PELICAN ISLAND KAYAK - 2 MARCH 2016

It is officially Autumn but the weather is still hot and will remain so for a while. A beautiful sunny day again. Sometimes, it becomes a worry when there are so many days without rain.


I drove to the Woy Woy channel and launched the kayak off a small sandy beach into clear calm water.

It was only a short paddle across the channel to Pelican Island but it was a world apart from the manicured urban other side of the channel. With in a short time, I came across an ibis foraging in the mangrove shallows for food.

A little further along the island is spilt in two by a narrow channel which enters into a shallow and wide bay. I paddled through and across the bay with pelicans, cormorants and ducks on the water and large flocks of sulphur cockatoos flying overhead.

I paddled around the island close to shore where there was water deep enough to navigate. In addition, a short distance from the shore the island is surrounded by oyster farms.

Towards the end, There was a small beach on the channel apex of the island. there were a number of birds here and the water was very clear. A speed boat passing by caused waves which broke on the shallow sand banks of the beach giving off a nice surfing wave type effect.

Back to the van and feeling good though a little sore on the rump from the 3.44 km paddle.

Afterwards, I drove to Terrigal Haven for a swim and a paddle on my new surfboard.

CENTRAL COAST - WOY WOY TO WATERFALL BAY - KAYAK - 3 JANUARY 2015

I parked at Woy Woy and launched from a small beach opposite Pelican Island.

I got a surprise with a group of ducks crossing the road in single file - as they do. The last duck was reluctant to cross but was looking quite anxious so I stopped and waited for it to make its move to go.

I paddled along the channel towards thee wharves, then around to the bridges.

After the bridges, there were a number of houses in a small bay with wharves. On one of the wharves there was a group of  'Sooty Oystercatchers' which were parading up and down it.

Soon the landscape changed to bare sandstone and eucalyptus trees.

Waterfall Bay has a cascade rather than a waterfall but today it was a mere trickle.

I paddled in and around the mangroves near the falls.

The paddle back was great in sunshine.

At the end of the ride, there was a lady and her dog running in terror as I landed. A swamp of bees was responsible for this reaction.

8.08 km
2:16 hrs