PELICAN, BIRDIE, RED OCHRE, FRAZER PARK AND CATHERINE HILL BEACH - SURF WANDER - 14 SEPTEMBER 2015

A sunny morning with light west winds. Time for a wander along the beaches to see what surf was on offer.

I did the rounds:

Pelican Beach

Birdie Beach

 

Red Ochre Beach

 

Frazer Park Beach

 

Catherine Hill bay Beach

 

Nice drive but no surf luck! :)

BLACKWALL MOUNTAIN MTB - 13 SEPTEMBER 2015

I parked at the top entrance to Blackwall Mountain. There was very limited parking space.

I did a hike here not long ago and decided it would be a good bike ride.

 

The start was very steep along a service road to reach the plateau of the mountain. At the top, there were a few tracks going in a number of directions. These tracks also criss cross each other. The tracks were fun being narrow, bumpy, rocky and smooth in spots.

 

The views are excellent of Brisbane Water and Broken Bay. There was a low mist in the valleys between the hills making for a mystical sight. The rising sun was sparkling across the water.

 

The view certainly puts a perspective on the physical terrain in terms of natural and human habitation. It looks very balanced from the mountain's vantage point.

A 3km ride with an elevation range of 70m.

KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN MTB - 12 SEPTEMBER 2015

Another ride at the mountain.

I have been enjoying the ride has it is a short drive to start from home and it has a number of challenges but isn't over the top.

I ran into Michael and friend along the track.

Driving up the hill to the reserve a wallaby hopped across the road.

Along the track I came across a brush turkey. Funny birds, instead of running away into the bush it ran along following the track. It kept looking back at me freaking that I was still there then picking up pace again. Eventually, it ran off the track and back to it's personal sanity.

A 5km ride with 40m elevation range.

TERRIGAL BEACH SUNRISE - 11 SEPTEMBER 2015

I was up early and only had a small window of opportunity to do something.

I decided on a brisk walk along Terrigal Beach and around Terrigal Haven.

 

There were quite a few people with similar sentiments with the most activity being centred at the Skillion. people were walking, running, jogging or puffing their way up and down the slope. I joined the queue but spent a bit of time admiring the morning sunrise from the top.

The sunrise was awesome with grey skies and a dark ocean contrasting against an horizon of yellows.

 

I saw a seal on the Haven point but after awhile I realized sadly that it was dead and seemed to be stuck for some reason.

 

 

I checked the video and the seal was alive but for some unknown reason it stayed in the one place.

KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN MTB - 6 SEPTEMBER 2015

 morning surf check was a no go.

Drove up to Kincumba Mountain.

There was a bit of rain last night but the tracks were surprising dry with a few puddles of water along the service roads

 

I peddled along the new track but went in the opposite direction than I have gone on the last couple of rides. Heaps easier and more fun. I only had difficulty in three spots!

 

on leaving the mountain a black footed wallaby dashed into the bush in front of me. A nice sight as over the years, I haven't spotted much wildlife on the mountain.

 

 
 





 

A fun 4.66km ride with 22 metre elevation range.

RUMBALARA RESERVE - MTB - 3 SEPTEMBER 2015

I dropped my daughter for a massage and had time for a short bike ride. Rumbalara Reserve was nearby.

 

I drove up the steep hill to the top of the reserve and in a short time I was off and peddling.

It was a fun ride with steps, rocks, tree trunks partially over hanging the tracks, steep sections, some excellent views and bush solitude.

 

I pushed myself a little harder being a short run and was happy with a few obstacles which I did didn't make last ride.

THE ENTRANCE AND BLUE BAY HIKE - 3 SEPTEMBER 2015

I drove around looking for waves but not to be so I decided on a kayak at The Entrance. The wind was up so I decided to do a drive along the coast instead.

At the Entrance Beach, I stopped and admired the excellent view of the sand spit, the sunrise and the water emptying out to the sea from Tuggerah Lake.

It was a relaxing pretty sight.

 

 

I drove on and stopped at Blue Bay. It looked too inviting for a morning walk along the beach and rocks.

 

The beach was steep near the water's edge and the small shore breaking waves flowed up in the sand in a foamy mix. Some nice shapes appeared with the foam and the ingoing outgoing wave.

The rocks had small pools and a number of mollusks dotted in spots or clustered together.

It was a nice walk in the morning sunshine.

BOUDDI NP - MTB - 2 SEPTEMBER 2015

Off for a ride at Bouddi NP.

Fun ride today on a dry but loose track. I followed the turkey, ridge and strom tracks.

I had an over the handle bars fall when the edge of the trail gave way on my rear tyre just as I was going over a small drop. I wasn't happy with my landing - hands/wrists took the brunt of the fall - but I and the bike was okay.

 

The flowers were beginning to bloom with some nice purple flowers which didn't turn out clear in the photos.

There are some big drops along the escarpment that the tracks follow.

The views are so good of the surrounding bush. Photos don't quite portrait it as dramatically as it actually looks and feels.

I had a warning sigh yesterday on boulders and today it is trees.

After the ride, I stopped at the Marie Byle's lookout for an awesome view over coast.

 

7.15km

53m elevation range

LONG JETTY - CYCLE - 1 SEPTEMBER 2015

I had some time to spare in the afternoon, so I went for a cycle along the bike/footpath at Long Jetty.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that a bike obstacle course had been made by council where I parked my car. I had fun cycling over the bumps and around the tight corners.

The track was pleasant being concrete with enough room for two way traffic. There were a few small bridges to cycle over and two small piers to cycle along.

 

The birds were scattered along the lakes edge.

A fun 11.93 km ride.

FORRESTER BEACH - HIKE - 1 SEPTEMBER 2015

A warm sunny start to the first day of Spring.



The surf was wild and I drove to Forresters Beach for a hike.

The sun was over the horizon and it cast a long shadow of myself as I walked along the beach.

 

The surf was wild and it was crashing into the rocks and flowing along the rock platform. There was a lot of power to the waves and I walked until I had a high vantage point along the rocks. The largest waves caused the boulder I was sitting on to vibrant. Next to me was a sign 'boulders may fall'. I could feel why.

 

I gazed at the ocean and it's awesome power for ages. No boulders fell on me so it must be my lucky day.

 

The sky was a deep blue and was a vibrant background to overhanging boulders and bushes.

A few stand out features - water cascading over the rock platform edge giving a waterfall effect - The morning light sparkled across the ocean - Some waves formed into immense gnarly barrels - On the shore, small foam waves licked upwards across the sand.

A nice morning.