CENTRAL COAST BIRTHDAY - ENTRANCE/TERRIGAL - 18 APRIL 2015

Nice day!

We went down to the Entrance for brunch by the waterfront. Great view and weather!

 

Nearby there was a band playing heaps of old songs.  I walked over to listen to them for awhile. They were good.

 

Back home and cake and taking it easy.

AUSTRALIA - POINT PLOMER AND LAKE CATHIE - MTB, SURF, KAYAK, HIKE - 12 TO 14 APRIL 2015

Point Plomer - 12 April 2015

The drive up was about 5 hours with a short stop for breakfast and petrol.

On arrival at Crescent Head I was greeted by masses of cars and about 200 plus surfers in the water. I looked for a while. Some waves were okay.

I drove down the back roads of Crescent. The prospects weren't looking good - small surf, mono sand banks but the  water was clean and sparkling.

I booked into Point Plomer $20 per night with cold showers. I had a small but fun surf at Point Plomer with heaps of grommets.

Later, I had a bike ride around the headland, which was short but gave a good view of the two beaches between Plomer and Queens Head. Continuing on the ride, I cycled to the car park at Queens Head and climbed the hill. It was a great view along the coastline both north and south.

distance - 5.52 km

elevation range - 21 m

A swim on the beach at Plomer then another bike ride along Plomer Beach towards the cliffs in the north. It was a good ride  but a bit hard on the way back with the wind against me.

distance - 7.06 km

Dinner and sleep!.

Point Plomer - 13 april 2015

Up at sunrise with a walk to the top of the headland at Plomer..

I drove down the road and had a small but fun surf mid way on plomer beach. I met a guy from Belligen Tyon. We had a good time sharing a right hand bank between the two of us.

I drove to Big Hill and discovered that the waterway was private and access was prohited. I checked out two possible cycle hike tracks but they were overgrown.

Back at Big Hill I did the hike around Big Hill. . Good views at the end and heaps of mosquitoes in the rainforesty type area.

distance - 0.77 km

elevation range - 48 m

The wind had increased so hopefiully there will be a swell increase :)

Point Plomer and Lake Cathie - 14 April 2015

Last day :)

The swell had increased and there were good waves on the point at Plomer and no one out. I paddled out and had about three waves. Soon there was about 40 out. Waves were good but there were too many people in the way.

I checked the other back beaches after breakfast. The tide was getting too low for the beaches to handle the swell so I headed down the coast to Lake Cathie.

I had a kayak in the lake starting near the coastal bridge and paddling around the sandbanks to the entrance bridge to Lake Cathie. The tide was too low and the water was gushing out of the narrow waterway under the bridge over barnacled rocks.  I portaged the kayak over the road and into the lake. It was a nice paddle with pristine vegetation and a number of birds and very shallow water.

distance - 3.89 km

Time for the drive back home.

CENTRAL COAST KAYAK - AVOCA LAGOON - 11 april 2015

This kayak is up with some of the best I've done'.

I have kayaked Avoca Lagoon many times but this morning it was vibrant.

 

The sun was rising and it's rays played harmoniously with the vegetation and water.

The reflections were inspiring and tranquil.

 

The birds were abundant and varied. My favourites being the eagle being chased off by a group of smaller birds and the swamp hen jumping across the branches of an overhanging tree.

The bats were visible being silhouetted by the sun's back drop.

The water level was high and it was heaps of fun paddling around usually landlocked trees. The reeds and grasses formed a soft barrier to paddle through.

 

Such a good kayak.

distance - 1.95km

CENTRAL COAST MTB - BWNP - QUARRY AND TOMMOS - 9 APRIL 2015

A fun ride at Brisbane Water National Park.

I cycled around the quarry for a while. It was heaps of fun exploring possible tracks or fun things to ride over or down.

I then cycled along Tommos Loop and along Woy Woy Road back to the start.

distance - 9.25 km
elevation range - 72 metres
max speed - 49.9 km/h

CENTRAL COAST EASTER - EGG TIME - 5 APRIL 2015

Easter Sunday is upon us.

We prepared a big breakfast and set up a small display of the Easter eggs.

 

Some of us will take awhile to eat their egg and other will be finished by lunch.

CENTRAL COAST BIRDS - SULFHUR CRESTED COCKATOO - 4 APRIL 2015

The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is a common bird.

We don't get them often on our deck so this is a rare visit.

They are pretty birds.

 

BUT

 

The species has become a pest around urban areas, where it uses its powerful bill to destroy timber decking and panelling on houses.

I'll be watching!!!!! :)

CENTRAL COAST WINDSURF - CANTON BEACH - 4 april 2015

The rain poured all night.

I checked the wind on sea breeze. It was strong from the south east.

Off to Canton beach for a windsurf.

I only had a single run as the wind was swinging more to the east and there were a lot of holes in the wind. The wind holes are caused by the wind flowing over the land and lowering back to water height at various distances from the shoreline.

The result was a ballistic blow then dead stop. Still, I had fun!

Mark was there so we had a bit of a run together

distance - 6.74km
max speed - 36.9 km/h

CENTRAL COAST MTB - KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN - 2 APRIL 2015

The surf was smaller this morning with a high tide so off for a bike ride.

I was just going to do a short run but ended up extending my ride.

The first trail was wet with puddles of water. It was challenging to miss the water yet keep up speed.

I cycled over to the northern side of the reserve and followed a steep trail down hill. It was fun with a lot of loose rock. I took a narrow turn off but only followed a short distance as I wasn't sure where it lead and the track was very muddy and loose.

 

It was a steep ride/walk back up the hill.

distance - approx. 8 km
elevation range - 145 metres