Downstream on the Hacking

[khiemtran]

This week we're back on the Hacking river, near the place where Liem and I like to go fishing. But this time we're setting off to explore some of the river downstream, on the way to Port Hacking.



It's an absolutely glorious morning on the river. The morning fog has burned off, but the water is still smooth and silvery.



Some views of the Royal National Park as we paddled past. We also did some more bird counting for the Great Aussie Bird Count and our tally included a pelican, lots of cormorants and a white bellied sea eagle (most likely a different one from the one we saw last week on the Woronora).



I'm not quite sure how to reach those steps in the picture by land. According to the map, there is a trail through the Royal National Park that ends somewhere near here, but it might be a long walk.



Along the way, we met another paddler called Manny, an elderly gentleman who paddles this river almost every day, who gave us lots of tips for navigating the sandbanks and channels. That's him off in the distance. The green post in the middle of the picture is a "starboard" marker, meaning that the deeper water is on the other side (a starboard marker means "keep this post on your starboard side when heading upstream", and we're heading downstream). It's a clue that the channel is quite close to the far shore where Manny is, and that there might be shallow water ahead of us if we don't follow him.



This part of the river is called Mansion Bay. Behind us lies Leg of Mutton Bay.



I don't know if the mansions or the name came first, but there are certainly lots of very expensive-looking houses in Mansion Bay.



Up ahead you can see Gymea Bay on the right and the North-West Arm on the left. We're going to turn left today for a poke around the North-West Arm. But next time we'll have to try turning right. The Hacking is a rich river for exploring, with lots of little bays and hidden inlets, all the way to the sea.



Some of the houses on the edge of the North-West Arm.



This owl didn't quite make our bird count - it's a model to try to scare birds away. It didn't seem to fool the welcome swallows flashing through the moorings, but it was real enough to get us in for a closer look.



Having a sticky beak around the yachts. The water was extremely clear and we could see fish swimming about, but it soon got very shallow the further we headed up the North-West Arm.



Heading back again. We met up with Manny again on the way back and he told us of how he sometimes paddled up the South-West Arm (further downstream) deep into the Royal National Park. It was so quiet, he said, he could hear his heart beat. Another adventure, for another day.

Comments

[carl-allery.livejournal.com]

Awesome, as always. :)

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

It was a great paddle! It's going to fun to tick off the other bays one-by-one, although by the time we get to the South-West Arm, that's going to be a full-scale expedition.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

The water is lovely; I adore when it is so placid.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was gorgeous that morning. It really paid to get up early. It makes me wonder how rich a life Manny must lead, being able to paddle gently down the river almost every day, when some people are lucky to be able to still walk to the shops.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

The houses by the water's edge reminds me of a town I sometimes see in dreams (not a real place, that I can think of--but here it is, real).

From Mansion Bay to Mutton Bay--that's kind of funny. One bay for your living quarters, another for your food.

I love the gauzy light in these photos.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

It will be interesting to find out the reasons behind the names. I'm signed up for an "eco kayak tour" of the river in a couple of weeks, so maybe I'll get a chance to find out then.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I'll be interested to hear what you find out!