CENTRAL COAST - TUGGERAH LAKE - TERILBAH ISLAND - KAYAK - 30 november 2014

A beautiful, morning with a hint of a wind.



I drove to The Entrance North and parked in the car park just after the bridge.

There was no wind, the water was reflecting mirror images and a number of birds lined the channel which was opposite Teribah Island.

While getting ready to launch a couple of pelicans stood on the edge of the shoreline and preened themselves. Shortly, a number of starlings appeared and hopped across the grass with their heads darting quickly in various directions while pecking at the ground for food.

I launched the kayak in glassy conditions. I caused a wake with the kayak just to watch the ripples. I paddled across the channel to Teribah Island and followed the shoreline to circumnavigate the island.

The paddling was fun as the water became very shallow due to the outgoing tide. I sat close to the front of the kayak to lift the back so I could paddle over shallow sections. Just near the end of the ride the water became too shallow and I was forced to abandon ship and wade through the shallows until I reached deeper water.

The birds were out and about in large numbers. I counted at least seven different species of birds.

Cormorants were in flight, roosting on trees and boating signs drying their feathers or diving under the water foraging for food. Stilts were standing on one legged watching the world. Black Swans flowed regally over the water in large groups. Spotted Doves sat in the trees looking like they were trying to make a decision to where they would go next. Ibises preened themselves amongst the pelicans. Dollarbirds roosted in the trees just watching - they have such pretty, shiny, subtle colours.

A great kayak of 2.22 km!

CENTRAL COAST - BRISBANE WATERS - CAROLINE BAY - KAYAK - 28 November 2014

Kayak time.



I parked just before the bridge at East Gosford on the Erina Creek side of the road. There is a small pier there and boat ramp.

The morning was very glassy. The sky and shoreline were reflected in the water. The kayak guided over the water like it was glass. Small ripples were created by the kayak's movement that tapered off into the distance.

I paddled under the bridge. For some reason going under bridges thrills me. The entry under the bridge was like stepping into a new environment. The water reflections played up and down and around the pylons supporting the bridge and the rocks and concrete walls of the shoreline. The water eddied around the pylons creating small whirlpools that veered away from the supports until they dissipated in the mainstream flow. Exiting the bridge, the morning sunrise and the bay was framed by the bridge and it's supports, then suddenly the view was unframed and radiant.

There were many birds. Black swans were gliding majestically across the water or flying effortlessly in formation in the blue grey skies. Lapwings noisily foraged in the mud and amongst the mangroves. Ducks paddled in groups in, out and around the mangroves. A lone seagull was walking in the shallows, preening and washing itself. An egret stood motionless in the shallows eyeing the water for prey. Cormorants sat on water advice signs and trees or swam in the water disappearing for a lng period of time under the water in search of food. It is amusing to watch them and try to guess where they will eventually surface.

So many birds took to flight. Their wings lightly tapped the water with each flap until they were airborne. Some like the black swans touched the water in a slow, graceful manner while birds like the ducks walloped the water fast and furiously.

The tide was low and going lower so the mangrove aeration roots were clearly exposed in the mud. Along the outer edge of the shoreline at the far end of the bay, there were a numbered of larger mangrove trees. These tress were spread well apart but they were all dead or dying. The base of the trees were slowly being eaten away.

Small islands of low lying rough rocks jutted out of the shallows. The birds congregated on these islands. Sharp edged oysters clung to the rocks in clusters.

Under the water, which was clearly visible in parts were large amounts of conical shellfish and thick long stranded seaweed. Occasionally, a large fish would breach the glassy water causing a small but noticeable splash and a circular rippling effect.

It was a great, relaxing kayak of 3.26 kilometres!

CENTRAL COAST - BOUDDI NP - MTB - 24 november 2014 - 'A LITTLE TIGHT AT TIMES'

Off for a cycle at Bouddi National park. I parked at Maitland Bay Centre and away I went. Tons of mosquitoes attacked me while I was getting ready

The first section was easy being mainly a service road through bush land. Then it was the paved road to the turn off to another service road. After a short distance, it was a track. It was fun, curvy, rocky with some steep drops through one section. The track joined a service road that followed the north west ridge.

 

At the ridge end, I had a walk around. The sun lightened the bush for a short time and there were heaps of large boulders to jump across. found an interesting bug on a tree and I was impressed with shape and textures of the various trees.

I back tracked and then followed the turkey trail back to the road. Sections of this were fun.

 

I think it would be better to go in the opposite direction as I spent a lot of time walking up rock drop offs.

A fun ride!

6.82 km
av. speed approx. 14km/h
50m elevation range

CENTRAL COAST - LONG JETTY - MTB - 19 november 2014 - 'A LONG RIDE ON A LONG PIER'

An early morning bike ride along the foreshore at long jetty.

I started at Picnic Point and rode towards Killarney Vale. I veered off path a few times to look at the shore line and to ride the three jetties.

An okay ride. The jetties are fun to ride along.

CENTRAL COAST - ERINA CREEK - KAYAK - 10 NOVEMBER 2014 - 'UP THE CREEK WITH A PADDLE'

A cloudy morning but I had the time to do something.



I drove to Erina and parked near the boat ramp. The wind looked like it might pick up so I chose Erina Creek compared to Caroline Bay as it looked that it would be more sheltered later.

The creek was muddy brown as usual and lined with mangroves. There were a number of birds foraging in them.

The tide was on the turn so it was an easy paddle up creek.

The highlights were:

A lizard lying in the water allowed me to drift up to 1/2 metre away from it before it briskly swam to a more difficult place for me to reach it.

Another lizard, swam away quickly from me then scuttled up the mud bank to eye me indignantly from it's lofty perch on the high bank.

I drifted over an enormous brown sting ray. It was close to a metre in diameter.

A number of overhead branches allowed enough room to paddle under.

The rubbish was a eyesore but at times in was intriguing. For example, the golf buggy in the centre of the mangroves (it would have been an effort to put it there), bedding on a secluded creek bank and the swing ropes (after seeing the sting ray, I wouldn't be too keen for a swim).

A fun and amusing paddle.

distance - 7.56km
time - 1h 55m
av. speed - 3.9 km/h
max speed - 6.5 km/h

CENTRAL COAST - NEWTOWN REUNION - 8 NOVEMBER 2014 - 'ALWAYS UP TO MISCHIEF'

Caught up time again. This time with the boys from Newtown and its close associates.


We all went to either Newtown High or Enmore High or both.



There were a lot of stories of the past but a lot was about now. The gathering lasted a few days. I was there for part of it.

During my visit, present were Ray, Alex, Jim, Oscar, Greg, John, Peter, Terry and myself. An awesome collection of guys.

CENTRAL COAST - THE ENTRANCE NORTH - MTB - 8 november 2014 - 'EARLY MORNIN'

An early morning bike ride around The Entrance and The North Entrance.

 

 Heaps of fun - along the lake's edge, pass the 'yet to be filled' restaurants, over the bridge, along the paths, pass the fishermen and women, down the main road, up and down ramps, along the boat ramps, amongst the birds, through the sensory gardens, pass mirror reflected lake views and through the bike park - heaps of fun!

 

distance - 10.45km
av. speed - 11.1 km/h
max speed - 27.6 km/h
elevation range - 11m
time - 56 mins