MYLESTOM - 28 FEBRUARY TO 1 MARCH 2023

 28 FEBRUARY

Our first stop after Lawrence was food supplies and a blood test for me.

While in Grafton, we found out that the dates Jacinta had for Chloe’s hen night were incorrect and we needed to be back by this Friday.

We decided to do a few kilometres and drive to Mylestom.

After checking the surf, we decided to stay at the river camp. We settled into a site right next to the Belinger River. Very relaxing and very pretty.

Later in the afternoon, I had a kayak along Manarm Creek off the Belinger River. It was narrow and had a lot of bird life. The mangroves were thick and in parts formed a low shaded canopy. A great paddle.

1 MARCH

Our sleep was a bit broken due to traffic noise from the close by road and the distant highway. The railway bridge was nearby and there were two late trains.

The river in the morning was like a sheet of glass.

Time to move on.

CENTRAL COAST - 26 JANUARY TO 8 FEBRUARY 2023

 26 JANUARY

We drove back from a two week road trip while we had the wooden floors being restored. The floors looked great! Now to put everything back. This will take a few days. Haha!

27 JANUARY

An early walk around some of the tracks at Kincumba Mountain. Very quiet. Down to the Haven where Jacinta continued walking and I had an ocean swim. Coffee on the beach.

Back to getting things back in place at home.

29 JANUARY

Cooler day.

A walk around the Haven with Jacinta. Coffee on beach.

Finally, got everything back in place in the living room. Now to get on with other things.

A few visitors. Haha

30 JANUARY

A windsurf at Canton Beach. The wind had just a bit too much east to it so it wasn’t very good. The first run was the best but I hit a shallow section and wham the knee into the boom. A few cuts and a lot of bruises. The rest of the session was off/on wind.

2 FEBRUARY

An ocean swim at Terrigal Haven

3 FEBRUARY

A kayak on Terrigal Lagoon.

There was enough water in the lagoon to paddle to the western backwaters. Very quiet amongst the mangroves and casuarinas. I paddled to the beach and had a wander as well. 

4 FEBRUARY

So hot, so busy lately, so many things to sort out. 😊 We got in a coffee and apple muffin on the haven beach.

5 FEBRUARY

A surf at North Avoca Beach. It was fun with a very strong rip. Had a few nice waves and quite a few nose dives. It got better as the tide got higher.

6 FEBRUARY

Hep B first shot.

Later, I had a kayak at Kincumber Creek with Angus. A different sort of kayak starting at the Kincumber boat ramp - past mangroves, houses, a mixture of overhanging trees and ending at large drainage pipes.

7 FEBRUARY

Surf check North Avoca Beach.

Decided on a mountain bike Kincumba Mountain. A short fun ride of about an hour.

Another surf check of North Avoca Beach. A fun surf on the rights. Much better than two days ago. A lot of good waves till the wind increased.

Blood tests for cholesterol and prostrate checkup.

8 FEBRUARY

A surf North Avoca with Terry. Not so good (bumpy, random) but there were a few good waves. A lot of jellyfish.

CENTRAL COAST - 8 TO 13 JANUARY 2023

 

8 JANUARY

An ocean swim at the Haven. Love summer swims.

9 JANUARY

A kayak at Copacabana Lagoon. 

The water was very clear, the sun was shining and there was only a light wind. 

The highlights were:

Black swans were nesting. I saw about four nests. It's best to keep your distance from nesting birds as they can become very aggressive during this time. 

Large eels. They were visible as I paddled along the tributary of the laagoon.

Bridges. There were two bridges to paddle under. 

Later, I had an ocean swim. The water was very clear.

10 JANUARY

Brunch at the haven with Jacinta. We ate and admired the view.

11 JANUARY

A mountain bike ride at Kincumba Mountain along the summit tracks of the reserve.

A cooling ocean swim at the Haven and coffee with Jacinta.

12 JANUARY

An ocean swim the Haven

13 JANUARY

Still no quality surf. I've been checking the waves every morning.

A bike and hike along the Killcare Trail in Bouddi National Park. 

I rode along Hawke Head Drive into the park. there were a number of turn offs that led to ocean views. The longest and best was the Killcare Trail. There were good steep sections. Towards the end, I hiked through the bush to the coastal viewpoint. Amazing views. 

An ocean swim at the Haven.

CENTRAL COAST - 25 TO 31 DECEMBER 2022

 

25 DECEMBER

Christmas ... there's no other day like it during the year. Family together - xmas breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon brunch - presents opened around the tree - Secret Santa presents - Christmas music - moderate drinking throughout the day - endless washing up - :)

26 DECEMBER

An ocean swim at the Haven. The water was very clear. Saw lots of fish as I swam towards the buoy.

27 DECEMBER

Mountain biking at Kincumba Mountain. A good, controlled ride on firm tracks. Chatted with a coupled of runners. Enjoyed the view at Colin Watters Lookout. I was sweating by the time I finished. :)

Down to the Haven for a snorkel to cool off and stretch the body. I saw the huge catfish again. The colours are amazing.

28 DECEMBER

A hike around Avoca Point with Jacinta. Usually, there is a few people but today the rocks were lined with fishermen and fisherwomen. They were right on the edge, and it looked a bit dangerous with an incoming tide and increasing swell.

As the tide was dead low, I was able to go further around the rocks safely to go into the cave. Well, it looked safer from an ocean point of view, but all the rocks showed that it wasn't so safe from above.

Later, I had a snorkel at the haven, but the visibility was terrible for filming.

29 DECEMBER

Jacinta and I had a walk around the haven. Jacinta continued to walk while I had an ocean swim of the haven. We united for coffee.

30 DECEMBER

A surf at Wamberal Beach. It wasn't very good but there were a few okay waves before the wind increased.

A late afternoon hike around the top of Rumbalara Reserve with Jacinta. It had been a hot day and the cool breeze at the top of the mountain was very welcomed.

31 DECEMBER

I checked the surf and decided on a kayak at Terrigal Lagoon. There was little wind, and the water was very reflective. The highlight was a group of baby ducklings on a small island near the golf course.

Jacinta was doing an urban walk and we met at the haven for coffee.

Happy New Year!