Saturday 11 June 2022 Cuttagee Lake

The last time we paddled our home waters was back in November last year and the water level was the highest we'd ever seen. Five days later on 19 November 2021 the Council opened the lake. About a week later the lake closed and on the 9 December opened again after a dump of 100mls of rain.  Since then, due to the wet year, Cuttagee has been regularly opening and closing again; sometimes with only a few days between opening and closing.

 Although the lake is still low the water was glassy and we decided to chance it and by 10.30am we were on the water.

Ooh, it was good to be out on Cuttagee again.  

Getting the drone ready to fly

This Sea Eagle circling overhead watched the proceedings and made L wary of flying too high.

While L flew the drone I watched the group of  swans that seem to have taken up residence in Little Cuttagee. With the drone packed up and the GoPro turned on we paddled cautiously up the shallow straight. The water was crystal clear, but sadly no fish were spotted.

As we neared the end of the straight we could see the bridge and beach were very busy with people making the most of the Queen's Birthday weekend.

Paddling past the end of the peninsular we

turned into the main lake and found that besides the abundant bird life we had the lake all to our selves. Bliss. There were relections to mesmerise; more swans, Little Cormorants and Pied Cormorants, Grey Herons, ducks and Kingfishers to watch.

Back in November we paddled across the top of this jetty.

We spot the Sea Eagle again.

Round the back of the island at the creek entrance I missed these swans taking off in front of us. BUT the GoPro should have caught it perfectly, or so I thought.....

After checking out Camp Cove we circumnavigated the island and pulled in at the entrance to Rain Forest Cove for a break and battery change.  It was then that we discovered my boo boo. Way back in the straight when I had attached the GoPro which was mounted to a selfie stick onto the back of L's boat I attached it with the camera facing backward!! Oh dear, all that lovely footage L thought he had of where we were going turned out to be footage of where we had been. :) :)

So for the rest of the paddle the GoPro was relegated to my head. 

Out in the middle of the lake was this bird  - can anyone identify it?

On the way home L did some more droning in the middle of the lake. After some editing here is the result (note in the video how shallow the main part of the lake is):

Here is a still from the GoPro of the Little Cuttagee swans taking flight, which you can barely see in the pic on the right hand side along the shore, more interesting is the circle of slop.

By the time we were unpacking the boats at 1.45pm the wind gust we'd encountered crossing Little Cuttagee had died away and the lake was returning to stillness once more. During our paddle we saw the Sea Eagles 4 times, a highlight of which was one diving upon and catching a fish as we had our break. I also had 5 kingfisher sightings, but sadly only one fish - two if you count the one the Sea Eagle caught.  On the upside we didn't encounter any jellyfish.

Trip Notes:

Lake closed, water level low.

See previous entries for more detailed information.

Thursday 2 June 2022 Bermagui River

It has been nearly a month since our last paddle.The Captain got Covid and our planned return trip to the Murray had to be cancelled. We were keen to get back out on the water and took a chance with the forecast.

The weather gods smiled down upon us and it turned into a lovely day.  We set off from Slipway Beach at 9.30am paddling upstream on the last of the incoming tide.

We've finally caved and purchased a GoPro and here is the result.  Watch this and you won't need to read the rest of the blog!.

After turning into the mangroves

we were sheltered from the light breeze and soon warmed up, enjoying the crystal clear water and watching small fish darting about.

Exiting the mangroves

we marvelled at the mass blooming of the spotted gums on the distant hill.  The last mass blooming, ocurring from Bateman's Bay to Tathra was in 2016. 

With the occasional stop to fiddle with the GoPro we poddled our way up river, so happy to be back on the water.

R staring at the Grey Heron up the dead tree

Stopping at the campground for morning tea, we set up our chairs and sat for ages, like lizards, soaking up the sun, talking and listening to the bird song. Bliss. 

Eventually we noticed the tide had well and truly turned and we packed up and started to head back at 12.20pm.

Not far after turning into the long straight L decided it was time to be brave and try the drone again and R and I drifted in the sun while L got it ready.

This time the little orange terror behaved perfectly and followed us down the straight. Here L is bringing it to heel while R and I kept our distance in case it went rogue and tried to decapitate us -

however, this time L had it under perfect control and the drone made a pin point landing beside his boat.

Once the drone was safely stowed, we paddled back to Slipway beach, passing these pelicans and terns along the way.

We beached about 1.35pm and after packing up the boats we returned to R's and idled the rest of the afternoon away sitting on their balcony, soaking up more sun, eating our lunch and enjoying their magnificent view.

Trip Notes:

See previous entries for maps, distances and tide times etc.

Friday 6 May 2022 Pambula River

 As another beautiful autumn day was forecast we decided to paddle from the mouth up the Pambula River.  High tide at the entrance was at 11.40am (1.4m) so we planned to hit the water at 10.30am to make the most of the incoming tide.

Small waves were breaking on the beach where we planned to launch so we endeavoured to launch between sets. Assisted by L, I was first to launch, closely followed by V.  S was next and as she launched a wave broke over her bow and dumped in her lap. Keeping her head she carried on paddling straight into the swell.

Last to launch at 10.45am was L and he made it 

look easy.

After the old ladies had got over the excitement of the launch and S had got most of the water out of  her boat we

 

set off upstream disturbing numerous schools of small fish as we paddled.

The river, as usual, was

looking gorgeous.

As we turned the corner, we paddled into a light but chill breeze and we paused whilst S donned her rain jacket to cover her wet clothes.

Having no destination in mind we found ourselves paddling across the lake and up the river to the confluence of the Yowaka River. Pausing for a brief conflab we decided to paddle up the Yowaka,

weaving our way through the islands

always hunting the deeper water

until we reached the bridge.

Turning we made our way back downstream,

returning to the confluence at 12.50pm where we stopped for lunch. Sitting in the sun whilst S managed to dry out a little we watched firstly a Sea Eagle circling low overhead followed not long after by a young Wedge Tailed Eagle doing likewise. Also entertaining us was a little pied cormorant (I think) fishing in the shallows 10 metres down the beach from where we sat. 

Taking to the water again at 1.45pm we retraced our steps, back down the river and

across the lake - these pelicans pointing out the shallows to be avoided. As we paddled across the lake two Sea Eagles circled low over us the whole way. Perhaps we were traversing their favoured hunting ground.

As we went L had us practising support strokes and edging our boats in preparation for a return trip to the Murray.

Poddling along we enjoyed fish watching in the sun.

Approaching our take out point we could see waves breaking and a plan was called for. I was sent in first to steady the others as they came in :( :(. However my trusty boat and a large dose of luck got me in. In trying to execute a quick exit from my boat before the waves could push it sideways I learnt a lesson - loosen and lower the seat back and ditch the paddle leash before coming in! 

Next in was V with S following closely behind.  Last was L.  All was going well until a larger wave broke over his stern, drenching him and half filling his cockpit with water which make his boat too heavy to drag up the beach or hold steady so he had to clamber out as best he could as the following waves slowly pushed his boat sideways.

With L out of the boat it was considerably lighter and V&I managed to drag it up the beach and roll it over to drain most of the water; L then pumped out the remainder.  

By 3.05pm we were all safely ashore.

 Drained of energy and strength it was a slow pack up, however our enjoyment of the day was in no way diminished and once in the car with the heater on our spirits soon revived.

Trip Notes:

Put In/Take Out: Pambula River Mouth

High Tide:  River Entrance: 11.40am 1.4m

                    Tea Tree Point (in lake): 1.35pm

14.1kms

4hrs 20mkns

Monday 2 May 2022 The Murrah

Just a quick paddle today to try out the recently acquired and latest boy toy: the waterproof drone.

A high tide of 1.4ms at 9.22am resulted shallow going when we got onto the water at 9.50am

It was a superb autumn day; sunny, warm with just a hint of breeze - perfect for paddling and drone flying.

Poddling along and

carefully picking our way

we managed to

reach our destination without running aground. Whilst I unpacked brunch L unpacked the drone and got ready to fly.  As I sat on shore and sipped my coffee L paddled back out onto the water and let loose the machine.

All went according to plan until

it did not! The machine suddenly took off, heading south at a remarkable pace until I lost sight of it. L after giving up on the controller took off in hot pursuit. About 10 minutes passed then I heard some buzzing followed by a bang and and a splash followed shortly thereafter by some more angry buzzing and splashing.

L reappearing paddled over to and under a shrub overhanging the water and then there was more frantic buzzing and splashing.  

Having retrieved the drone he paddled back,

bloody and bowed.  His response to my question "how did it go" was the archetypal "I don't want to talk about it".  

The drone in question has very mixed reviews with several different problems complained about and from my observation it seemed that L encountered all those problems in the one flight. 

After making use of the first aid kit to patch him up, we sat down to eat our brunch.  The delicious curried egg sanga's L had made and the beauty of our surrounds soon working their magic, dispelling L's  mood.

Suddenly noticing the water level had dropped, we realised we had  perhaps lingered too long and quickly packed up and returned to the water.

The tide was well and truly on the way out and the further upstream we paddled the more shallow the water became as evidenced by these two plovers standing the middle of the river.

Paddling steadily we made it back at 12.30pm. L having run out of water dragged his boat for the last 30 metres, whilst I managed to sneak through along the edge of the reeds.  Back at our launch site as I waited for L I sat in the boat and was happily entertained by the myriads of little fish in the water beside me. Unfortunately every time I leant over to take a pic they scattered.

 Verdict:  24hours later: still "don't want to talk about it" :)