CENTRAL COAST - 20 TO 25 SEPTEMBER 2021

 

20 SEPTEMBER

A morning surf check – dead flat.

A mountain bike ride on the Rocky Point tracks at Bouddi NP.

An early ride with no one around. The air was crisp and the tracks firm. The return journey was a bit blinding with sunrise sunlight filtering through the trees in blasts.

Our 2^nd covid jab today.

21 SEPTEMBER

Jacinta wasn’t feeling too good after the covid jab so we had an easy day.

In the late morning, I had a walk around the rocks at Terrigal Haven. The wind was blowing fiercely in sections with small waves crashing into the rocks.

22 SEPTEMBER

 A morning surf check – no go.

A mountain bike ride on the Mullet Creek track at Brisbane Water NP.

A fun ride with -

·        blooming wildflowers of many colours

·        challenging very steep sections of track that were heavily eroded

·        a train tunnel

·        a flooded old quarry

·        off track hiking – found hand-hewed steps and seating area in the undergrowth

·        mullet creek

23  SEPTEMBER

A early morning surf check – maybe better later.

A kayak on Avoca Lagoon.

A beautiful, sunny and warm morning with a very light wind, perfect for a kayak. The water was reflecting the shoreline – a view of double images. There were a number of birds – black swans, ducks, herons and darters. They were foraging for food in the shallows or giving themselves a wash. The water level was high and the water was clear.

I checked the surf again and paddled out on a nice left just south of the ruins on Wamberal Beach. There were a few out but the strong current dragged most further down the beach. It was a good hour of waves with Ian and Craig only until the high tide swallowed the waves.

25 SEPTEMBER

A mountain bike ride on the Alan Strom trail with Ken at Bouddi National Park.

Another perfect day but the surf wasn’t a go. Ken and I had a ride along the wide trail. A fun ride where ken got more use to his bike and bike skills. We rode along the ferny track as well. Ken had a little stack there.

Afterwards, cappa and croissant at Hardys Bay.

The wind had increased so I headed over to Can ton Beach for a windsurf. Bill and Lance were just finishing and old Pete was in balance recovery. I had a ride but the wind really was strong enough and was backing off. The good side was that I finally got my rig right for the new sail. At the end of the session, I met Victor from Czech Republic – lived in Singapore and Bali for awhile and his wife is from Palu in Sulawesi.

Back home for yoga with Jacinta.

CENTRAL COAST - 12 TO 17 SEPTEMBER 2021

 

12 SEPTEMBER

A windsurf at the old fishing cooperative on Tuggerah Lake.

The wind was a west and it was up and down. One minute you were flying, the next minute was a dead stop. The gusts lasted long enough to make it fun.

13 SEPTEMBER

A wander around Hardys Bay.

We were going for a hike but the wind increased and the rain looked like it was ready to burst.

We wandered around mainly on the jetty where we enjoyed coffee and hot chips.

14 September

I drove over to Canton Beach for a windsurf but the wind wasn’t quite strong enough. J

15 SEPTEMBER

A short/long hike to Kariong Falls in Brisbane Water National Park.

The wild flowers were amazing. We even saw a lone waratah. The hike was along the Tommos Loop trail from Staples Lookout and a turn off for Kariong Falls. At the turnoff, we met three national park rangers. A good chat and they had some interesting stories. The track to the falls was narrow and steep in sections. The waterfall was excellent. So pretty. We wandered around the pool at the base of the falls with no one around. Two of the rangers joined the scenery for a short while then it was back to us.

16 SEPTEMBER

A walk around the Haven with Jacinta.

The Haven has been so crowded that we have avoided it for quite a while but today it felt like precovid again.

17 SEPTEMBER

A morning check of the surf. Not good but the morning hues were excellent

A mountain bike ride with Ken on Rocky Point tracks at Bouddi National Park.

It was only a short ride. The view over Hardys Bay was pretty. We took a turn to the left on the return leg to look at the big drop waterfall.

A walk around the summit of Rumbalara with Jacinta.

Still feeling good, we had a pleasant walk doing a few laps of the summit tracks.

CENTRAL COAST - 5 TO 10 SEPTEMBER 2021

 

5 SEPTEMBER

A fun surf at Wamberal Beach. A nice right sucking up on a shallow sand bank with a very strong current pulling to the south. Not crowded but a little competitive … Sunday J

Father’s Day – Chloe bought me a platter of cakes and three music CDs… some songs are so good. J

6 SEPTEMBER

A mountain bike ride at Brisbane Water National Park on the Bulls Hill Trail.

I rode in the both directions of the trail, looping it twice. The direction I usually ride had more downhill sections. At the peak of the hill, I wandered around the bush off track. There were a lot of wildflowers in bloom and the view, as I scrambled over the rocks uphill kept becoming more panaromic. I stopped for a while and enjoyed the view of Box Head.

8 SEPTEMBER

A hike on the Rocky Point tracks in Bouddi National Park.

We looped along the tracks and trails with a stopover at Alan Strom Lookout. 

Yellow wildflowers were the dominate bloom at the moment.

Along the way, Jacinta spotted a Blue Tongue Lizard on the track. We shooed it a short distance as it as the track is used by mountain bikes. The lizard was well camoflaged so we were worried the bikers wouldn't see it. Anyway, it flashed its blue tongue at me in annoyance.

9 SEPTEMBER

A fun surf at Umina Beach.

There were good rights on one bank. Only a few out but it soon became crowded. Still, there were heaps of waves to catch with a long walls.

10 SEPTEMBER

A fun surf north of the big house at Wamby. It didn’t look great but it was much better once out. Tghere was a strong current running north on a good left bank. Only me and another guy were surfing it. Heaps of waves, some were very quick and sharp.

CENTRAL COAST - 29 AUGUST TO 4 SEPTEMBER 2021

 29 AUGUST

A hike at Bouddi National Park on the Bullimah Spur track with Jacinta.

A great hike with views along the way onto Maitland Bay. The trees were oddly shaped at times. Not sure why. There were sections of large boulders and burrawangs. A brush turkey was building or maintaining his nest.

The end of the hike is an awesome view along the south coast – Putty Beach to Sydney.

30 AUGUST

A surf at Wamberal beach. Fun rights with a few lefts. Surfed on three different banks, moving around with the tide.

A mountain bike ride with Ken at the top of Rumbalara Reserve.

We had a few laps of the iron bark loop then peddled along the flannel flower track and onto the ridge track. Heaps of fun with good views.

31 AUGUST

A surf at Wamberal Beach.

It looked okay but at times the waves were very good. Four good barrels!  

A hike with Jacinta at Mount Ettalong.

A short but awesome hike with views along the coast to the north and the south. Some great cliff platforms to basked in the sun and enjoy life.

1 SEPTEMBER

A drive to Marlow.

I did intend to kayak but the launching was too far from the water. The top lookout has an inspiring view over the Hawkesbury and the base of the cliff has a caravan park which is temporary closed. Be nice to stay there for a few days.

3 SEPTEMBER

A mountain bike ride at Bouddi National Park on the loop tracks.

A fun ride with a bit of time jumping across the rocks at the end of the NW ridge.