CENTRAL COAST - 5 TO 11 NOVEMBER 2022

 5 NOVEMBER

A long mountain bike ride at Kincumba Mountain. I followed my usual trails and added on the new track off the Sid Pulseford trail. Heaps of fun. And not so wet today.

Later, Jacinta and I had a walk around Terrigal Haven along the paths, the coastal rocks and the beach.

7 NOVEMBER

An early morning walk along Terrigal Haven Beach with a coffee in hand.

A kayak on Brisbane Water around Pelican Island at Woy Woy.

It was a sunny start with a very light breeze and an incoming tide. The water was deep enough to paddle close to the edge of the island. That was good as there were a lot of oyster farms lining the island that I didn’t have to paddle around their far edges. The higher tide meant I could paddle in amongst the mangroves. It was fun paddling around the trees and other obstacles in the clear water.

8 NOVEMBER

A kayak at Brisbane Water along the Cockle Channel and around Cockle Bay. It was a fun kayak – up close to a roosting sea eagle, a narrow mangrove creek, under the mangrove trees, old and pitted trees, a mangrove/sand island and all under a blazing sun.

9 NOVEMBER

A few laps of Terrigal Haven on the rocks and the paths followed by my first ocean swim of the season.

10 NOVEMBER

A long surf check but not much form.

A mountain bike ride at Munmorah SCA along the tracks on and off the Old Quarry trail. The entry into the quarry was steep on loose gravel. The downhill section near the highway was great … narrow and challenging.

A swim at Terrigal Haven.

11 NOVEMBER

A morning hike around the rocks at Avoca Point. The tide was low but there were a few random waves to watch out for as I walked around. The waves were roiling, the rocks were slippery, the cliffs were high, there had been a lot of small rock falls, the sun was shining.

I caught up with Jacinta at Terrigal haven for coffee.

I did another surf check and the waves looked okay at Wamberal Beach. I had a fun surf for about ¾ hour before the wind and increasing tide played havoc with the wave quality. It was nice to catch a few decent waves.

MUNMORAH COASTAL TRACK AND WYBUNG HEAD MTB - 15 MAY 2019

A surf wander  - North Avoca, Birdie Beach and Frazer Park – showed very ordinary waves.

I settled for an awesome mountain bike ride at Munmorah SCA along the coastal track. It had overgrown somewhat and had eroded more heavily in parts. At the end of the track, I continued on to Wybung Head and rode to the higher and lower headland. Great views along the coast and a steep fun ride to each of the headlands. The coastal track was best on the return leg. About 3 kilometres of downhill through all types of terrain – steep tracks, erosion obstacles, thick and close heath, sand and deep sand, curves, open areas and under low trees. Heaps of fun and concentration.

I checked Soldiers Beach on the way back and sat and watched the waves with a coffee. There were a few guys out but they weren’t getting many waves and even those were very short.

CENTRAL COAST - WALKS, MTB AND SURF - 19 TO 25 APRIL 2019

19 APRIL

A mountain bike ride with my daughter Chloe on Kincumba Mountain. It was fun and she progressed very quickly and confidently as we rode the tracks.

20 APRIL

 Jacinta and I drove to Munmorah SCA. Jacinta had a bake on Red Ochre Beach while I had a surf. The surf was very rippy, the waves bumpy and breaking randomly. Still, it was nice to get in the water for a surf.

22 APRIL

A big part of the day was organizing our trip to Indonesia in July - buying our return flight tickets to Bali, travel insurance and initial accommodation. No more to be done till mid May.

23 APRIL

I had a short mountain bike ride on Kincumba Mountain and met up with Jacinta for coffee at the Haven.

24 APRIL

A surf at Pelican Beach with only a few out and good waves. On one of the sets, I got caught by the wave and the board hit me. I was okay but I lost a fin and I had a crack right through the foam of the board to the back of the board.

I ordered a new board and it should be ready by June.

25 APRIL

A surf at Pelican Beach. There was the odd okay wave but it was very crowded due to the public holiday. I surfed with the fish surfboard. It takes a lot more effort to ride it but towards the end of the surf I was feeling more comfortable with it.

After, I met Jacinta at the Haven for coffee. Such a pretty morning!

The rest of the day was doing home chores and getting ready for a few days at Armidale, NSW.

FAGANS BAY KAYAK - MUNMORAH MTB - SHELLEY BEACH SURF - 12 APRIL 2018

11 april 2018

A kayak around Fagans Bay in Brisbane Water National Park.

I started at East Gosford and paddled towards and under restaurant, under a pier, under the supports of the old railway bridge and under the railway bridge.

From there, I was in Fagans Bay where I paddled the circumference of the bay passing the mangroves and paddling through mangroves.

There were a number of birds including the Royal Spoonbill.

The water was very glassy in most parts of the bay but when I disturbed the fish and stingrays the water churned up noticeably.

Afterwards, I had coffee at Tommy's at East Gosford.

Later in the afternoon, a swim at The Haven was nice despite the strong NE wind.

12 April 2018

Up to Munmorah SCA for a mountain bike ride.



I rode The Quarry tracks. It started off on a very steep and narrow track to the far base of the old quarry.

I rode out of the quarry and bush bashed over a bit of track blockage then rode a long downhill track till it ended near the thick vegetation of a creek. Of course, it was an uphill grind back.

The second track was a turn off at the end of the Quarry Trail. This was a new track for me. It was downhill, rough and fun. As with the first track it ended near a creek and it was a grind back to the top.

I decided on checking out Snapper Point  and was rewarded with great views north over Ghosties Beach, Flat Rock Point and Frazer Park.

On the way home, I stopped at Shelley Beach. I had a fun surf in strong offshore winds. There were some good waves but a bit of a lull at times.

MUNMORAH MTB AND SOLDIERS BEACH SURF - 23 JANUARY 2018

Surf check at Pelican Beach, Red Ochre Beach and Frazer Park Beach.

Finally settled on a mountain bike ride on the coastal track at Munmorah SCA.

It is one of my favourite rides. It starts as a gradual climb until Wybung Road. At Wybung Road it is just about downhill all the way back - steep sections, eroded spots, thick bushed, narrow track, wide track, soft deep sand, steps and a short winding boardwalk. So much variety.

I finished drenched in sweat and in need of a swim. I drove to Soldiers Beach and ended up having a small but fun surf.

CENTRAL COAST & SYDNEY - SURFS, HIKES AND CYCLE - 16 OCTOBER 2017

12/10

Started the day with a fun and small surf at Wamberal Beach. Nice lefts and rights.

After the surf, I caught up with friend and had coffee with Glenn, Simon and Guy. Haven't seen them all for awhile.

Back home and Xina the lorikeet, gets out of her cage and flies off. It took Kara hours to coax her down from a tree at the bottom of the steep reserve behind our house.

Later, when it was calmer I had an afternoon stroll with Jacinta at the Haven.

13/10

I drove north and had a fun surf at Frazer Park in Munmorah SCA, except,  when I was run over and my board got a bad ding.

Back home, then out for coffee with Kara and Mr Archibald on the beach at Avoca Point. Beautiful weather.

I had a couple of laps of the Haven with Jacinta towards sunset.

14/10

It was a rainy day. The rain has been very rare of late.

I spent the day reading a book.

15/10

Today the surf was messy with a light off and on rain.

I drove to Girrakool for hike but it was closed. It doesn't open to 9am.

After I got back, Jacinta and I had coffee at The Cove and a short walk along the beach at the Haven.

16/10

Over the next three days, I'll be driving Kara down to Sydney for her medical treatment.

After dropping off Kara, I drove to Wilson Park near the Olympic Park. I cycled along the River Heritage Circuit.  It was a fun 18 km ride with paths, heritage buildings and structures, tracks, steps, ferry wharves, birds, waterways.