It took us awhile to fit the two kayaks in the van but where there's a will there's a way.
The kayak was fun.
Mr Archibald slipped into the water briefly then spent most of the time hiding under Kara's ponytail.
I took the sit-on kayak. It was so heavy and a little complicated to get the fin and foot pedals right. It went well but a little more sluggish than the other kayak.
Highlights of the kayak included:
starfish under the water
heaps of birds
water reflections
great company
wake waves from the local ferry
shallow fast moving water between the two islands
After the kayak we had coffee on the waterfront at Ettalong.
The day was sunny and warm. The surf was relatively flat and the water was clear and warm.
Kara and I took Mr Archibald, the dusty lori for an outing at Terrigal Haven.
We sat on the beach and while Kara and Mr Archibald did some beach bonding, I had a snorkel.
The water was so clear. I didn't see many large fish but the smaller fish put on a beautiful and smooth acrobatic. The smallest fish swam in groups darting this way and that as a whole. At other times, they just flowed with the water movement.
The bigger fish searched for food and took off briskly when I got too close.
A fun snorkel.
Back on the beach, Mr Archibald and Kara were enjoying their sunshine bonding. Mr Archibald flew to my shoulder (he does have a harness on and lead so he can't get too far) and settled himself in to some salt licking on my wet hair. He loves it!
I started the morning with a surf check of North Avoca and Wamberal beaches. The tide was low and the waves had poor shape but it was a beautiful day.
At Wamberal Beach, I ran into Simon and we had coffee at the Point Cafe. Rob turned up a little later. Rob, who was South African told me a lot of information on travelling through the south of Africa. Sounds like a great trip in the future.
At the end of the coffee/chat session the surf started to look a little better at Wamberal Beach. I decided on a surf and had a fun time surfing on some nice right and left waves in warm sunshine.
Later, Kara, Mr Archibald and I went to Terrigal Haven for a chat and sit in the sun. I also had a quick ocean swim.
11 November 2017
Jacinta and I drove to Ocean Beach, Umina for a bike ride along the beach. We parked at Umina surf club, walked the biked over the soft sand and had a fun time riding on the sand.
At the half way point, we stopped for coffee at Ettalong on foreshore. It was so pretty and we were joined by a few friendly pigeons and seagulls.
We finished the ride along the cycle foreshore path back to the van.
Later, Kara, Mr Archibald and I drove to the Haven for a sun sit. Kara and Mr A sat while I had a snorkel. The visibility was okay but the sea as a pick rough and there wasn't much to look at. Still, the water was nice.
The day started fine but looked like rain was likely.
I had an ocean swim at Terrigal Haven then I sat on the beach and out of the wind and read a book.
I hadn't been to the movies for awhile so I went to watch 'Geostorm'. It was okay but there were so many holes in the plot. The vice president wants to become the president so he plans to wipe out most of the world and have it looked like the president was accidently killed. Seems it would have been easier to assassinate the president and skip the world destruction part which could have killed him as well.
The weather fined up in the afternoon so I returned to my sitting and reading on beach at Haven.
28/10/2017
Back to Brisbane Water National Park for a hike on the Girrakool Loop track with my daughter and Mr Archibald.
The weather was cool and it did rain for a short time while we were walking.
The wildflowers were out and this time I had my best camera for some clearer photos.
Mr Archibald loved the wildflowers, especially, the purple ones.
The rainforest and waterfalls were pretty and Mr Archibald looked quite at home in the rainforest conditions.
In the early afternoon, We drove over to ride the cycle path at Long Jetty around part of Tuggerah Lake.
Jacinta's bike had remained unridden for a few years but the other day I cleaned it up, lubed the chain and pumped up the tyres and all seemed good.
Jacinta and I cycled for 13 km and the bike went well with no problems. the cycle track is easy and has nice views over the Tuggerah Lake. A strong wind was blowing so there were a lot of birds along the lakeside in the sheltered areas.
I had a bit of fun riding along a couple of piers.
Back at the start, I took Mr Archibald for a ride on my bike. He loved it.
A hot day predicted for the
beginning days of Spring.
Still with this virus, I decided
on a short hike/meander around Toowoon Bay.
It never ceases to amaze me on
how different this place looks every time I visit. The shape of island and
changing swells cause the sand to move in a variety of directions. Today, there
was a shallow sandbank on the end of the beach towards the island plus a deep
channel between the beach and the island.
The sun was twinkling on the
water, the swell was small. the weather was warm and it all added up to a
pretty and scenic walk.
After the walk I had coffee at
the Toowoon Bay surf club.
The wind had increased
dramatically so we only had a short walk. We amused ourselves watching a
pelican trying to land on the top of a lamp post. It took four attempts before
it as successful.
This morning I drove to Bouddi
National Park to ride the Turkey and North West Ridge tracks/trails.
The new bike went so well. I
attempted and went over bigger drop offs with ease, climbed the steeper
sections quicker and rode smoother over roots and rocks. Overall, I felt more
in control. Well, this all sounds like I'm building myself up for a big fall at
some stage soon.
The ride was about 5km and I
managed to finish it in about half the time it normally takes me. Hmm, I am
heading for a fall.
Later, Kara, Mr Archibald and I had a sit down on Avoca Beach.
Mr Archibald attracted a lot of attention, as usual, and I was happy drinking my cappuccino while Kara did a lot of talking.
I drove down to North Avoca beach
and walked down to the sand. It was a pretty morning with the golden hue of the
sun to the north playing across the ocean, random nice waves, a lone surfer
paddling out and birds flying over head. All very nice.
My next stop was Terrigal Beach,
where I sat on the steps overlooking the sand and had a cappuccino. The sun was
warm and it was very relaxing.
Back in my car when I saw a lady looking intently at her mobile phone walk into
a wall. She looked a bit shaken but preceded to go back to the phone and then
cross the street oblivious to traffic. Luckily, the cars stopped but the driver
in front looked stunned at what she was doing.
Back home and later,Kara and I took Mr Archibald down to the
waterfront at Gosford. We ate fish and chips while Mr Archibald looked
apprehensively at the crowd of aggressive seagulls around us. Food was finished
and the gulls departed.
I got my bike out of the van and
took Archibald for a ride along the promenade. He sat on my shoulder and loved
it. So did I.
23 August 2017
Later in the morning, Kara and I
met Chloe for lunch at the Lotus Cafe at Wamberal. A nice lunch where I ran
into friend Larry and his wife. After eating, we walked to the beach and sat on
the sand enjoying the sunshine and watching the small waves.
27 August 2017
In the warmest part of the day,
Jacinta and I made lunch and took it down to the Haven. We sat on the stone
wall out of the wind and watched the world go by while we ate our sandwiches.
It became so warm that we ended up shirtless and enjoying the rays.
1 September 2017
I was feeling better, I think, and
decided on a hike. I drove to Putty Beach and decided a short hike would be
okay.
I wandered along the beach which
had a lot of bluebottles along the high tide line. Bluebottles are a type of
jellyfish with a painful and prolong sting from the tentacles. They swarm in
the ocean on mass so it is not a good idea to swim when they are going towards
shore on the high tide.
The waves were large, the tide
mid and the waves erratic so I thought it best to hike along the cliff edge
rather than the rocks on the water's edge.
I walked up the wooden staircase
from the beach to the top of the headland. At the top, there were two glossy
black cockatoos (endangered). They squawked a bit then flew off. I followed the
track through the bushes and after a short distance it opened up to rocks and
clumps of vegetation which characterize the area.
There were great patterns and
shapeson the golden sandstone formed by
rain, wind, salt and wave action. In parts, the sandstone was tessellated.
The waves were large and put on a
great show crashing into the cliffs or roiling over the rock shore platforms.
At one point, a sea eagle
spiraled slowly over the land and ocean. A pretty sight.
The track varied from a rustic
raised wooden walkway to over the natural rocks. The walkway does protect the
landscape and looking at it from a distance on a cliff backdrop, I think, it
looked pretty.
The final destination was Bullimah
Beach. Access to the beach, was via a precarious looking stairway. The beach
was small and cliff surrounded. The sand looked virginal as the tide had wipe
the clear the footprints and mine were the first for the day.
I plodded back to the van and
drove a short distance to Killcare Beach Cafe for a cappuccino and scones. A
nice ending to a pleasant hike.
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