CENTRAL COAST - Dharug NP - Old North Road - MTB/HIKE - 29 july 2012

Dave and I drove out to old north road.

We cycled along the road and it stated off as sand and pools of water. At one stage, we reached an old convict bridge.

Later, the road became very rocky in parts and very difficult to cycle over.

Eventually, we reached a fork in the road that became more of a tract. We followed the right track for awhile then doubled back and followed the left track. The left track became to bushy for the bikes so we walked a distance to get views over mangrove dam.

Cycling back, my chain extenion broke and I had a 4 km walk back to the car.

All in all, it was a fun and challenging ride!

CENTRAL COAST - Strickland State Forest - Bellbird Track - HIKE - 20 july 2012

We set off on a walk along the Bellbird Track in Strickland State Forest.



From the car park, we walked a short distance to cross Stoney Creek. A pretty creek.

We continued along the track. This section was very interesting with a variety of labelled trees, birds and creek crossings over fallen logs and bridges. It was a narrow track.

The track detoured over the hills and through a number of other small creeks.

Great walk in the shade with solitude and lots to see.

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water NP - Box Head - MTB/HIKE - 19 july 2012

I had an old friend visiting for a few days so off we went for a cycle and walk at Box Head.

We tried driving along the dirt road but it was driving on mogals. In fear of another bog video, we returned to the beginning of the road, unloaded the bikes and peddled.

There were a few nice views along the way over Tallow Beach.



We wiggled around the gate and cycled as far as we could along the Box Head track. Then we chained the bikes and walked.

It was an interesting walk with a variety of flowers and gnarled trees. The walk surfaced was over sandstone and sand. Every so often, there was a view over the ocean coastline or towards Umina.

Eventually, the track came to an end at the tip of the cliff at Box Head. Great views over Pittwater and Broken Bay.

A little after this, I put my daypack down to have a rest but the pack was undone. Out fell my helmet and jumper and over the cliff edge they rolled. They lodged themselves about a third of the way down the cliff. Gone but not forgotten.

We returned the same way.

CENTRAL COAST - Ironbark Creek - kayak - 17 july 2012

Sunny morning. Off for a kayak!

I loaded up the car and drove to Mangrove Creek.

The creek was shrouded with a light mist over its surface. It was very pretty but it was also very cold. I quickly unloaded and launched the kayak. I paddled quickly to warm up. Alas, it was to remain cold until the sun tipped over the hills.

Ironbark Creek was narrow and meandered under a bridge and through some farming areas. Not long after the bridge I was stopped by a log across the water. Couldn't go  through, over, under or around it so the only direction was the return.



highlights

Under the bridge it was very still and the concrete bearers of the bridge were reflected in the water so that it looked like the base of the creek was concreted.

Mist shrouded water.

Nice kayak!

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water NP - Bulgandry Engravings - HIKE - 10 july 2012

The day wasn't looking the best but it looked like rain would strike in the afternoon.

J and I went for a walk to the rock art at Bulgandry.

There were some wild flowers blooming.

The art is surrounded by a elevated walkway. A number of signposts show where the rock art is located. Some of the depictions are difficult to see. Still, it is amazing to think that 200 odd years ago the local inhabitants were where we were standing - talking and carving the images on the rocks.

They wont last forever!

CENTRAL COAST - Wyrrabalong NP - Crackneck to Cromarty Hill - HIKE - 8 july 2012

Beautiful day! A warm sunny winter's day.

J and I went for a walk from Crackneck Lookout to Cromarty Hill return. The wild flowers were just starting to appear and the coastal views were so clear.

Hot chips at the end.

CENTRAL COAST - Terrigal En Plein Air Painting - 2 june 2012

My friend Paul Haggith asked me to video the Terrigal In Plein Air on Sunday at the 5 Lands Walk.

Terrigal in plein air

What happens is that the artists (20) choose a place to base themselves and a scene/s to paint as their style and interest agrees. They spend half the time painting and the other half answering questions from the general public.

I must have done a reasonable job last year as Paul asked me again. I happily agreed as last year was my first attempt at this type of production and there were a few things I wanted to improve upon. I lost a lot of voices due to camera movement and the strong wind during the interview scenes. This year I lost some voices due to wind gusts.

I wandered from the lagoon at Terrigal and along the beach front and over and around the skillion.

The artists had picked some nice locations and it was a real pleasure watching them work and talking with them. The styles were all different. Some chose not to do the sea and some painted with straight edges. Very exciting!

I only missed one artist… sorry Geoff Neil.

At the end of the day, we all met at the Lord Ashley Bar for the presentation of the artists’ award for the best painting of the day. Kasey Sealy was the winner!

A fun, great day!

Andy collis


Chris vanderwyk


David baker


Eddie botha


Graeme balchin


Greg jarmaine


Greg somers


Janet cobb


Kasey sealy


Kyra Henley


Margaret fortey


Patrick carrol


Paul Haggith


Peter lankas


Russell Austin


Simon sawell


Steven fisher


Wendy bills


Yianni johns


Artist choice award presentation

CENTRAL COAST - Wamberal Beach - Sunrise - 28 February 2012

checking out the surf and watched the sunrise at wamberal beach.

CENTRAL COAST - BRISBANE WATER - Caroline Bay - kayak - 19 june 2012

I'd planned this kayak ages ago but thought that it didn't seem very exciting. Well, I was wrong on that one!

I launched from the boat ramp just down from the punt bridge where there is limited parking.

Glassy! Quiet! And under the punt bridge and into the open waters of Caroline Bay. I followed the shoreline on the west side skirting in, around and through the mangroves.

At the eastern end of the bay, there were a stack of birds - pelicans, black swans, commorants - wading along in an area protected from the wind.

Paddling further along, I came to a small creek and followed it for ages. At times, the creek was very narrowed and  semi-blocked by vegetation but it just kept going on. Eventually, I reached  three large drains that went under a road. It was a real buzz to paddle the kayak through the narrow drains - just fitted. The creek came to an end shortly after the drains.

On the way back the wind had increased and the water acros the bay was a little choppy.

Under the punt bridge and protected from the wind were quite a few birds - ibises and a  pelican -foraging and preening near the shore.



Just about finished when a sea eagle swoops down and circles the area. Cool way to end!

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water NP - Koolewong Trig - MTB - 14 june 2012

Once again great cool and sunny weather.
I drove to unsign posted Bambara Road off Woy Woy Road. There is a cleared area to park.

I unloaded the gear and lifted the bike over the locked service road gate and downhill I went.

Most of the cycle was downhill which was food for thought on the journey back.

The first stop was at a cross road of a number of service tracks. There was a pretty rock area to sit and admire the bush and soak in the sun.

The next stop was cliffs above Koolewong. A very steep drop down and a great view of Brisbane Waters.

Continuing on, I peddled to a huge water tank and further on taking the right trail i came to an end with views over Woy Woy Inlet.

The journey back wasn't too bad. The bike handled the gradual ascent comfortably.

CENTRAL COAST - Canton Beach - windsurf - 7 june 2012

Woke up to a ballistic wind!

Loaded the car with sails, booms, masts and all the rest and drove to Canton Beach.

It was blowing hard on the gusts and very cold.

The next two hours were non stop runs and small jumps on the wave chops. Lots of fun!

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water NP - Mount Wondabyne - HIKE/MTB - 9 june 2012

Another great day!

Loaded up the car with bike rack, bike, etc, etc and off the Brisbane Waters National Park for cycle and walk to Mount Wondabyne.

The new bike flew along and peddled fairly easily up the steep trail sections. After a while and some muddy sections, reached the walking track for the mountain. I chained the bike to a tree and off I went.

The track was easy with a small section of rock climbing before reaching the summit which followed a fairly level track until reaching the trig marker.

The view was 180 degrees of the central coast wilderness and the pockets of human habitation towards the east. I sat in the sun on top of the central coast world for 1/2 soaking in the solitude and the views. Excellent!



The trip back was quick, as it was mainly downhill.

A great walk with excellent views!

CENTRAL COAST - Terrigal Lagoon - kayak - 7 june 2012

There had been a number of very rainy days and finally the sun was out. terrigal Lagoon was full to the brim as the ocean channel hadn't been opened yet.

Time to grab the kayak!



I launched near the bridge and followed the northern end of the lagoon. At the western end of the lagoon are two creeks that feed the lagoon. I followed one but it wasn't well defined due to the flooding. Usually, there is dry land on either side of the crek but the centre portion between the two creeks was covered with water.

I paddled the kayak through the centre where it is usually dry land. It was heaps of fun kayak busting through the folliage. quite a few small critters fell on the kayak. I eventually made it to the other creek and followed it as far west as i could go then doubled back to the main part of the lagoon.

On the return, i followed th southern shore. A sea eagle flew across and landed in the tree canopy above me. very nice sight.

Great kayak!

MALDIVES - hudhuranfushi resort - 2012

MALDIVES 2012

Off to the Maldives.

There was a group of eight of us going to the Maldives at Hudhuranfushi Resort for 10 days for surfing. There were me, Michael, Jeckle, Dave, Rick, Glenn, Guy and John.

We caught a limousine from Terrigal to Sydney airport. Checked in and boarded the plane to Singapore. About 7 hours later we were in Singapore. We waited around the airport for a couple of hours for our connecting flight to Male in the Maldives. We boarded the near empty plane and 4 hours later we were in Male. From there, we walked to the boat and zoomed along on a clear moonlit night over the calm waters to Hudhuranfushi Resort. Once there we checked in and were escorted to our rooms.

The rooms were nice and big. There was an outdoor bathroom. Our room was at the end of the island and the next day we were transferred to a room closer to the main pier.

The island is small. It is surrounded by coral and there is a break wall that protects the only sea entrance to the resort. The island is nearly totally manicured from grass to trees to sand. A beach extends around two thirds of the island and just back from the beach are the rooms for guests.

There is a number of restaurants and they allot a table to you/group. The waiter we had, Nasser, was very funny and kept us entertained at meal time.

There was some nightlife – karaoke, disco, Maldivian dancers and a guy a chick and a keyboard. Generally, it was very quiet and boring at night but we made the best of it and had a great time. I sang at the karaoke and we danced at the disco. Rick and Dave even danced with the Maldivian dancers. Very funny!

We were there mainly for surfing. The island had a break called Lohis which we surfed sometimes.



A boat took you out to the other breaks which were about ½ hour away. The boat trips were fun and scenic, though they gave me motion sickness.



The other breaks were left and right handers – cokes, chickens, honkys and sultans. There were other breaks but they weren’t working as well. We had very good waves every day except for the last day which was small and messy.

The snorkelling was also very good. I had good snorkels just of the resort beach – even videoed a large black tipped reef shark.

J

I also had a snorkel at one of the surf breaks called Sultans.



John and I caught a boat out to Magu Reef which had great coral and fish. I was lucky to see a sea turtle.

The trip back home was long and tiring.

It was a great trip. We had a few angry outbursts and dummy spits (not to mention in this blog) but mainly it was fun.