The aim for today was to paddle to the beach and watch the sunrise. Unfortunately we had not taken the weather into account. By far the warmest night and morning we've had this summer - 23oC - it was humid and overcast.
Not to be deterred we met at 5.00am and got ready to launch.
By 5.20am we were all on the water and though we couldn't feel it, a fine drizzle was falling, caught in the light of our headlamps as all around us fish were plopping and swirling away from our boats.
Halfway to the bridge there was enough light to dispense with the headlamps and we soon realised it was going to be a grey old day. S&V reached the bridge first and disembarked to check out the horizon and came back with the news that our idea of watching the sunrise was a bust.
We turned our boats and headed up the lake. Quiet, grey and mizzly it was rather mystical, even the dawn chorus was muted.
Paddler's heaven - glassy water
As we entered the creek, honking swans, flying overhead temporarily broke the silence.
Further up the creek we had a close encounter with a group of swans who took off toward us flying low overhead.
One was so low that to avoid crashing into me it had to bank so sharply its lower wing dug into the water and it crashed landed right beside the boat. Here is a blurry pic of it beating a panicked retreat away from me and back up the creek.
Now separated from its buddies, it honked forlornly as it swam up the creek ahead of us. After following it for about 300ms L suggested we turn around to give it some space. Still honking the swan followed us back down the creek and as we pulled in for a leg stretch it took flight behind us now free to join its flock.
View into back lagoon from the creek. The log made a very convenient seat for a reviving cuppa.
I think this is an Eastern Reef Egret
Emerging from the creek into the lake
Cuttagee Bridge in the distance - it's still grey out there!
At the turn into the straight we met three other paddlers not long on the water and stopped for a quick chat. Other than ourselves and two cars crossing the bridge at first light our encounter was the only other man made noise we had heard on the whole paddle. Bliss.
Having floated quietly across Little Cuttagee our outing ended at 9.00am.
At last, a perfect day for paddling and the added bonus of a 2.00m high tide at 11.00am. We were very happy little chappies :)
The beach was disappearing fast as we got ready to launch and by 9.45am we were off.
Floating up the river on translucent blue water we went under the bridge and headed into the mangroves for a meander through the wetlands.
Rejoining the river we found it - by Bermagui standards - to be quite busy with fishing boats of various types going hither and thither. To escape the noise we paddled on for another 1.5km before venturing into the mangroves searching for tranquility in the hidden lagoon.
Not long after returning to the river we passed a group of kayakers coming downstream and they would be the last people we saw for another 3 hours.
At 11.25am we pulled in at the confluence. Once again the discussion of 'is this lunch or morning tea' took place and this time lunch was the consensus. With the tide still rising we had to bestir ourselves a couple of times to rescue boats trying to float away and to retreat with our chairs from the rising water.
A little before noon the water went slack so we quickly packed up and by 12.05pm were ready to continue upstream into Nutley's Creek.
The further upstream we ventured the more fish we saw. Kingfishers darted along leading the way and dragonflys were buzzing about over the water. Delightful.
We discovered the limit of our previous paddle when I grounded on the log that had halted our progress
back then. Pic below from September 2022.
This time it was hidden beneath the dark water. I managed to heave over it. S&V were, reluctantly, about to follow suit when L found an easier way round. From then on we oozled our way up the creek, taking touring boats ranging from 14 to 17' where they weren't designed to go. Eventually, our cockpits littered with twigs and leaves we reached a last obstruction before the rockwall (of which you can see a little in the middle distance of the pic below) that marks the absolute paddlable limit of Nutley's Creek.
V&I in the shortest boats managed to turn. L backed down the creek and S hitched a backward toe hanging on to my boat until we had retreated to a wider section of creek.
Here we rested for a minute or two, feeling well chuffed with our achievement. Upon our return to the limit of our previous paddle we found the water level had fallen and heaving over the log was no longer an option. L cleared his route for the rest of us and after disposing of the bulk of the debris in or cockpits we poddled happily back down the creek.
Back at the confluence about 1.55pm we stopped for 15mins for arvo tea, fueling up for our paddle into the head breeze that had sprung up.
Once back on the water we paddled steadily until we reached the camp ground where we pulled in for a 5 minute floating rest sheltered from the breeze by the mangrove shrubs.
From there it was continuous paddling until just before the bend at Rose bay. From there the force of the outgoing tide negated the head breeze and it was easy going all the way back to our launch site.
Near the end we passed the largest gathering of Masked Lapwings I have ever seen, I counted 75.
We reached our take out at 3.30pm to find a markedly different water level from when we launched in the morning.
So, here is the footage. It's my first go at editing. L has cracked the proverbial and is refusing to edit footage of paddles previously recorded. :( :( I am hoping it is only a temporary wobbly. Most of the footage is of our mangrove forays and our paddle up the creek and ends as we are coming back down Nutley's Creek.
It had been a long paddle for us - 19.5kms - so after packing up the boats the only thing possible to do was end a splendid days outing with, what else, but a Bermagui Gelati :) :)
Sitting in the shade enjoying our Gelati we finalised plans for our next away paddle in a couple of weeks time.
Whilst not a perfect day for a paddle, these days it seems we have to grab every chance we can as good paddling days are few and far between as you can see by the rest of this weeks forecast which is typical of the weather we have been having for the past couple of months.
With high tide being at 3.49pm and at a paltry 1.3metres we decided to meet at Wallaga Lake which still has plenty of nooks and crannies to explore at low water levels.
Our view out of the kitchen window this morning as we made our lunch and got ready to go. In ascending order is the kid (who can still squeeze into the pouch when startled), mum and father of the future offspring.
Although it looks like winter it was quite humid and we were grateful for the breeze that spang up.
After a brief confab about where to go, we set off a 8.40am having decided to circumnavigate Dignams Creek Bay. Having paddled into a head breeze it was nice to turn into the bay however we were disappointed to discover the seals were no longer in residence.
We mooched along the shoreline listening to the birds and cicadas and watching fish swim by. At 10.05am we pulled into the bottom of Green Bay Trail for morning tea. Our idyll only briefly interrupted by a jet ski pulling a waterskier.
At 10.50 we resumed our circumnavigation.
Enjoying the sheltered water of the northern arm of Green Bay
There were plenty of fish jumping but just as the action started, wouldn't you know it, the GoPro battery ran out!
And then when we replaced the battery we inadvertently changed the settings and turned off horizon levelling and the rest of the days footage is motion sickness making - horrible. The only usable footage was those times I stopped paddling and glided. Which weren't many as the wind changed direction and increased in strength as we stopped for lunch and for most of the time we paddled into the wind.
We ran aground before the entrance of the creek so back tracked 60 metres or so to where we could cross to the other side and paddle down to the lagoon at the northern side of the creek entrance. Halfway around our exploration of the lagoon S & L started making noises about lunch and lucky for them at 12.25pm at the south western end of the lagoon was this ideal little pull out - a flat grassy area shaded by an overhanging tree - perfect for a long lazy lunch.
Setting off again an hour later we headed across the mouth of the lagoon.
We hugged the northern shore until opposite Snapper Point where we crossed over and rested on the sheltered water behind the point for 5 mins before rounding the point to paddle doggedly into a head breeze back to our put in point, reaching it at 2.45pm.
Feeling quite tired and a bit cooked we stopped in Bermi for a delicious and refreshing gelatii which pepped us up no end.
As Monday was forecast to be the first decent summer day since the holiday hordes descended we decided Wallagoot Lake would be the best option to avoid the crowd. We arrived at the yacht club about 8.40am and other than a sailing dingy pulled up at then end of the beach we had the place to ourselves.
Launching just after 9.00am we headed up the lake. Following the shoreline we encountered heaps of jelly fish and in one little bay paddled over a large swarm of tiny little ones - barely visible so small they were, but destined to grow into large ones urrgh.
After rounding the head of the lake we ventured into Moncks Creek not expecting to get very far. First we explored the two leads off the righthand branch.
End of the line of the 1st branch.
A fallen tree stopped further progress up the 2nd branch.
And finally, L calling a halt to our exploration of the left hand lead.
Shortly after entering the creek I somehow knocked the GoPro askew and sadly only got footage of mainly sky. Which was unfortunate as even though the water looked a bit manky there was lots of activity going on below the water and upon the surface. Many schools of different types and size fish darted past. Fish leaping all over the place and an occasional 'bigun' breaking the surface of the water, startled by our presence. Ducks taking flight, heaps of bird life in the scrub lining the creek, swallows and dragon flys flitting around and skimming the water and even some startled kangaroos.
Upon exiting the creek into the lake we discovered a strong headbreeze had sprung up and at this end of the lake the waves had whitecaps and came close together hitting us side on so we paddled steadily for about 20 mins, back up the lake to the first sheltered beach we could find, reaching it about 11.15am.
Some discussion followed about whether this was to be lunch or morning tea. Other than the breeze the day was so beautiful we opted for morning tea so our outing could last longer. We had a snack and loitered for half an hour while L flew the drone.
Taking to the water again
we continued our circumnavigation and we soon looking for a suitable spot for our next stop. By now people had appeared on the shoreline and it was with some difficulty we found a secluded patch to stop for lunch. In the distance we could see a variety of craft on the water: a speed boat pulling people on something doing endless loops in front of the boat ramp, a jet ski also doing loops in front of the boat ramp, another sailing skiff, this one wooden which L later much admired and numerous kayaks dotted around the lake.
Thankfully the speed boat and jet ski were restricting themselves to the small area in front of the club and we sat back undisturbed and had a leisurely lunch, idly watching a crab busily going about his business in the shallows.
After lunch we paddled to the closed entrance where we watched three little hermit crabs beside the boat. Each inhabited a different sort of shell. We watched and cheered as the smallest, in a tiny white shell, was pounced on by the largest of the trio and looked as though it narrowly avoided getting eaten. Too engrossed in this little drama I forgot to switch on the camera until it was all over and the little one had successfully made its escape.
After poling across some shallows we returned down the northern side of the lagoon, passing a another nesting Pied Oyster Catcher and this rarer Sooty Oyster Catcher as we went.
Here is the footage of the days outing
Upon our return to the boat ramp about 2.25pm we found the area quite busy with boats putting in and boats waiting to come out and we congratulated ourselves on our decision for an early start to this very pleasant paddle - our first of 2023.
Our last chance for a paddle before Christmas coincided with a king tide of 2.00m, a sunny forecast and not much wind. So we set off from home with a keen sense of anticipation at 7.30am.
By 8.16 all boats were on the water and we headed up the lake in perfect paddling conditions.
After crossing the lake our route took us up the creek where we encounted swirling schools of fish, prawns flicking across the surface of the water, this juvenile Sea Eagle and
further up, in shallow water, a large skate or stingray.
Having reached the bridge we turned around and paddled back a short distance and pulled in for morning tea at 9.25am.
Taking to the water again at 10.00am we retraced our route. Once out of the creek we encountered a light breeze and paddled down the lake. Past the oyster shed we caught up with the outgoing tide and floated downstream to the last point before the entrance where we pulled in for lunch.
Getting out of our boats at 11.30am we disturbed another Sea Eagle, probably a parent of the juvenile one we saw up the creek. Whilst loitering on the beach as L flew his drone some cheeky person rudely graffitied my boat!
Noticing the water level had dropped by a good 30cm as we lunched, we packed up and set off at 12.20 for what we thought would be an arduous paddle back up the lake against the outgoing tide. However by sticking as close to the shore as possible we found the going not bad and the further we went the more the current eased.
Reaching the Oyster sheds at 1.10pm we found an Oyster Catcher busy feeding at the ramp. Usually quite shy, this one seemed reluctant to leave the scene, only flying off as our kayaks beached on the sand. Mentally refreshed we were all now ready to face the rigours of Christmas :)
Here is the GoPro and Drone footage of today's paddle.
The entrance closed last Thursday night locking in enough water to enable us to paddle up the straight.While not ideal paddling conditions we were keen to explore our local waterway once more.
Setting off at 12.45pm we first had to plough our way through a thick blanket of algae/weed.
Thankfully it wasn't very wide and we could then weave our way through the remainder.
Loads of schools of litte fish darting past kept us entertained as we paddled up the straight.
The water level at the bridge was too shallow for us to pass under so we turned and
up the lake. Near the entrance to the creek we disturbed a huge flock of swans. I lost count at 40 as they began to take off. With the wind blowing my boat around I only managed to capture the leaders as they took flight.
Heading up the creek we disturbed another flock.
Decision time - up the creek or into the backwater?
Up the creek won out. Passing countless schoals of different little fish we oohed and aahed our way up the creek until we came upon this lone swan. It had a terrible crushed looking kink in its neck and could not fly. Endeavouring to cause it no more stress we pulled into the bank and huddled quietly together to give it room to swim past.
Once the swan had disappeared from view we paddled on and soon, as the water shallowed, were keeping a sharp eye out for fish and underwater hazards. The low water level preventing us from reaching our usual pull out spot, we stopped at this pleasant little pebble beach for what turned out to be a 45minute quick leg stretch! Here up the creek we were sheltered from the wind, it was warm and there was lots to talk about.
Barely back on the water and the oohing and aahing began again.
In this instance it was two large skates, never seen before this far up the creek.
Whilst trying to get a pic of the second skate my camera battery died. And there is no GoPro footage as we discovered the GoPro, mounted on the front of L's boat refuses to obey voice commands when it is windy.
Paddling back down the creek there was just enough water to detour into the backwater, beautiful as usual.
At the big bend we left the sheltered water behind and turned into the headwind and it was time to paddle in earnest. Gaining a brief respite behind the island at the mouth of the creek, we eased off for a few minutes and then it was back to head down, steady paddling until we turned back down the straight where we poddled along and let the wind do most of the work. Once back in Little Cuttagee we were sheltered again and poddling and chatting resumed until we reached our pull out around 3.50pm
It has been so long since we paddled - 6 weeks for us, longer for S&V. Desperate for a paddle we ignored the wind forecast and met up at the Murrah Bridge at 20 past 10 to find two tinnie trailers and another vehicle already there. The Murrah is becoming a favourite spot, both for tinnies and kayakers. Unfortunately, with some people being inconsiderate morons, that means finding the place festooned with toilet paper. We have found the odd beer bottle or can before but this is a first for toilet paper. Very sad.
As we got ready to launch (an hour and 20mins before high tide at the entrance) we were happy to see there was enough water to float us downstream.
Setting off at 10.45am, my suggestion to paddle upstream being ignored, we headed downriver. With the sun shining, schools of fish darting hither and thither, and in this top section, being sheltered from the wind, it was an absolute delight to be out on the water.
Even the headwind, further down the river, didn't deter our enjoyment. Passing the little beach that was to be our lunch destination an Eastern Reef Egret (I think) flew past. With the incoming tide making the water swirl there were a couple of ooh aah moments threading our way through the oyster covered rocks.
At the entrance we spent a fun 30 minutes or so, playing in the broiling water, and under L's guidance, endeavouring to improve our paddling skills after which we headed back to the sheltered beach, reaching it at 12.15pm. There we lingered for a little over an hour enjoying the view, lunch and each others company.
Setting off again L directed us back across the lagoon into the full force of the now tail wind and he popped up his sail. At the lower entrance to the back lagoon we left L to his sailing on the river and headed into the lagoon. As we paddled up the sheltered water of the lagoon a sea eagle flew low overhead dangling a large fish from its talons, such a wonderous sight to behold all chatter ceased and I forgot to turn on the GoPro.
We found L, with sail packed away, sheltering in the upper entrance to the lagoon awaiting our return to the river. For once the wind remained in our favour and we had an easy paddle back to the bridge. Paddling the last section on slack water we reached the bridge at 2.10pm to find the water level considerably higher than we set out; and where, sadly, once again my suggestion of venturing upstream was ignored by all. I've put comparison pics of the water levels after the video.
Feeling a little knackered, but with minds and souls restored we packed up and headed home.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
