CENTRAL COAST - 25 TO 31 OCTOBER 2021

 

25 OCTOBER

A kayak at Avoca Lagoon.

I picked a couple of spots out of the wind and in the sun to watch the antics of the various birds. It was relaxing to soak in the sun and just gaze about. I also paddled through the reeds for a rougher paddle. The birds were in abundance with four juvenile swans and their parents foraging for food.

 

26 OCTOBER

A mountain bike ride at Bouddi NP.

I followed my favourite loop – Turkey, North-west ridge, Cliff, Strom and Ferny tacks. A fun ride with some flowy sections.

A swim and relax at Terrigal Haven Beach with Jacinta.

A bit chilly in the water but it was nice to cool down after the bike ride.

28 OCTOBER

A beach cycle along Ocean Beach to Ettalong.

Such a fun ride on the beach. People saying hello, racing the breakers on the shoreline, dogs running alongside, people doing fun things in the water. The tide was low enough to do the ride all the way to the last private jetty at Ettalong.

A swim and relax at Terrigal Haven with Jacinta.

New swim goggles were excellent with good visibility today.

31 OCTOBER

A mountain bike ride and hike to Spion Kop at Brisbane Water National Park.

It was downhill all the way along Bambara Road, the Koolewong fire trail and the final turnoff ending at the creek that runs into Waterfall Bay. The last section was very rugged and I had to stop heaps due to erosion and fallen trees. The ride along the creek was fun over smoothed sandstone. Just before the creek drops over a 5-metre fall, I parked my bike and hiked. The track climbed uphill between two boulders on the western side of the creek. The track was relatively easy to followed winding up steeply in between boulders and trees. After that, the track wound it’s way along. I stopped for a rest on a flat sandstone outcrop. I realised; I left my water with the bike. Being a hot morning and still an hour roundtrip to go, I decided to head back and finish it another day.

A swim and relax at Terrigal Haven.

It was a welcome swim after the hot ride/hike.

ETTALONG BEACH - 1 AUGUST 2020

Another sunny day.

After doing a few shopping jobs, I returned home to pick up Jacinta for a walk along Ettalong Beach.

It was a pleasant walk along the beach as we watched the water activities.

There were a a number of surfers out. One of them was riding a foil. Looks like fun but also a lot of hard work keeping up the momentum when off the wave.

Along the waterway there were a number of boats riding the zig-zaggy channel into and out of  Brisbane Water.

A great morning. :)

SURF, KAYAK, MTB AND NEW MAL - 28 FEBRUARY 2018

19 February 2018

I had a MTB at Kincumba Mountain - a short ride on a couple of tracks. A  huge lace monitor dive off a tree. The tracks were good but a little soft in parts.

A late afternoon kayak with Kara and Mr Archibald at Avoca Lagoon.  We looked at the Black Winged Stilt chicks. I was able to get very close to four of the chicks. The parents were a bit freaked out at first but calmed down when I remained still in the kayak.

We paddled up the west end of the lagoon to look at the Stilt eggs but couldn't find them - very good camouflage.

21 February 2018

A MTB on Kincumba Mountain. I followed an old track but it was blocked most of way and in the end I had to bush bash my way out of it. After that, I rode along the summit track.

After the ride, I had an ocean swim at The Haven then caught up with Paul H for breakfast.

22 February 2018

I called up Spot for a MTB ride at Moonie Moonie Nature Trail.

A fun ride. I had two stacks and Spot had three. There were a number of sections where the tree trunks bent inwards across the track, large rocks jutting up, loose edges on steep embankments and overhanging branches. The obstacles increased the fun.

23 February 2018

A bike ride along Umina, Ettalong and Ocean Beach.

Such a pretty morning. A lot of fun riding along the firm sand of the beaches. At the far end of Ettalong, the area started to become mud flats and there were a lot of blue soldier crabs on the move.

25 February 2018

I visited long time mate, Sojo. Just back from hospital.

I Sojo gave me a Mal surfboard. very colourful.

26 February 2018

I took the Mal for a surf at Umina Beach.

The first three aves the board had a mind of its own. Towards the end of the surf, I as taking off and cutting across the face okay and cutting out but not too gracefully.

27 February 2018

A MTB at Kincumba Mountain.

28 February 2018

Down for a surf at Ocean Beach. A small okay right with an occasional left.

BLACKWALL MOUNTAIN MTB - 18 OCTOBER 2016

Perfect weather today - sunny, blue skies and warm.


I started the day checking the surf at North Avoca. The waves were very small and the sun was just about to peak over the lightly clouded horizon.

I drove to Blackwall Mountain for a bike ride. This mountain stands out as it surrounded by flat land and Brisbane Water.

The start is very steep along an access road until the top. The road then meanders along the summit ridge and peters out into a track.

It is a short ride - 3.15km - but lots of fun with rock and tree obstacles and intermittent views over the ocean and Brisbane Water.

The tracks follow the edge of the cliff, diverting around trees and boulders.

After the ride, I drove to Ettalong Beach and had coffee at a café along the esplanade. Such a pretty view over the exit of Brisbane Water into the sea. The sun was sparkling and twinkling on the water.

Later that afternoon, I went to Toowoon Bay for a snorkel but the tide was too low so I settled for a swim and a short snooze on the beach.

A great day

UMINA AND ETTALONG BEACHES MTB - 12 AUGUST 2016

This morning, a bike ride along Umina and Ettalong Beaches and foreshore.


The weather was perfect, the tide was low and the wind light.

It is such a good feeling riding along the beach on compact sand skirting the edge of the waves as they guide up the sand.

On the Ettalong side, small waves were breaking perfectly on the edge of the sand.

So many places to stop and admire the view.

An excellent 6.16 km ride.