Carlton River Paddle
27 January 2014
Trip Log.
I launched the canoe at 8:55am from the north west end of Primrose Sands beach.. It was a beautiful morning with a cloudless sky and every little breeze.
I paddled west south west and rounded Carlton Bluff. On rounding the Bluff I encountered a north west breeze with a small swell.
Once around the Bluff I paddled north to the entrance of the Carlton River.
There was a small swell at the entrance to the Carlton River but did not cause a problem.
I arrived at the river mouth at 9:50am. Once in the river I encountered a strong downstream current which made progress slow The river is quite shallow with a meandering channel which, at times is hard to see from the water.
I followed the north western shore and stopped for morning tea on a small sandy beach at 10:20am. The progress from the river mouth was very slow due to the speed of the downstream current and the shallowness of the river. Staying in the channel was quite hard at times.
I continued upstream at 10:45am. Just upstream from where I stopped for morning tea the river widens into a small lake but is still quite shallow. However the strong current had eased.
About two kilometres from morning tea the river narrows more to a river than a lake.
I reached the road bridge at 11:35am and the head of navigation some 10 minutes later.
With the tide low the water passed the bridge was shallow with oyster covered rocks so care was needed not to damage the canoe.
From the head of navigation I headed back downstream. Now going with the current made paddling a little easier.
I had to continue to the south eastern shore of the lake section of the river before I could find a place for lunch. There were several spots upstream but the shore was deep mud. I had to continue to the lake section before I could find a sandy beach to get out of the canoe. I stopped for lunch at 12:30pm.
At 1:15pm I continued downstream staying more to the eastern shore.
There was no swell on leaving there river but as soon as I turned south to head to Carlton Bluff I encountered the surf with breaking three foot waves. I managed to get throughout the first two breaks but the third was a little bigger and broke of the deck of the canoe. I got a soaking and took in a little water. It was not dangerous and the soaking was pleasant given how hot the day was.
I retraced my route around Carlton Bluff and back to Primrose Sands beach arriving at 2:45pm.
I had been a beautiful day for paddling, warm but pleasant with only light breezes.