CENTRAL COAST - KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN - MTB - 30 JUNE 2013 'WET N MUDDY'

A lot of rain all week. Finally a break in the clouds but could pour again. So off for a bike ride.

The trails/tracks were wet and some spots had pools of water. The sand on the tracks was compacted by the rain so was easier to cycle over.

Finished the ride speckled in water, sand and mud. It was a fun ride.

distance     - 4.24 km
time           - 25 mins
av speed    - 10.2 km/h
max speed - 20.6 km/h

AUSTRALIA - CANBERRA - STROMO - MTB - 20 June 2013

Mark was off working so I did a MTB at Stromlo.



My intention was the follow the cross country trail for a long ride BUT ...

1 couldn't find trail
2 too cold

The morning started with 1/2 spent thawing the ice on my van.

I got to Stromlo and the weather was clear and cold. Noone else was there riding!

I followed two trail leading uphill and had a fun downhill ride back. I tried playgrounds but I wasn't very successful. I need to work on the height factor!

On the first run, I came across a small mob of kangaroos.

Great and fun ride but it was hard to keep warm.

distance     - 3.91 km
time           - 19 minutes
av speed    - 12.4 km/h
max speed - 26.3 km/h

AUSTRALIA - CANBERRA - MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER - POINT HUT CROSSING TO PINE ISLAND - KAYAK - 19 June 2013

The day was clear, a very cold wind and there some rain the previous night.

We (mark and I) launched from Point Hut Crossing where we finished yesterday. It was an easy launch spot with a sandy beach.

The river was flowing more strongly than yesterday. There were a number of small rapids that were much easier to guide over though we still managed to get struck a number of times.

 

The last rapid had a small drop. I went over the drop and it seemed good but then the kayak swerved to the left and I was stuck between two rocks with the water gushing over my back. Mark was ahead and he scrambled back over the rocks and managed to give my kayak a nudged over the offending rocks setting me free. A hero! The rocks were very slippery as well.

We had a bit of difficulty finding the landing area that would lead us to the car.

A shorter but faster, more enjoyable and exciting kayak than yesterday! Best kayak ever since yesterday!

Distance      - 2.36 km

Time            - 31 mins

Av speed     – 4.5 km/h

Max speed – 9.9 km/h

AUSTRALIA - CANBERRA - THARWA BRIDGE TO POINT HUT CROSSING - KAYAK - 18 june 2013

I’m in Canberra visiting old mate Mark.

Our first adventure was a kayak down the Murrumbidgee River.

The day started very, very cold with thick fog. We waited till about 9ish then set off in two cars – one for the start and the other for the finish.

The weather had cleared at the launch site and the river was looking calm and shallow. We slowly paddled down the river enjoying the tranquillity. We stopped a few times to walk around the shore. On one occasion, we stopped as we had seen  what looked like watermelons growing on the river sandbank. They looked like melons, when opened they looked like white oranges and when we smelled them they were sweet.  BUT when Mark tasted one, he spat and cursed that it was foul. A short while later, he complained his lips were numb, then his tongue, then his mouth and then his face. Luckily it stopped there and he started to recover.

Later, we came across some light rapids that were fun and easy. The next rapid was fun and a bit harder. The next one was a heaps steeper with larger drops. I went first and got stuck. Mark followed and rammed me nearly sending me over the drop, then he grabbed the front of my kayak then I started going over the edge backwards. Not going according to plan! Over I went and in a short time my kayak was stuck again and full with freezing water.

Later, on another rapid we went through lantana and of course avoiding the thorns lead to another water dousing and a broken paddle.

Next was the rain but luckily that was short lived.

We landed, complained and laughed at being soaked, cold and tired and then we planned tomorrow’s paddle.

Overall, the best kayak I’ve had yet – freezing water, soaked, broken paddle, and wet mobile – total FUN!

Distance 9.86 km
Time – 2h 13min
Av speed 4.5 km/h
Max speed 8.8kn/h

CENTRAL COAST - WAMBERAL - SURF - 14 june 2013

A sunny day with a strong off shore wind.

I surfed at Wamberal. Great, fun waves and just a few guys out. After 1 1/2hours, the crowd appeared and of course there was a long, long lull. I went in , got the cameras and filmed for a while.

AUSTRALIA - LAKE MACQUARIE - FENNEL BAY - STONEY CREEK - 12 june 2013

 I parked at Toronto Lions Park and launched my kayak.

 

The conditions were glassy and the weather cloudy. The water was very clear at the boat ramp and remained so until the bridge into Fennel Bay.

Near the bridge there was a lot of bird life and it was interesting going under the bridge.

The entrance of Stoney Creek was a series of small islands that were interesting to paddle around.

The highlight of the paddle were a number of birds taking off and in flight.

The creek was urbanised in parts with traffic noise present in the background. Once under the three bridges the natural scenery began to dominate.

The end of the creek was blocked by a huge tree that was walkable to pass over. It was fun, especially, as I didn't fall off it.

On the final leg of the return, the rain started lightly but turned into a downpour just as I landed. Lucky hey!!!

There are two other creeks to follow in this bay.

distance     - 8.27 km
time           - 1h 5m
av speed    - 4.4 km/h
max speed - 6.5 km/h

CENTRAL COAST - WAMBERAL LAGOON - KAYAK - 9 june 2013

 

I checked out the surf earlier but wasn't too impressed though the sunrise was awesome. So I drove back home for the kayak.

I parked at Remembrance Drive and launched the kayak. The conditions were reasonably still and there were a number of birds upon the lagoon. The water level was high so I managed to paddled into spots I couldn't get to previously. I paddled around the lagoon and the small tributary that comes from Forrester.

 

Some of the highlights were a big water dragon, black swans in flight, a large flock of ducks in flight and the mirrored reflections of the landscape upon the water.

Best kayak I've had on the lagoon so far!

distance     - 4.62 km
time           - 1h 9m
av speed    - 4 km/h
max speed - 8.1 km/h

CENTRAL COAST BOX HEAD - SURF - 5 june 2013

Paul had just recently bought a boat so off we (me, Paul, Guy, Glenn and Michael) went to The Box at Ettalong for a surf.

The surf break is a long way out so it is either a long paddle from the beach or a walk over the hill and a paddle up the river. Either way it is a long exhausting paddle back in after a surfing session.

We launched somewhere near the rip bridge. We were half way to the break when the engine started billowing smoke. We landed and it seemed to fix itself. Lucky!!!!

The waves were good though a little smallish. The sets were reasonably sized though it was a bit of a wait. There were only a few of us out so there were plenty of waves.

Great day!

CENTRAL COAST - ETTALONG TO UMINA - MTB - 4 June 2013

I drove out to Ettalong thinking I might do a cycle along the foreshore. The wind was strong and cold elsewhere but here it was fine.

I followed the cycle path as much as possible turning now and again on to a beach track to check out the waves.

It was pleasant but later I was in for a few surprises. The track ended in a caravan park. I cycled through it and then followed the

waterway at it far boundary. It was very pretty. After leaving the caravan park, I followed a track into the bush which was twisted and turned making it a fun peddle. On exiting, I followed the sport field which ended at a skate park and a great fun bike track with a number of hills and challenges. Lots of fun!

A great short ride!

distance      - 7.25 km
time            - 30 mins
av speed     - 14.2 km/h
max speed  - 29.6 km/h