COOKS RIVER CYCLE - 'BRIDGES' - 16 DECEMBER 2019

Down to Sydney today for a short while. I was taking my daughter to a medical appointment. While she was there I had a cycle along Cooks River.

It was a fun cycle with heaps of bridges to cross, a very narrow path under a bridge and some short tracks through the bush. There were a few diversions along the way.

AVOCA LAGOON & TERRIGAL HAVEN - 'KAYAK, WALK, SNORKEL' - 14 DECEMBER 2019

The morning air was a lot clearer and cleaner this morning.

I checked the surf at North Avoca Beach but it was small and powerless.

Next stop as Avoca Lagoon for a kayak.



The water level was very low but still okay for a kayak. It was very limiting to where one could paddle as it was either very shallow water or no water.

The morning light looked pretty as it contrasted with sky, sun and vegetation.

The birds were out and about - pelicans, ducks, darters, cormorants, cockatoos, egrets, ibises and others. Some were in flight or roosting on a tree looking for their next meal or resting.

I met up with Jacinta at Terrigal Haven where we had coffee on the beach.

After that, I had a short walk and Jacinta a longer walk as I wanted to do a snorkel.



The water was clear to the edge of the rocks and a bit limited around the rocks and rockpool area.

It was a good snorkel with big fish, stingrays, tiny colourful fish and colourful rocks and seaweed.

BOUDDI NP HAVEN - 'CAPPACINNOS AND MOUNTAIN BIKE' - 12 DECEMBER 2019

The surf was small lumpy and powerless this morning.

Jacinta and I had a walk times two around the Haven. After that, we sat on the beach rock wall and drank cappuccinos. The Haven was somewhat protected from the wind so a snorkel later when the tide was lower looked possible.

I decided on a mountain bike ride. I drove to Brisbane Water NP at Warrah Trig Road but the park was closed due to high fire danger.

I drove to Bouddi NP at Maitland Bay and the park was open. I had a fun ride on the Turkey, SW Ridge and Strom and Ferny tracks. These tracks all link together and complete a loop ride. I did a diversion along the track off the NW Ridge track for a short distance. That track was rough and dry.

BOUDDI NP MTB - 'STROM LOOKOUT TRACKS' - 11 DECEMBER 2019

The surf at North Avoca Beach was from the south but was very lumpy and formless due to the secondary swell from the north. I drove to Shelly Beach but it was more or less the same.

Next stop was Bouddi NP at Wards Hill carpark. The national park was open so I mountain biked along the tracks to Strom lookout. The tracks were fun being a little rougher in parts than my rides there earlier in the year. I followed a track that leads to a high and sheer light waterfall. The drop is so vertical that it is very dizzying to look over the edge.  The track continued through the bushland till it reached the edge of a private property.

A fun ride with a few near spill type situations.

SYDNEY - 'tHE ROUNDS AND THE REUNION' - 7 DECEMBER 2019

We drove to Sydney today.

Our first stop was to visit as to visit Jacinta’s brother but he was fast asleep and would be for ages.

Next stop which really didn’t happen was to visit my sister. We arranged to meet at Circular Quay but her phone as switched off so we couldn’t meet up.

Next stop was Clovelly Beach, where I had a snorkel. The visibility wasn’t great at first but got better once in the deeper water. I saw a number of stingrays and large fish.

We dropped around to see a couple of friends, who we were going to see later at the Market Street Reunion. It was nice to had a one on one time with them before the party.

The main reason we drove to Sydney was for the Market Street Reunion. A lot of people stayed continuously over the years in the same flat. We were there at various times over nearly a decade. Jacinta was one of the first people to stay there and I was one of the last. Anyway, we use this as our bonding excuse to have a get together every year. It is always good fun and this year was no exception.

SHELLY BEACH AND WAMBERAL LAGOON - 'SUNRISE HAZE, YELLOW TAILED COCKATOOS AND DOLPHINS + KAYAK - 6 DECEMBER 2019

I checked the surf at Shelly Beach but it was a bit ordinary but a pod of dolphins frolicked near a couple of surfers in the water. Also,  there were glossy black yellow tailed cockatoos roosting in the carpark trees as I was just about to leave. To nice sights to start the day.

I drove for a kayak on Wamberal Lagoon.

It started so well. There were ducks, pelicans and cormorants right where I was launching. The ducks put on a brilliant flight show and the cormorant dived repeated for fish.

The kayak was enjoyable – cruising past the shore line of reeds, trees and flowers. The wind was light so the water was reasonable smooth. At the far end of the lagoon, towards Forresters Beach, I paddled up the creek until I was blocked by a fallen tree. It was very quiet on the creek as it was surrounded by dense vegetation which blocked the wind.

My first long kayak and the ribs had no pain but my muscles were a bit sore haha!

CENTRAL COAST - 'SMOKE HAZE, KOOKABURRA NEST AND BEACHES' - 29 NOVEMBER TO 5 DECEMBER 2019

29 November

Checked surf at North Avoca and ran into Haggy and Jeckle. We drove around and surfed at the bend on Terrigal Beach. The waves were short and dumpy. I had a couple of relatively okay waves.

1 December

A MTB at Bouddi NP on Turkey NW Ridge and Strom tracks. It was a good ride. My legs were not as burning on the steep climbs. Generally, I rode though a few sections more confidently.

After the ride, I drove to the Newtown reunion at Avoca Beach. It as so good catching up with Ray, Carlos, George, Jim and Chris. A pleasant chat and laugh.

2 December

A tree in the backyard has a termite nest about 15 metres from the ground. To kookaburras had pecked away a nest in the nest and laid an egg. This happened awhile ago and since then the kookaburras had been taking turns guarding the nest and feeding the chick. Well, today, the baby's head emerged from the nest checking out the world.

Later, it was outside the nest on the branch of a tree. 

3 December 

I checked the surf at Shelley Beach. It looked and was so awesome. I had such a good time on fast right handers.

4 December

I did a coast run in the morning to check out the beaches running north. Good banks on most beaches.

I had a no so good surf at North Avoca. The wind changed onshore.


5 December

The smoke haze was very thick today and some of the fires were only 30 km away. I checked the surf but the swell had increased and the beaches weren't handling it on the lower tide.

I stayed home and did a lot of jobs around the house.

CENTRAL COAST - 'SURF, TRACKS, BEACH' - 23 to 28 November 2019

23 November

Early mountain bike ride on the tracks around Allen Strom lookout in Bouddi National Park. It was my second bike ride and first ride on a rough track since returning. No problems and it was more fun riding on a track with obstacles.

24 November

A surf at North Avoca. the waves were small and okay rights.

26 November

MTB at Bouddi NP along the Turkey and NW Ridge tracks. A fun ride though my legs ere on fire on every longish climb.

27 November

A surf at n\North Avoca. The waves were small rights and lefts with some okay waves. Surfed with  Ken.

28 November

A MTB ride at Kincumba Mountain. There was no one else riding. The tracks were smooth and fun. In general, I felt more in control.

After the ride, I had a surf at North Avoca. I had  about four good waves and the rest as so-so. 

CENTRAL COAST - ' SURF, MTB, BUSY' - 15 TO 19 NOVEMBER 2019

A very busy week with Jacinta's brother in hospital, bushfires and jobs at home to be done. I did get out for some fun ...

15 November

Ran into Ken at North Avoca while checking the surf. We hopped into my van and headed over to Umina Beach and had a small but fun surf then coffee at Ettalong waterfront. It is a scenic and relaxing place for a rest with a view.

Back to North Avoca where the surf was bigger and had a few nice waves.

18 November

A MTB along the beach at Umina then along the promenade. First bike ride in months.

19 November

Surf at North Avoca with Ken. Some okay waves and a bit of a crowd.

CENTRAL COAST - 'BACK IN THE SURF' - 8 TO 14 NOVEMBER 2019

November 8

An early swim at Toowoon Bay. the beach was near empty and looked so pretty in the morning sun. The water was very cold so only a short swim. I dived in and swam full speed but just couldn't warm up. :) Sitting on the share was nicer. 

November 9

We had an early walk along the rock platform at Avoca Beach. There were deep pools that would look inviting to explore on a lo swell and warmer weather. The high cliffs made a dramatic backdrop especially when Jacinta standing near them gave its height more perspective. 

Later, we met with Chloe for breakfast on Avoca Beach. We sat on the beach in the sun and ate and chatted. Nice!

11 November

I had a hike on the Bouddi Coastal Track from Putty Beach to Bullimah Beach. Such variety in this hike - beautiful sandstone patterns, cliffs that were easy and fun to climb, huge waves crashing onto rocks and a calm and deep water swim at corner of the rocks and the beach. The water wasn't cold today. :)

I had physio treatment later - getting better.

Early in the afternoon I had a short snorkel at Terrigal Haven. It was short because the visibility was poor but I did see a massive blueish grouper.

12 November

Catastrophic fire warning today. Schools closed and national parks closed.

I finally tried surfing again. The injury was fine but the water was so cold - I was wearing boardshorts and a rashie. Wetsuit next time! The new board rode going well considering the surf was under a ½ metre.

Afterwards, I sat at the Haven for coffee and the wind picked up quickly and began to howl.

13 November

A path walk  around the haven twice.

Afterwards, I had a small surf at North Avoca Beach – The small rights were okay and my new surfboard handled a lot better.

Dinner with Jacinta at the Kincumber Hotel - yum meal!

14 November

A longer surf at North Avoca. The board handled better and I even pulled into a few nice semi cutbacks in the small conditions. Heaps of waves.