CENTRAL COAST - BRISBANE WATER NP - ROCKY PONDS - MTB - 21 november 2013

I parked down the road from Staple Lookout.

I decided on Rocky Ponds as I hadn't been there for while.

The service road was good but in parts the recent rains washed away a lot of soil covering the road with small rocks. a bit of a hazard on the downhill runs.

The water at Rocky Ponds was crystal clear. Should have bought swimmers. I sat there for awhile watching the water cascade and walking around the ponds.

distance - 15.06km
time - 1 hour 14 minutes
av speed - 12.1 km/h
max speed - 28.1 km/h

CENTRAL COAST - KINCUMBA MTN - SID PULSFORD TRAIL - MTB - 13 november 2013

A very steep ride in a number of sections. at one stage.

I came close to taking out a goanna on the track.

Great views over Brisbane Water at the end of the ride.

distance - 7.57 km
time - 1 hour
av speed - 7.4 km/h
max speed - 27.3 km/h

CENTRAL COAST - KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN - MTB - 5 november 2013

A quick ride before the Melbourne Cup.

In parts of the ride there were blooms of wildflowers. Nice!

distance: 4.84 km
time: 21 mins
av speed: 13.47 km/h
max speed: 25.6 km/h

 

CENTRAL COAST - BRISBANE WATER NP - TOMMOS LOOP AND QUARRY - MTB - 20 february 2013

distance      8.77km
time            45mins
av speed     11.6 km/h
max speed  43km/h

I parked on Woy Woy road at the speed camera.

I cycled around the quarry. There were people swimming in the quarry pools!

I then followed Thommos Loop and the road back.

 

A good cycle but it was a bit too hot.

AUSTRALIA - CANBERRA - 'Stromlo, Walk in Aviary, Cockington Green, Viking road race' - 18/19/20 January 2013

STROMLO- OFF ROAD CYCLE

The best off road cycle I've had yet with Mark G. I wasn't sure of what I was doing at times and had three stacks - ankle very sore - but such fun. Playgrounds, skyline, switchbacks.

 9.13 km
41minutes
13.3 km/h
28 km/h



WALK IN AVIARY

A nice walk around with plenty of birds to see and feed.



COCKINGTON GREEN

This is a model village display. It is quite amazing for detail and the maintenance invilved to keep it looking good.



VIKINGS ROAD CYCLE RACE
The next day was Mark's bike club having a race. The scenery was excellent!



Later that day, I caught up with Louise K. Peter K.'s sister for lunch. Nice to catch up!

It was great to catch up with Mark and his family - renewing old friendships!

AUSTRALIA - Boodeere NP, Currarong, Calala, Nowra - 10/11 January 2013

Drove to Boodeere National Park. $11 entry fee. We swam and walked at Murray's beach. Checked the camping at Green Patch, which was okay but not very level. Then on to Caves Beach, which had some nice waves and a few caves. The other places in the park were closed.


As most national paks were closed we went back to Currarong and stayed the night. We had a late afternoon swim at the nearby beach.

CYCLE

The following morning, I had an early bike ride along the Coomie Track at Abrahams Bosom. It was a great ride with a variety of terraine, portage, cliffs and views. one of the best rides I've done!

11km
58 mins
av speed 11.2 km/h
max speed 33.9 km/h
elevation range 55m



We tried to get to Point Perpendicular but it was closed.

Calala Beach and Bay were nice. At the beach we had a swim and rest and at the bay we had lunch.

Next stop was Hanging Rock in Nowra. Nice views but too hot for a walk.

AUSTRALIA - Budderoo National Park - 3/4 January 2013

Next, we drove to Budderoo National Park and camped at Blue Pool. I think that the water is rarely if ever blue. The camping area was isolated and pretty.

WALK

 

In the afternoon, I had a walk to Nellies Glen, Warris Chair and Missingham Lookout tracks.

5.75km
1hr 34m
Av pace 11.81 min/km
88m elevation range

We met a nice young couple couple – Alex and Emma.

BIKE

The next day, I was up for an early bike ride to Warris Chair, Nellies Glen and Carrington Falls. At the falls, I had a walk around the cliff edges.
 

2.95km
15 min
av speed 11.2 km/h

max speed 18.7km/h

After breakfast, we drove to the Carrington Falls track and walked to the falls.

We went to the Illawarra Fly Walk but at $24 we thought it a bit expensive for a walk. We drove distance and had a good view of the coast from Jambaroo Lookout.

WALK

Next stop, Minnamurra Rainforest. It was a hot and humid walk to the falls. The last section was very  steep. We met Nela from the Czech Republic.Later, we gave her a lift to Kiama.

1.57km
1hr 05min
155 m elevation range

CENTRAL COAST - Popran NP - MTB - 21 december 2012

A cloudy day.

 

Parked along Ironbark Creek Road just after the pipeline trail. Cycled to picnic area. Through the gates.

I followed the service road through Donovan Forest - a quiet and serene place - to trail 248. This section was very narrow with vegetation at head height in places. It finished at a series of tessellating sandstone platforms, which were nice to walk around.

The return down the trail was better as it was downhill.

Then followed the Hominy Creek trail to Emerald Pool. This track was very rutted in sections. Emerald Pool was good but too emerald. I had a swim and found large huntsmen spiders living under the pool rock ledge.

The return journey to the car park was very steep uphill most of the way with some downhill.

In the last section before the carpark, I came across an echna, which quickly took a defensive position under a bush.

9.86 km
140m elevation difference
1.15 hrs
average speed 8.5km/h
max speed 31.8 km/h

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water NP - Warrah Trig - MTB - 4 december 2012

I drove over near Patonga for the Warrah Trig loop.

The weather was sunny and hot. I had bought new bike shorts and was keen to try them out. They definitely make the ride a lot more comfortable.

I parked at the parking area near Warrah Trig.

I cycled down the dirt road and onto Patonga drive. It was a fast ride downhill to the dirt service road turnoff for Pearl Beach. I followed it until Warrah Trig then doubled back to take the steep service road back to the van.

I notice a number of blocked service roads going down the road which after looking at them on goggle earth look like they would be fun to do!

4.82 km
24 minutes
av speed 13.3 km/h
max speed 29.2 km/h
elevation gain 98m

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water NP - Tommos Loop - MTB - 4 november 2012

A mountain bike this morning at tommos loop in brisbane waters national park.

The weather was good and there were a few nice views over the hills and bush. the track surface at times was over sandstone.

distance 6.71 km

time : 35 minutes

av speed 12 km/h

max speed 42.8 km/h

elevation gain 99m

It was a great fun ride!

CENTRAL COAST - Kincumba Mountain - MTB - 22 September 2011

The weather was warm and sunny... so off for a cycle. I chose Kincumba Mountain as the tracks are relatively flat which would be less harmful to my knee injury.

On arrival, I had the place to myself.

The tracks varied from trails to bush tracks leading to a number of lookouts.

I sat for awhile overlooking the view of Avoca lagoon and beach. Very nice!