CENTRAL COAST - MOONEY MOONEY AND PILES CREEK - KAYAK - 'SOLITUDE' - 31 january 2015

Along the old Pacific Highway, then turn off for Mooney Mooney Creek.

The creek was misty and the air was cold. Towering above was the bridge of the motorway. From above it was a good view down into tranquillity, from below the bridge looks so fragile.

I chatted for a while to a guy who had returned from fishing. he was off to work. Another guy was launching his fishing kayak. He must have gone in a different direction as I didn't see him on the waterway.

The creek and bush was silent this morning - an occasional bird call and the slap of my paddle.

The tide was high and outgoing. I have to check my calculations again as I thought it would be still going high. ?????

I paddled along Mooney Mooney Creek and into Piles Creek. The shore was lined with mangroves but towards the end of Piles Creek the landscape became steeper and the vegetation changed to ferns and eucalypts.

The creek ended at a major crossing intersection of bush tracks with a large narrow suspension bridge traversing the creek. I landed and wandered around the area and crossed over the bridge.

My 'disasters' started on the way back. Firstly, I lightly bumped the go pro on the kayak and the mounting unstuck and it fell in the murky water. The water was about 1 1/2 m in depth. I used my feet to touch the bottom and eventually I found it. Lucky!

Next, my fishing line became tangled and the lure was lost and I had to untangle the line and put on a new lure. I took for ages due to not having my reading glasses... something to remember next time. Sometimes, I drop a line off the kayak and trawl as I paddle. So far, I have only caught one fish.

Overall, 'solitude' was the word that came into my head for this kayak.

5.85km paddle

CENTRAL COAST - TERRIGAL HAVEN - 'BIG SURF' - 30 JANUARY 2015

Raging big gnarly waves this morning at Terrigal Haven.

A couple of guys washed off the rocks trying to get in the water.

A number of near board collisions.

A few massive clean up sets.

A couple of guys decided not to go in, the closer they got - good to know your limitations for having fun.

CENTRAL COAST - RUMBALARA RESERVE - MOUAT TRACK - MTB - 29 JANUARY 2015

I drove to Rumbalara Reserve, entering from Dolly Ave, Springfield. I parked near the start of the Mouat Track.
(The video wont embed. Click the link below for the video)
http://youtu.be/8FvTlu97iH4

I rode partly down the Grass Tree Track then crossed over to the Mouat Track

It was a good ride with pretty bush scenery of large spreading trees, grass trees and ferns. There were also some views.

There were a lot of steps. They were the log type. I could navigate over some of the them but most were too hard for me as they were uphill or highly eroded from the rain.

The track varied from track to service road to track. Sometimes, the track veered off the road to traverse the opposite side of a hill.

The ferns were plentiful in some parts nearly obscuring the track. They were wet and soft as I brushed pass them.

The tracks were up and down with some level sections.

There was a statue of John Eyre, who posed for a few photos.

A good ride.

distance - 8.93 km
time  - 1:39
av speed - 5.3 km/h
max speed - 25.4 km/h
elevation range - 114 m

CENTRAL COAST - PELICAN BEACH - SURF - 23 TO 25 JANUARY 2015

I had a three good early morning surfs at Pelican Beach.

23 January - Head height waves mainly rights with power and nice walls and only 6 other guys out.

24 January - Shoulder height waves rights and lefts - good walls and inside section. still only a few guys out but there was a building crowd by 8am.

25 January - Some shoulder height waves. not as many waves and it was slightly crowded and building.

I had a good time surfing early for the three days with a backdrop of blue skies, illuminated clouds and sunrise in a friendly waves scene.

Pelican Beach is in Wyrrabalong National Park. Even getting into the water is pleasant with sand dunes, a long beach and the occasional animal scurrying across the sand.

CENTRAL COAST - RUMBALARA - MTB - 26 JANUARY 2015

Australia Day.

I drove to Springfield and turned and Dolly Ave which leads to the top of Rumbalara Reserve.

I wasn't sure how these tracks would be for the bike.

The ride was fun and challenging at times with some long narrow curvy uneven tracks interspersed with steps. At times, there were a lot of steps and the height and tread was uneven.

There were a number of tracks - Flannel Flower, iron bark loop and so on. A bit of an overkill on names I think.

I came across two statues while riding. I posed with them in a few shots. They were very obliging but not very talkative.

The views were great but unfortunately it was raining lightly so the view was a bit obscured.

In retrospect, it would have been a better ride to start at the top and go down the south side tracks.

A fun ride and amazing to find these tracks so close to home. Still a few tracks to ride.

distance 3km
time 37minutes
elevation range 51m

CENTRAL COAST - BRISBANE WATER - EAST GOSFORD - KAYAK - 22 JANUARY 2015

The morning was nice, the surf was poor so off for a kayak.


I was going to Woy Woy but the tide was too low and launching was difficult due to mud and oyster shells so I drove over to the East Gosford Sailing Club and launched from the small beach next to it.

The water was glassy and reflective and the weather warm.

A lone small motor boat caused a ripple that oscillated across the bay. It looked nice.

I paddled over to Iguanas restaurant which is built over the water. I paddled under the structure. It was quite a different experience looking at the underside of a building via kayak. The posts will eventually rot and will make a difficult job to replace.

I continued to paddle over to the railway bridge. I fished as I was paddling. I checked my line when I reached the bridge and I had caught a fish. It was the first fish I have caught using lures. It was small so I returned it to the water.

I paddled and fished around the bridge for awhile. No more bites but it was nice drifting with the tide.

A short but pleasant 2km kayak.

AUSTRALIA - SYDNEY - CLOVELLY - 20 JANUARY 2015

We drove down to Sydney for an appointment for my daughter. While she was at the appointment we drove down to Clovelly.

We hadn't been to Clovelly for a long time and it hadn't changed all that much except for a few concrete cosmetic changes along the water's edge and the path around the beaches.

In nostalgia, I use to walk around the beaches via the cliffs and shore platforms. It was very exciting but now it is easier and safer.

We walked along the beach path admiring the changes and the manicured beach.

We stopped for coffee and a late breakfast at a cafe overlooking the beach.

I had a swim at Clovelly. It was refreshing and nice to swim into the incoming swells.

I also checked out Tommos Bay for future snorkelling. A definite 'must'.

A great day

CENTRAL COAST - TERRIGAL HAVEN - SNORKEL - 18 JANUARY 2015

I went for a snorkel at Terrigal Haven.



It was a brilliant, sunny Sunday so the beach was crowded and the water was crowded with swimmers, sups, boats, fishermen, snorkelers and divers.

Still the water looked inviting and no one was out near the point.

The water visibility was poor inshore but improved further out. There were schools of small colourful fish and some larger fishes which blended in with the sand, rocks or weed.

As I was coming into shore, a pelican did a skid landing on the boat ramp. I thought it looked pretty cool.

It's been awhile since my last snorkel so it was enjoyable.

CENTRAL COAST - TERRIGAL BEACH AND LAGOON - KAYAK - 16 JANUARY 2015

A look at the surf and the sunrise on Wamberal Beach.

Off for a disastrous kayak at Terrigal Lagoon.

1 Video camera fell in the water - kaput!

2 Mounting for go pro on kayak broken - no spare on me!

3 Paddled to the feeder creek at the west of the lagoon - someone had chopped down a tree and blocked the water way!

Still, it was a nice sunrise and it is always pleasurable guiding across thee water.

Hmm... now for a new video camera!

CENTRAL COAST - WAMBERAL BEACH - SURF - 12 JANUARY 2015

A fun glassy surf at Wamberal Beach.

I was out just before the photo sesssion.

Heaps of fun but hard breaking waves.

CENTRAL COAST - BRISBANE WATER NP - SOMERSBY FALLS - 15 JANUARY 2015

A beautiful morning.



I drove up to Somersby Falls for an early morning short hike.

Basically, there are three levels to the hike. Top of the Falls, the Falls and the bottom of the falls.

The top of the falls is relatively flat with water intertwining over the rocks forming small pools.

The Falls has a pretty waterfall that then flows over flattish rocks.

The bottom of the flats is the last cascade. It is not as grand as the falls above but it is a pretty area with cascading water, and a lot of ferns.

That is officially the end of the track but it does go on ruggedly to join on the Great North Walk.

I sat for awhile in the bottom area of the falls, enjoying the solitude and sound of gurgling water and the occasional bird call.