret

 Our paddle ended about 11.15am and after packing up the boats we enjoyed a lovely brunch back at S&V's.

Monday 23 July 2018 Cuttagee

We woke up this morning to the highest frost we seen here. With no breeze and a light mist caressing the water the lake was too seductive to ignore. Leaping out of bed we donned our paddling gear, made a coffee, loaded the boats and headed down to the water.

By the time we took to the water the mist had lifted and most of the frost had disappeared, only lingering in the shaded gullies.

The water level has dropped by 30cm or more since we last paddled Cuttagee. However the bigger difference was that the water was crystal clear.

Lots of bird life encountered in Little Cuttagee

Young Sea Eagle?  No - it's a Whistling Kite

Pelicans and swans in the straight.  The die back of the melaleuca more apparent.

Rounding cormorant corner

Heaps of swans, pelicans and cormorants in Woolly Butts Bay

Dramatic dieback on the island at the start of the river

Heading up the Clearwater backwater

Retracing our tracks

More bird life on the main lake

A lovely little paddle
2 1/4 hours.

Sunday 1 July 2018 Bermagui River

S&V called in yesterday, bearing edible gifts purchased from Tilba from whence they were returning. Over coffee we discussed, amongst many other topics, when to next paddle. Sooner rather than later was the consensus and after a quick check of the weather forecast and tides, a paddle on the Bermi River today was decided upon. A low high tide of 1.33m at 11.04am at the Bermagui Bridge determined our starting time of 10.00am at the beach behind the slipway.

After collecting S&V and their boats just before 9.00am we arrived at our put in point to find R&G already there. Not having paddled for more than a month, the boats felt heavy and awkward to unload and get to the water. I was surprised to find that we were on the water and ready to paddle 10mins earlier than scheduled.

Heading upstream into a SW 16.7kph breeze (forecast to be half that) which negated the affect of the last of the incoming tide.

After a kilometre or so the breeze started to drop away - as forecast!

Even though our muscles protested somewhat, it was truely good for the soul to be back out on the water.

At 11.05am we pulled up at the camp site for morning tea

Where at low high tides this log is conveniently situated for our repose

 After an extremely long and leisurely morning tea, soaking up the sun and where L got to show off his new thermos and V&S did this weird, presumably NSW thing, of a pinch and a punch for the first of the month - ouch; we eventually returned to our boats and embarked at 12.20pm for the return journey.

L's preferred method of entering his Chinook

There was hardly any breeze on the paddle back down river and we cruised quietly along on the outgoing tide. Magic

G, who had not joined us for this trip, waved to us from his balcony as we went past and was down at the beach to greet us (really, to help R load her boat and find out where we were having lunch) as we arrived back at 1.30pm.

After loading the boats and changing we just made it to Il Passagio in time for a delicious shared plate lunch - a perfect ending to a lovely paddle.

Trip notes:

Put In/Take Out: Slipway beach
High Tide at Bermagui Bridge:  11.04am 1.33m
3hrs 40 mins
9.88kms