TUGGERAH LAKE WINDSURF - 30 SEPTEMBER 2016

A howling wind was predicted for the day and as the morning progressed so did the wind.

By 10 am, it wasn't strong enough for a decent windsurf. I drove to Tuggerah lake at North Entrance and there were two guys rigging up to go out.

I had a chat and rigged up as well.

I haven't been windsurfing for awhile, as a matter of fact, this was my first windsurf since I torn the hamstring off.

Well, what a session! the wind was strong but a little gusted and I had some good runs but I also was slapped down so many times. I lasted about 1 1/2 hours and was completely exhausted but feeling so good.

MUNMORAH SCA - FRAZER AND MOONIE BEACH MTB - 28 SEPTEMBER 2016

Í was at Munmorah State Conservation Area this morning for some bike riding along the tracks and trails.

I parked at the top of the hill going down to Snapper Point at the stated of the Moonie Beach Trail.

Before starting down the trail, I pedaled across the road to some sort of transmitting station. A service trail not marked on the map went downhill towards Frazer Beach.



The trail was steep with lots of speed humps to help reduce water erosion. Lots of fun. At the bottom of the trail was a water tank to cycle around. I backed tracked a bit and turned into a track that lead through the vegetation and under the tree canopy. It was such a great track with ground obstacles and low branches to navigate over and under. It got even rougher, turning into a narrow and eroded water course. Finally, the canopy opened up with a great view over Frazer Beach just above the camping area.

Of course, where there was down now there was up.

Back to where I started and feeling good, I took the trail to Moonie Beach.


Once again the long downhill trail was frequently crossed with speed humps for water erosion. In addition, there were great coastal views from Flat Island northwards. At the base of the trail, the track turned south on itself following the foreshore of Moonie Beach. Finally, the track ended and I Had a wandered along Moonie Beach.

Both the rides were great with a length of 6 km.

WYRRABALONG NP - RED GUM AND BURRAWWANG HIKE - 26 SEPTEMBER 2016

I was at Wyrrabalong National Park this morning and had a hike along the Red Gum and the Burrawang Trails.

This was a great hike. I followed the sandy and shady tracks along a variety of landscapes - flannel flowers - red gums - vegetative sand dunes - lookouts over Tuggerah Lake - burrawangs.

Some of the highlights included:

no one else using the tracks
profusions of flannel flowers
burrawangs with their fruit

intermittent views over Tuggerah Lake

no rocks - it's all sand based

twisted and gnarled red gums

bird calls - whistling types
old and weary looking banksia trees

A pleasant and easy 2.66 km hike

BRISBANE WATER NP - GIRRAKOOL HIKE - 24 SEPTEMBER 2016

At Brisbane Waters National Park for a hike at Girrakool.


The carpark was empty so I was ready for a quiet hike.

The track was easy to follow with heaps of wildflowers.

I went off track for awhile skirting a hill of sandstone boulders. It felt a bit like snake territory with dead branches and a thick layer of leaves for ground cover. I trod carefully and noisily. Eventually, I reached a dry rock creek covered in green moss. Very pretty. The creek ran under the rocks.

Another turnoff the track took me further down the creek with a wide sandstone area dotted with pot holes of water. The creek rushed along the shallowly and cascaded over a number of small drop offs.

A pretty and short 0.66 km hike.

BOUDDI NP - ROCKY POINT TRACK MTB - 23 SEPTEMBER 2016

At Bouddi National Park for a mountain bike ride on the Rocky Point Trail.


A fun ride. It started with a short track from the carpark that joined onto the Daley Point trail. A short distance along and there is an obscure turnoff to the left that twists and winds its way to the Rocky Point trail.

The Rocky Point trail was wide with some low gradient up and down sections and a varying ground terrain. A fun fast east ride.

Towards the end of the trail there was a turn off to the left with a sign indicating the Allen Strom Lookout. This is a fun short track that ends on a fenced enclosed lookout over Brisbane Water. A great view.

A fun 2.66 km ride.

MUNMORAH SCA - COASTAL TRACK MTB - 20 SEPTEMBER 2016

I was up early for a sun rising at Terrigal beach. Beautiful weather.

I drove northwards To Munmorah State Conservation Area. This a a pretty park with low vegetation and a beautiful coastline.

I stopped at Red Ochre Beach. it was pretty but the surf was a bit wild.

I moved further on and stopped at the start of the Coastal Track for a bike ride.

This was such a good ride. I took my time pedaling to the other end of the track near Wybung Head. I stopped to look at the views and thee wildflowers. It was all so pretty.

The return journey was the best part. - downhill, steep in parts, narrow track, changing ground terrain (rocks, sand, smooth, rutted), sections of dense vegetation enclosing the track like a maze, wide areas of low ground cover with great views, steps and all with some speed. So good, so much fun.


A great 5.51 km ride.

BRISBANE WATER NATIONAL PARK - WARRAH TRIG MTB 19 SEPTEMBER 2016

I had some more time to spare so I drove to the Warrah Trig carpark in Brisbane Water National Park for a hike along the Tony Doyle track.

It was only a short hike but it had so much to offer.

The carpark was surrounded by patches of wildflowers. There were steps leading up from the carpark. The top of the stairs offered limited views on the surrounding bush and distant waterways.

Down the steps on the other side and I was treated to a profusion of wildflowers and buzzing insects. The track was easy to follow and there were patches of certain species of wildflowers, rocky outcrops, twisted trees and mounds of moss covering the sandstone outcrops.

The track ends with a fantastic view of the Hawkesbury River, Broken Bay, the northern suburbs of Sydney and Kur-ring-gai National Park.

One of thee best hikes in the area. I'll be back in October when different flowers will be blooming.

BRISBANE WATER NP - MOUNT ETTALONG MTB - 19 SEPTEMBER 2016

Mount Ettalong was a short ride but it has so much to see.

The climb was gradual and there are a number of turn offs that lead to rock ledges that have clear and fantastic views over Pearl Beach. It was a challenge, riding along these turn offs with low branches, vegetation, a tumble of rocks over the ground and rock ledges that overhang the cliff. It was a bit unnerving getting as close to the edge as possible.

The ride ends on a platform with sweeping views from Umina to Box Head. In the mornings, the sun glitters and twinkles across the ocean bay.

The ride back was the final drawcard - downhill, small rocky drop offs, uneven and changing ground and finally a narrow track past the water storage tank.

A great 1.55 km ride.

I finished off with a coffee on Pearl Beach and watched the waves break and lap up the shore while in the background was Mount Ettalong. Nice.

KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN MTB - 17 SEPTEMBER 2016

A fun bike ride along the tracks at Kincumba Mountain.


This was my first ride in awhile due to the virus. I had to stop at the top of a few grinds to get my breath back but generally, I did okay.

It was nice following the tracks - putting in the effort on the up hills, cruising with speed on the downhills, always ready for the unexpected. heaps of fun.

I stop for a short while at a two view points and soaked in the sounds of birds, the views and ever changing slightly vegetation.

A fun ride but I was a bit sore at the end -  a need for more riding.

'TERRIGAL LAGOON KAYAK - 13 SEPTEMBER 2016

The weather was looking changeable so I decided on a kayak on Terrigal Lagoon.

Not the best choice for an activity as the water was very low and I could only paddle a short distance before it became too shallow. Still, it was nice sitting in the kayak watching the sun, the clouds and the blue sky.

AVOCA LAGOON KAYAK - 12 SEPTEMBER 2016

Time to get a little bit more energetic - a kayak.

Avoca Lagoon was low in water but it still was okay. I had to watch the shallows and a few spots I paddle on were presently dry land.

It was nice paddling along and watching the bow of the kayak cut its way across the glassy water. When I stopped small waves rippled out ahead of me breaking the mirror sheen of the water.

I stopped in a few places -

               closing my eyes and soaking in the heat of the morning sun.

               watching a great white egret catching fish.

               looking at the shapes of the overhanging dead wood and imaging the shapes coming to life.

               drifting slowly close to shore and watched a purple swamphen foraging in the reeds.

A couple of times, I closed my eyes and paddled. I opened my eyes to see if the view had diverged.

It was a fun and restful 3.28 km kayak.

NORTH AVOCA ROCK HIKE - 8 SEPTEMBER 2016

An overcast morning and maybe rain.

I drove around to North Avoca and decided for a walk around the rocks. It is a very short hike as the high cliffs and the ocean pounding into it make it too dangerous to traverse the shoreline.

I was happy wandering around the rocks, keeping one eye on the ocean waves and the other on the rocks.

There were a few rock pools to admire. One large rockpool had a few very small fish darting from rock shelter to rock shelter. At high tide, the waves will break over these rocks refilling the pools.