I lost momentum for solo kayaking thanks to a new found passion for running but I did get together with my sister (owner of Vikel, or as it's better known, the purple barge) for a couple of trips to Lake Lyell.
Lake Lyell is a man-made lake just outside of Lithgow, it was created in the early 1980s by damming the Cox's River to provide cooling waters for the coal-fired power stations in the area.
It's been a wet summer just west of the Blue Mountains and for both our trips, the first in early December 2012, the second in February 2013, the Lake was full, providing some very pretty, green and leafy scenery.
As you approach the lake from Lithgow the main entrance is on the right after you traverse the dam wall. This is a boom-gated area with a sealed parking area, kids playground equipment, toilet facilities and boat ramps, fees apply.
If you're looking for a cheaper, more basic option continue past the main entrance, there are two more entries on the right, they're not gated and there are no facilities, they are dirt access roads but my VW Golf handled them no worries.
Our first visit to Lake Lyell was early on a Monday morning, it was foggy and still, very comfortable paddling weather! The lake's surface was like glass and it was an amazingly peaceful experience to head out in the gloom. The fog lifted pretty quickly and a light breeze came up but it was still a sensational morning.
We turned left, or up river, from our launching spot, we kept close to
the shore and enjoyed the wildlife which included Eastern Grey
Kangaroos, Wallaroos and numerous birds including Masked Plovers, Great
and Black Cormorants, Pacific Black Ducks, Eurasian Coots, some tiny
bids that I've tentatively identified as Dotterels, and the highlight, a
White-breasted Sea-eagle.
Here's the GPS track of our first paddle (the lake is currently much higher), or go here for more details.
Our second trip was also on a weekday, it really is the best time to go to Lake Lyell if you can as the place is much busier on weekends with water-skiers and other powerboat users.
We launched at a similar place just a few hundred metres down stream and this time turned right, down stream and towards the main boat ramps and the dam wall.
This direction was interesting but not as picturesque and we didn't see any wildlife besides a few ducks and cormorants, it seems up-river is the direction to head.
The GPS track looked like this, or for more details go here.
