To the break and back and a broken back!

After a series of recent posts which have required a significant amount of research I thought I'd throw in something a little lighter so yesterday, with the sun out and in need of some practise for a forthcoming event, I dusted off the kayak for the first paddle of the season.
As the Masters Games are currently in town and doing their bit on the river, I figured it might be a little busy on that section so I hit the river below the breakwater and headed down to the lower break. This is one of my favourite sections for paddling as the scenery is predominantly rural and the river remains relatively wide with no serious obstructions - although perhaps it might be best avoided if the water ski club are holding an event as things can get a little busy at the end of Wilson's Road.

"Greenbanks" at Marshall

Not surprisingly, the water level was higher than I'd been used to over summer and with the wind blowing about 15knots from behind it was a relatively easy ride downstream however, it soon occurred to me that it was going to be hard work on the way back - I wasn't disappointed.


Mudlark chicks in a nest overhanging the river at Marshall

Well, spring has certainly sprung. Birds were everywhere - I counted twenty-nine different species and everyone it seems is breeding. In addition to the family of four Grey Butcherbird chicks I found hopping around in the branches near Highton a couple of days ago, I found these little guys sitting around on a rather exposed branch overhanging the river whilst one parent or other shouted instructions from the safety of a nearby tree - after which they all quite literally pulled their heads in and were not to be seen above the nest.
Meanwhile, on the bank, this little parade made its way under the nearest fence to what it considered a safe distance.

Australian Wood Duck family at Marshall

Despite the wind, the weather was quite warm and the skies were blue. Unfortunately for the smaller creatures around, Brown Falcons and Marsh Harriers were also circling overhead. At one point a pair of rather unimpressed falcons were being told in no uncertain terms where to go by a magpie.

The view from the lower breakwater

Well I reached the halfway mark fairly comfortably and without too many blisters. The water level here was quite definitely higher than during summer when the metal side of the breakwater made it necessary to disembark and cart the vessel round via land in order to continue downstream. This time by contrast, I was at imminent risk of going over the edge and heading for Lake Connewarre whether I liked it or not!

The lower breakwater

In retrospect, this would actually have been the easier option, although I would still have opted for portage, as rapids - even man-made ones - really aren't my thing whilst carrying a camera and phone. I did consider rearranging my pick up for Tait's Point instead of Breakwater which would have suited my back and the palms of my hands much better, however I also figured that the slog back upstream would do me good.
So I snapped a few shots and turned around. Almost immediately I was hit by a wall of wind and had to plough my way through the chop on the surface of the river to the next quiet patch before repeating the process at regular intervals the entire 8km back to Breakwater.


A deceptively peaceful Barwon River at Breakwater

As I rounded the bend and headed up The Long Reach I was reminded exactly why it got its name. Of course, "Cuthy's" boys from the Grammar had the advantage of at least three of their schoolmates pulling with them and the possibility of a stop for refreshments at The Willows. A bit of teenage enthusiasm would have been handy yesterday!
However, I managed it eventually with only a few blisters and without actually being blown back downstream at any point. My arms and back certainly got that workout I was looking for. Now I just hope the effects wear off before next weekend's paddle...

Lunch at "the break"

"The second break in the Barwon River." This was the Google Images search which greeted me as I took a quick glance at my stats page before starting this post.
I am guessing that someone was looking for pictures of the lower breakwater. I hope they found the first of my kayaking posts from earlier this month, but as it happens, I can add to the collection after another paddle down the river today. In fact, I stopped at the lower break for lunch before heading back to the upper breakwater to catch a ride home.
But first things first. I hit the water just near the Geelong Water Ski Club at the end of Wilsons Road in St. Albans Park and headed downriver, hoping to get a better idea of where that 19th century picnic spot "The Willows" was and also to see if I could access Reedy Lake.
Assuming my reasoning as outlined in my post The Willows is correct, then I was successful in my first endeavour and now have some photos to show for my efforts:

Thicket of elms at the possible site of The Willows, looking upstream

The above shot shows a thicket of elm trees, clearly non-native and well-established. There are no willows to be seen anymore anywhere along this stretch of river or even signs that the area may have been used for picnics and camping. Nor is there any sign of the "cutting" described by James Lister Cuthbertson in his description of The Willows, where the Grammar boys ran the boats up onto the bank.

Thicket of elms looking downriver towards The Willows

In fact the only place I could conveniently get out of the water to have a look around was several hundred metres away....maybe next time.
And so I paddled on. My next aim was to see if I could get inside Reedy Lake for a look around, however I soon discovered that the channel which connects the lake to the river is not designed for boat access.

Channel to Reedy Lake

None-the-less, it is a rather pretty part of the river with farmland on one side and high reeds interspersed with gum trees obscuring any sight of the lake on the other.

Looking downriver, about 2.5km below Wilsons Road

My next stop was the lower breakwater where I hauled myself and the "yak" out of the water, took a few photos and had some lunch at which time a decision had to be made. The weather was mild but increasing winds were forecast for later in the afternoon so I decided to leave a paddle around Lake Connewarre for another occasion and head back upriver.

Above the lower breakwater

Below the lower breakwater

As on at least three other occasions, the trip upstream was wind-assisted and therefore easier than the trip down.
At one point as I drifted quietly near the bank I became aware that I was not alone. As they often do, a number of carp were cruising along the bank looking for food. They were quite confident - provided I didn't move much - and were happily snapping up the grass seeds (we used to call them fairies) which were floating on the surface of the water.

A carp eating a "fairy"

A carp stalking a seed

After spending a bit of time stalking the carp, I got moving again, sloshing my way through the wake of several power boats at the water ski club until I reached quieter waters (and a patch of waterlilies) near "Greenbanks" on the Marshall side of the river.

"Greenbanks"

From there it was an uneventful paddle round the bend to Breakwater and a quick ride home. Not a bad day's paddling and my first solo expedition.



Yellow waterlily

Can't go over it, can't go under it, can't go round it...

About a week ago I headed off to explore a section of the Barwon I had previously only seen at a distance - the aqueduct. As I described in a previous post, the ovoid sewer aqueduct over the Barwon is a concrete truss construction built between 1913 and 1916 to carry waste from Geelong to Black Rock where it emptied into the sea.

Ovoid sewer aqueduct over the Barwon River

The aqueduct was in use until 1993 when it was replaced by a new sewer main running under the river which operates via a pump-boosted gravity system, providing a cost-effective and technologically innovative solution to Geelong's sewage needs. A more detailed description of the new system can be found on the following page: A Boost For Geelong.
The aqueduct still stands as an historic monument, mostly hidden from public view, but still accessible if you know how. As the title of this blog suggests however, viewing is all that is currently possible. Whilst there is a walkway across the top of the pipe, the concrete of the structure is in such poor condition that it is unsafe to approach it. This has occurred due to the loss of calcium from the concrete of the structure which has rendered it brittle and crumbling. This means not only can it not be crossed, but it is not possible to pass under the structure either.
The aqueduct is heritage listed and is a spectacular example of early 20th century engineering in Australia, however its very poor state of repair means that no-one is currently prepared to foot the no doubt substantial bill for its restoration. It can only be hoped that with the proximity of the new Armstrong Creek development on the south side of the river, the aqueduct will be seen as a useful feature to be incorporated into the new development - perhaps in the form of a pedestrian crossing point in an extended Barwon River trail, leading down from Breakwater. For now however, this would seem to be nothing more than a...pipe dream!
In addition to visiting the aqueduct, we went for a wander down the track which is the end of Boundary Road. I hadn't been here before either. It is heavily rutted with rubbish dumped here and there to either side. At this time of year and with no recent rain, it was quite walkable, with only the very last approach to the river somewhat squishy, however this was mitigated by some conveniently laid planks.

"Greenbanks", Marshall

From here, there is a distant view of the aqueduct, but most notable is the historic homestead "Greenbanks" where I believe I stayed once or twice in my teens. Sited on the Marshall side of the river, this privately-owned property was originally the owner's home associated with the Braealy Brothers Australian Tannery complex, the ruins of which can be seen nearby.
Otherwise, there isn't a great deal to see on this part of the river. This is, after all, a flood plain, meaning that it is flat, wide and marshy. What I did notice however, is that the variety of bird life is somewhat different to other areas and I was able to spot a number of birds I hadn't seen  - see my bird page for updates. The new additions were Yellow-rumped Thornbills which I'd seen elsewhere but not along the river, White-faced Chats, a single Horsefield's Bronze Cuckoo, Black-shouldered Kites and more notable for their calls than their visibility - Little Grassbirds and Golden-headed Cisticolas. Hopefully I can continue to add to the tally.