KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN RIDGE TRAIL HIKE - 6 MARCH 2016

I watched the sun peek over the ocean horizon then headed to Kincumba Mountain for a hike.


Another push for the hamstring as this hike though short - 1km - is steep and rocky in sections.

Hiking is definitely the way to get closer to nature. I could hear the leaves crackle under each step or the call of birds in the tree tops.

I stopped a number of times to look closely at the bark, trunk and canopy of the trees. The shapes are varied and sometimes strange. One spotted red gum had a branch bigger than the trunk which grew towards the ground then bend upwards again in a 'U' shape. Some other tress were shaped around a sandstone outcrop before continuing their upward journey.

The rocks were also interesting. Being sandstone they were relatively easy to shape by the wind, rain and tree roots. A few of them looked a little face like though a bit grotesque.

It was a pleasant and quiet 1km hike with some interesting features.

RILEY ISLAND KAYAK - 5 MARCH 2016

Blue sky and intense sunrise.

I launched my kayak from near one of the boat ramps at Davistown on Brisbane Water. My objective was a slow paddle around Riley Island.

It was a pleasant relaxing paddle with the odd SUP and kayaker passing by. I stayed within the shallows close to the island shoreline of mangroves which was enclosed in parts by oyster farms.

Some of the highlights of the trip:

gliding across the mirror surface of the still waters
bobbing in time with the wake waves caused by passing boats
overhanging branches of mangrove trees
clusters of sharp oyster shells in the shallows under the mangrove trees
battling against the current
gliding with the current
spending time on a small soft and fine beach on Riley Island
standing in the water on sand with small fish playing around my feet

watching small to large fish peek inquisitively at my underwater camera
spotting and guiding over the odd stingray
one stingray shooting under thee kayak and off into the distance
old rusted tank relics on the island
swirls of water
an intense sunrise.
an ibis and egret roosting in a tree near each other

A slow, relaxing 4.4 km kayak :)

TOOWOON BAY SNORKEL - 4 MARCH 2016

Once again a beautiful sunny morning with some cloud cover.

Down to Toowoon Bay for a snorkel.

A glorious golden sunrise.

The visibility was a bit obscured  but there were lots of fish. The fish were around me most of the time. At one stage, I turned around and they appeared to be following me. Maybe, I was churning the sand so that were some smaller animals to eat. Dunno ???

Interesting, I talked to a lady who spent a lot of time teaching overseas. A different life to spend a lot of time in various countries as I imagine it would make you more worldly.

Also, ran into Ralph and Sue who I hadn't seen in years, lovely couple.

KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN MTB - 3 MARCH 2016

Back in the saddle on some fun tracks on Kincumba Mountain.

It was a hard ride for me and I was sore and sweaty but at the end but I felt soooo good.

Down to Terrigal Haven for a swim.

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.

LONG JETTY TO CHITTAWAY BAY CYCLE - 29 FEBRUARY 2016

A sunny morning. Time for a bike ride.

I started at Long Jetty and cycled west following the bike path to Chittaway Bay.

There were a number of spots to stop and admire the different views of the lake.

There were also a number of birds wading in the shallows and roosting on the piers - pelicans, sea gulls, ibis, cormorants, ducks and plovers.

A pleasant 13.54 km ride.

Next, I drove to Terrigal Haven for a refreshing swim. I got to talking with a lady while floating in the water. She started by telling me that she likes to look at life positively. After that, she told me the problems with the world and her family.

LONG JETTY - CYCLE - 27 FEBRUARY 2016

Time to try the bike outdoors rather than the exercise bike.

A bit cautious to start but it was fun cycling along the flat bike path and saying hello to passers by.

I was feeling a little bit more confident so I veered off the path and rode along one of the jetties. it was nice hearing the clickety clack of the of the wooden slats as my bike drove over them.

At the end of the jetty was a group of young guys fishing. They drove up from Sydney in the early hours of the morning and had been fishing since 3am. no fish but a friendly bunch of guys.

Back on the path and I tackled a few of the small but steeper inclines along the path. once again no problems and I felt like I had made another achievement.

At the end of the ride, I was still feeling good so I had a few rounds of the short bike dirt track. No problems.

I had a great 8.85 km cycle with sore legs but feeling so good.

next stop was Toowoon Bay for a swim, short soft sand walk and a coffee.

Life is good. :)

TERILBAH ISLAND - TUGGERAH LAKE - KAYAK - 25 FEBRUARY 2016

A beautiful sunny morning with the temperature going up.



I launched near the fishing area just over The Entrance bridge at North Entrance.

There was little wind and it was a fun paddle. The kayak cut cleanly over the water causing small ripples, the sun reflected off the water in a twinkling effect, fish occasionally breeched the water, swirls of sand in the water indicated escaping fish or stingrays, the birds were slowly fossicking amongst the reeds in the shallows with black swans in the distance, the distant mountains were fog shrouded, everyone I passed was friendly and commented on what a great morning it was...

Back on shore, I drove to Toowoon Bay for a refreshing swim in the ocean and a cup of coffee.

A good morning :)

PEARL BEACH AND CROMMELIN NATIVE ARBORETUM - 22 FEBRUARY 2016

A golden sunrise at Pearl Beach this morning with a fog shrouded background of Box Head.

I started the morning in awe of the sunrise, then I walked the short track at Crommelin Native Arboretum.

I heard lots of birds calling in the trees but I didn't see any. I must have been the first on the track today as I walked into ten or so spider webs that had grown across the path. At the right angle and height the webs are virtually invisible.  It was a pleasant short walk. Just as I was nearing the exit of the reserve a wallaby darted across and back in front of the van. Nice!

Down the beach for a coffee and swim and sit around. The golden sunrise was finished but it still was very pretty with warm water and the sunlight twinkling across the surface of the ocean.

Oh, and there was a kookaburra hanging about.

A nice start to the day.

TERRIGAL - THE HAVEN - HIKE - 18 FEBRUARY 2016

A hike around Terrigal Haven.

There are lots of great view points on this walk to take in and admire the coastal scenery.

There was a bit of an ocean swell coming with a few guys out riding the high tide waves.

KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN - KANNING TRACK - HIKE - 17 FEBRUARY 2016

A cloudy morning with a peep of sunrise.



I ride around Kincumba Mountain a lot but when I originally started visiting the area I was mainly hiking. I'm not quite ready for a bike ride yet but I was very keen for a bush hike.

I chose the Kanning Track as it easy and has a lot to offer in a short hike.

Firstly, it was nice to meander along a track with natural bushland all around me. secondly, my walking speed was a bit slow and careful so I spent a lot of time looking at the smaller things - the texture of a tree's bark, the fronds of the ferns and rock shapes.

A few features of the walk was a large fallen tree at the beginning of the track. The root system of the base of the tree lined the edge of the path in a vertical direction.  Another large fallen tree on a sandstone rock platform looked like the base was sliced smoothly off the rock. Further along the track was a cave. Not very deep but deep enough to give easy protection from the elements.

A great hike.