CENTRAL COAST - 24 TO 29 OCTOBER 2022

 

24 OCTOBER

We woke early and drove to Sydney airport to pick up Chloe and Angus at the international airport. They had returned from three weeks in Greece.

25 OCTOBER

KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN RESERVE

We both had a crap sleep.

We drove the Kincumba Mountain and hiked along a number of the tracks. There were a few random wildflowers has we strolled along.

26 OCTOBER

AVOCA LAGOON

The surf was big, so I had an early kayak at Avoca Lagoon.

The water level was low so I was limited to where I could paddle as it was either too shallow or dry land. The sun was warm on the north arm of the lagoon. There were a few birds as well. I paddled around the island and followed the lagoon opening towards the sea. I landed on the beach and enjoyed watching and feeling the waves break over the sand bank.

At home for breakfast and later Jacinta and I had coffee at the Haven Beach.

I did a lot of home tasks in the afternoon.

27 OCTOBER

I checked the surf early. Looked like it would be better later. Back home for breakfast.

Back down the beach later but I mistimed the tides. It was a bit full and only managed three waves.

At home for van washing and path cleaning.

29 OCTOBER

TERRIGAL LAGOON

Beautiful day with small surf.

I had a kayak on Terrigal Lagoon. It was a little shallow, but I just managed to reach and paddle along one of the west tributaries. There were two ducklings on the water that took off along the creek and up and over the creek bank and into the bush upon noticing me.

There were a few birds in the lagoon – ducks, cormorants, lapwings and black swans.

I paddled to the beach and walked across the sand to the small but glassy waves. Not much to ride but conditions were perfect.

In the evening, Jacinta and I saw ‘Pricilla, queen of the Desert’ at the Laycock Theatre. Some of the songs were good and well sung.

NOVEMBER FILES - 1 TO 19 NOVEMBER 2020

 

1 November

A surf at Wamberal Beach.

It was mid-tide early so I managed to get enough waves before the high tide swallowed the breaks. Some fun rights and the lefts were a bit full but okay. The temperature dropped a lot by the end of the session. It was home for  hot shower.

3 November

A mountain bike ride at Brisbane Water National Park.

I parked at Warrah Road and set off on the bike. I explored the tessellated rock platform then raced along the track parallel to Patonga Road. Towards the end of the track, there was a new track to the right. I followed it to top of the opposite rock platform. There was another new track in the far north east corner. The track was rough, through thick vegetation, over rocks and there were a lot of sections I had to get off (too hard for moi). I didn’t get to end as it got heaps harder so I backtracked.

Next, was nearby Pearl Beach for sit and coffee.

13 November 2020

A hike at Strickland State Forest.

A mid morning hike along the arboretum and bellbird tracks. Highlights - a number of short turnoffs down the sandy creeks that parallel the tracks, clear shallow water, bird calls, palms oscillating in the breeze, no one else on the tracks, no leeches and a short suspension bridge.

14 November 2020

Jacinta and I had breakfast at Killcare beach an watched the ocean and the beach activities. There were even occasional okay waves.

15 November 2020

A fun surf at Wamberal Beach.

The tide was going high but the waves were small but good for about an hour.

16 November 2020

The surf was small and onshore so I popped back home picked up the kayak and headed for Wamberal Lagoon.

It was a pleasant kayak with highlights of reflective water, the sun flickering in and out of view through the she oaks, a small number of birds fossicking on the shoreline and a short walk on Wamberal Beach.

17 November

A morning mountain bike and hike to the top of Mount Wondabyne in Brisbane Water National Park.

The journey to the mount was a gradual uphill along a number of tracks/trails until the final turn off which was steeper. The edges of the trail were festooned in yellow flowers in sections.

At the base of the mount, I hid my bike in the dense vegetation and rock scrambled to the top. The views at the top were awesome across an endless hinterland of shades of green. I sat at the trig marker for awhile enjoying the height.

The journey back by bike was downhill and fast. A lot of loose rocks made for exciting conditions. About halfway back, I came across a small flock of yellow tailed black cockatoos. I stopped for a short while watching their antics with the young and listening to their raucous screeching.

19 November

A surf checked revealed small weak waves so it was off for coffee on Terrigal Beach, a dip in the ocean and a walk along the beach with the sun rising.

SURFS, OCEAN KAYAK, BIKES, HIKES - 24 TO 30 APRIL 2020

24 APRIL 2020

A morning hike at Kincumba Mountain with Jacinta.

We followed the Kanning Track plus the old track that runs over the sandstone rocks above it.

It was quiet with plenty of bird calls and the concessional sighting of some of them. The track was thick with ferns. A pleasant walk.


25 APRIL 2020

An ocean kayak from Patonga Beach to Pearl Beach.

First off, this was a lot further than I thought but it was worth it.

My ocean sit-on kayak was a  lot more complicated to set up before launch - foot petal adjustment, attaching the seat and lining up the steering fin so that it was centred. This kayak was also very heavy (30 plus kg) and the handles are in an awkward balancing position so getting it in and out of the van and carrying it was difficult. Anyway, I lived.

The water was smooth and glassy at the start and once around the first point and wind though gentle made the water a little bumpy. The small swell made it possible for me to paddle close to the rocky shoreline all the way.

The shoreline was mainly rock which had tumbled down from the high cliffs that were only ten metres from the water's edge. There were three small beach areas to land  along the way.

It was an exciting paddle knowing that there was a possibility of tipping.

At one point, two seals were frolicking in water a short distance from me. They were undulating in and out of the water, waving their tails and fins slowly above the water and shaking off water from the upper parts of their bodies like a dog.

The paddle was a 10 km return journey. It took just short of three hours with two beach rests and a swim at Pearl Beach.

27 APRIL 2020

Light rain today.

An afternoon walk around the Haven with Jacinta.

28 APRIL 2020

An early mountain bike ride at Brisbane Water National Park.

A ride along the Bulls Hill trail and tracks. A couple of short steep sections with loose rocks. Great views across the waterways. A couple of rock scrambles to see what was on top of the large boulders.

A short but fun ride.

29 APRIL 2020

A surf check with a wander around Magenta Beach.

Parked the van, walked along the sandy track and I was on Magenta Beach.

Pretty blue skies, sun shining, birds tweeting, waves a rolling and all to myself. :)

A mid afternoon surf at North Avoca Beach with Ken.

It was small and mushy. It was nice to get wet.

30 APRIL 2020

 An early afternoon surf at Terrigal Beach in front of the surf club with Ken.

There was the odd one or two okay wave. The surf started off with a bit of size and bumpy and finished small and smooth.