CENTRAL COAST - 25 TO 31 OCTOBER 2021

 

25 OCTOBER

A kayak at Avoca Lagoon.

I picked a couple of spots out of the wind and in the sun to watch the antics of the various birds. It was relaxing to soak in the sun and just gaze about. I also paddled through the reeds for a rougher paddle. The birds were in abundance with four juvenile swans and their parents foraging for food.

 

26 OCTOBER

A mountain bike ride at Bouddi NP.

I followed my favourite loop – Turkey, North-west ridge, Cliff, Strom and Ferny tacks. A fun ride with some flowy sections.

A swim and relax at Terrigal Haven Beach with Jacinta.

A bit chilly in the water but it was nice to cool down after the bike ride.

28 OCTOBER

A beach cycle along Ocean Beach to Ettalong.

Such a fun ride on the beach. People saying hello, racing the breakers on the shoreline, dogs running alongside, people doing fun things in the water. The tide was low enough to do the ride all the way to the last private jetty at Ettalong.

A swim and relax at Terrigal Haven with Jacinta.

New swim goggles were excellent with good visibility today.

31 OCTOBER

A mountain bike ride and hike to Spion Kop at Brisbane Water National Park.

It was downhill all the way along Bambara Road, the Koolewong fire trail and the final turnoff ending at the creek that runs into Waterfall Bay. The last section was very rugged and I had to stop heaps due to erosion and fallen trees. The ride along the creek was fun over smoothed sandstone. Just before the creek drops over a 5-metre fall, I parked my bike and hiked. The track climbed uphill between two boulders on the western side of the creek. The track was relatively easy to followed winding up steeply in between boulders and trees. After that, the track wound it’s way along. I stopped for a rest on a flat sandstone outcrop. I realised; I left my water with the bike. Being a hot morning and still an hour roundtrip to go, I decided to head back and finish it another day.

A swim and relax at Terrigal Haven.

It was a welcome swim after the hot ride/hike.

CENTRAL COAST - 18 TO 24 OCTOBER 2021

 

OTHER – Painting Jacinta’s study

 

18 OCTOBER

A mountain bike ride on the Rocky Point tracks at Bouddi National Park.

The weather was perfect. The tracks were rutted a little deeper due to recent rain. It makes the ride a little less predictable. The view at the lookout was excellent. I followed the track back in the reverse direction. Much easier the other way J. There were some flannel flowers starting to bloom.

 

19 OCTOBER

A surf at Wamberal Beach with Ken.

We paddled out to ride an okay looking left but a right started to form up off the channel. The right got better and better. A few others paddled out and the waves lost their form. It was good fun while it lasted with heaps of waves.

 

20 OCTOBER

A walk around the Haven with Jacinta.

The crowd wasn’t too bad and I needed to get away from the inside painting. A couple of rounds of the paths and I felt better.

 

21 OCTOBER

A wander around North Avoca Point.

I bought a new camera yesterday. I tried it out on the point. The weather was perfect again but the surf wasn’t so good. It was nice walking around the rocks.

A trip to Sydney to visit Mark.

Back from the walk, we set off to visit Jacinta's brother in his age care facility. I haven’t been able to see him for about two years due to co-vid restrictions and his health. We went to a coffee shop and it was so good to see and chat with him again.

 

22 OCTOBER

A swamp wallaby at home.

In the backyard, slowly hopping around eating shoots of grass. NICE J

 

23 OCTOBER

A snorkel at Terrigal Haven.

It looked promising but the visibility was poor again. Still, it was fun with a huge school of whiting surrounding me and three large blue/green gropers.

Finished painting Jacinta’s study.

 

24 OCTOBER

A windsurf at Canton Beach, Tuggerah Lake.

The wind was looking good but it was changing direction as I was rigging up and so wasn’t too strong. The other guys were getting some good runs but I puttered along. I still haven’t got the new sail rigged right. I either couldn’t pick the wind up or hold it for long in the sail. I did enjoy videoing the other windsurfers. J

CENTRAL COAST - 14 TO 16 OCTOBER 2021

 

# I finished painting one bedroom – rain heavily most of the week

14 OCTOBER

A kayak along Piles Creek.

I launched along the banks of Moonie Moonie Creek from Karool Road. The sun was warm and there was a lazy feel to the air. I paddled under the bridge and towards Piles Creek. The beginning of the journey was mainly mangroves. After a while, the creek narrowed somewhat and it easy to see the walking track besides the creek amongst the ferns and trees. Towards the end the creek narrowed more and there were a number of large boulders in the water and along the shoreline. The final section was at the suspension bridge. Just after the bridge it wasn’t possible to paddle any further due the rocks. There were a lot of lizards lying in the sun on the boulders. They remain still as a statue until they just shot off like a rocket to shelter. A great kayak. PS It is best to do this creek and up creek on Moonie Moonie Creek about two hours either side of high tide.

16 OCTOBER 2021

A windsurfer at North Entrance.

An absolutely awesome day – strong west winds at 30 knots plus that didn’t ease off. The start of the run was in smooth deep water and into smooth shallow water. The further I went out onto the lake the rougher the water became with small chop waves. I managed a few chop jumps, controlled gybes in the rough sections and many floggings. It was heaps of fun.

CENTRAL COAST - 4 TO 10 OCTOBER 2021

 

# I started painting the bedrooms, one at a time, this week – repairing shelving holes, sanding, priming and painting. This will keep me busy for a month. Haha!

 

4 OCTOBER

A surf at North Avoca Beach.

There were heaps of backwash making it difficult to get on the waves and stay on them. ha-ha. Didn’t have any good waves but cop a walloping on one of the sets. Nice to get wet and the water was warm. Spring wetsuit time!

5 OCTOBER

A surf at North Avoca Beach.

The right was looking good. I paddled out and had a ball. The waves were fast and furious at times and though it was a small crowd it was a bit intense. Still, got plenty of waves. J

6 OCTOBER

A hike on the Girrakool loop with Jacinta.

It was a quiet hike with just a few people on the track. The waterfall was trickling and the wildflowers were abundant. Just a just walk through the Australian bush.

7 OCTOBER

A surf check at North Avoca and Killcare Beaches. Not much happening.

A mountain bike ride on the Bouddi Loop.

It seems that life is going quiet again on the weekdays. There were only a handful of cars parked at the Maitland Bay carpark. Lately, it has been overflowing. The bike ride was smooth and fun. I stopped for awhile at the end of the northwest ridge, sat on a rock overlooking the bush below and meditated. A fun ride.

9 OCTOBER

A kayak at Avoca Lagoon.

There were a few sups and other kayakers out. It’s always a brief encounter – hi, nice day, have a good one. I had a long chat with Trevor, who was 80 years old and paddling strong despite a number of health setbacks. We paddled around and into the wilder areas of the lagoon. We took a narrow path though the reeds and into a area relatively free of reeds. There was a swan on a nest that was there weeks ago. It left the nest when we came into the area. This was very unusual as they normally are very protective. We approached the nest, close but not too close. There was an egg unhatched in it. There was two previously. There is a off an on very narrow channel to the larger channel to the east. We battled through the reeds until the water was too shallow. We then, got out of the kayaks and walked through the reeds and across the short distance to the main channel. It was fun doing an ‘African Queen’ movie scene. Haha.

10 OCTOBER

A snorkel at Terrigal Haven.

My first for the season. The visibility was very poor. The water was brisk and clean. The haven was crowded with all manner of water craft – sups, peddling subs and motorised foil surfboards, as well as, swimmers and people hanging out on the beach and rock wall. The view from the water of the walkway was unique. It was nice to get back in the ocean.