Thursday 16 September 2021 Cuttagee Lake

 With an ease in restrictions to allow 5 people to meet outdoors R took the opportunity to join L&I for a paddle on Cuttagee. We hit the water at 10.00am,  turning into the straight we heard a faint buzzing and R looked up to find our no doubt envious :) neighbour charting our progress.

Stopping for a chat with a fly fisherman who had been at it since 5.30am and had had no luck. The fisherman mentioned the commercial fisherman had netted the lake this morning I have seen him laying his nets 3 times since Cuttagee closed in the middle of June and I suppose he has stripped both Little Cuttagee and the main lake of most of the bigger fish. I hope the pair of Sea Eagles that call Cuttagee home are finding enough fish to feed their young.

We paddled down the lake

and into the ephemeral lagoon, which now held plenty of water, where we stopped for morning tea. 

After a pleasant 35mins in the sun we headed back down the lagoon

past all the new growth on the silt jetty,

some of which will soon be doomed by the rising water.

This section of the silt jetty, then high and dry, was where we had morning tea in early August.,

Three swans taking flight toward us as we paddled up the creek.

Further on, near the first bend another takes off toward me. I got a close up view as it swerved at the last minute to pass me at head height.

Once round the bend we were sheltered from the breeze

This time there was enough water to get over the Backwater ford so we continued on up the creek.

At the far end of this spit I ran aground, R having made it through.

While we waited for R to explore to the paddlable limits I extricated myself and admired the clarity of the water

and the surrounding forest.

R's exploration was stopped by the spit, narrow channel and 

rock wall ahead.

Back she comes

this time failing to find the sweet route

We stopped for another 35mins, this time for lunch, on our way back down the creek. The sound of the rising breeze the only thing prompting us to move on again.

Retracing our route round the back of the island to stay sheltered that little bit longer.

Once back out in the lake we paddled steadily into the head breeze until we turned for home, where L got to deploy his sail for a few hundred metres,

before we turned and paddled back across little Cuttagee, ending our paddle around 2.30pm.

Thursday 9 September 2021 Bermagui River

 Still in lockdown so no CKC paddle again this week :(  However that didn't stop L&I taking advantage of a lovely day and a favourable tide to paddle the Bermagui River.  We set off at 8.40am and let the last of the 9.48am, 1.6m high tide carry us gently up the river. Passing under the bridge we saw R and N getting ready to take to the water - great minds think alike. Giving them a wave as we paddled by we headed to the inside of the oyster beds to paddle up alongside the mangroves.

Approaching the end of the oyster beds we turned left to weave our way through the mangroves

Back out on the main river we continued to hug the shoreline

A huge skate emerged from under my boat

We just poddled along, enjoying the clear water

and taking in the scenery.

Perfecto.

Tuesday 31 August 2021 Cuttagee Lake

 Due to regional lock down restrictions the CKC has not been able to get together for a paddle for the past month. So on the first good paddling day after a couple of weeks of wet, windy and cold weather L and I took to our local water for a little exercise and to check out how much water had been pushed into the lake by the stormy seas.

Setting off at 10.20am

Paddling up Little Cuttagee trying not to disturb the swans.

Lots of colour along the formerly dead margins of the straight leading to the main lake.

After the stormy weather there is now enough water to get around the island near the bridge. The big wave weather has not only pushed a lot of water in, but has built up a sizeable sand plug that comes nearly to the bridge.

Heading up the lake,

 

we poked along the northern shoreline, noting the thick mass of algae is starting to disappear.

In the main body of the lake I passed over a large shoal (?) of jelly fish  after which I saw only the odd one.

Smoke haze from numerous burn piles on the property to the left.

At 11.15am we pulled in for what turned out to be a 45min stop as we took in the view back down the lake.

Continuing our paddle along the shoreline, L passed this lead on the right and headed back to explore.

We poked our way in causing this little kanga family to sit up and warily watch our progress. Note the young casaurinas (?) springing up to replace all the dead ones.

Reaching the end of the lead, we turned 

and retraced our steps,

back past the kangaroos and down the lead back into the lake.

Next we headed round the back of the island at the mouth of the creek thinking to have another leg stretch where we stopped on our last paddle, only to discover the site was now under water. 

It is lovely to see colour and life coming back to the forest.  

At 12.55pm we stopped for another 35mins - mainly to enjoy our outing and being back near the water. We set off again

paddling into a light head breeze.  When we turned into the straight L took the opportunity to once more try his sail. In the light breeze he sailed at a pace which made narrowboating seem like a speed sport.

At the end of the straight, with sail packed away we poddled back down Little Cuttagee with swans all around and a pair of Sea Eagles wheeling overhead - 

 A fitting end to a very pleasant paddle.

9.3kms