14/2/17 Burrill Lake Paddle

    Today is a bit cooler than usual , only getting to 22 , we decided to go for a paddle , the lake is only 50m from us . 

  As is usual , the wind was starting to increase , but we went anyway , figuring there’s plenty of trees so they should take the edge off the wind . That was good in theory , but in practice the wind seemed to be coming from all different directions as we paddled around . 

 There was reports of a seal frolicking around in the lake , so we headed out to where it was but couldn’t see it anywhere - apparently we hadn’t gone far enough , as it had gone for a sleep on the rocks another 500m from where we were .

 The sky was still overcast and temperature still hovering around 20 degrees , but we got some good photos . Meroo National Park borders the lake , and there’s a trail that leads around to the southwest end of the lake , with indigenous information boards at different locations , the lake is an important location for them - meeting places , dancing places , food source and protection from the elements . 

 There’s shells everywhere on the floor of the lake and the small beaches that dot the shoreline . Speaking of the shoreline , trees come right to the edge , there are quite a few dead trees as well - mainly she oaks and the odd gum tree that’s fallen over . There’s also signs of previous fire damage , with blackened tree trunks .

  Upon reaching this end of the lake we drifted over to the side - with the help of the wind . We found ourselves right beside a fish feeding event . Tiny fingerlings were jumping out of the water trying to get away from a school of fish that weren’t that big - about 100mm long at most - it entertained us for a few minutes . All the time this was happening , there was an Azure Kingfisher watching patiently , probably to pick up any stragglers .

Back to the park with a combination of wind directions again , the last one a head wind before making it to the beach . 

 As we pulled the kayak back to the van , we walked beside the boundary fence which was covered in vines , wisteria and hibiscus . The vine that was climbing everywhere has these orange flowers -

 Then these beautiful hibiscus flowers underneath the vine .

 That was our day , the afternoon was spent cleaning the kayak & relaxing - another tough day - and loving it !!