CENTRAL COAST - 'BACK IN THE SURF' - 8 TO 14 NOVEMBER 2019

November 8

An early swim at Toowoon Bay. the beach was near empty and looked so pretty in the morning sun. The water was very cold so only a short swim. I dived in and swam full speed but just couldn't warm up. :) Sitting on the share was nicer. 

November 9

We had an early walk along the rock platform at Avoca Beach. There were deep pools that would look inviting to explore on a lo swell and warmer weather. The high cliffs made a dramatic backdrop especially when Jacinta standing near them gave its height more perspective. 

Later, we met with Chloe for breakfast on Avoca Beach. We sat on the beach in the sun and ate and chatted. Nice!

11 November

I had a hike on the Bouddi Coastal Track from Putty Beach to Bullimah Beach. Such variety in this hike - beautiful sandstone patterns, cliffs that were easy and fun to climb, huge waves crashing onto rocks and a calm and deep water swim at corner of the rocks and the beach. The water wasn't cold today. :)

I had physio treatment later - getting better.

Early in the afternoon I had a short snorkel at Terrigal Haven. It was short because the visibility was poor but I did see a massive blueish grouper.

12 November

Catastrophic fire warning today. Schools closed and national parks closed.

I finally tried surfing again. The injury was fine but the water was so cold - I was wearing boardshorts and a rashie. Wetsuit next time! The new board rode going well considering the surf was under a ½ metre.

Afterwards, I sat at the Haven for coffee and the wind picked up quickly and began to howl.

13 November

A path walk  around the haven twice.

Afterwards, I had a small surf at North Avoca Beach – The small rights were okay and my new surfboard handled a lot better.

Dinner with Jacinta at the Kincumber Hotel - yum meal!

14 November

A longer surf at North Avoca. The board handled better and I even pulled into a few nice semi cutbacks in the small conditions. Heaps of waves.

CENTRAL COAST - 20 DECEMBER TO 31 DECEMBER 2018

20 December 2018

I checked the surf at North Avoca and Wamberal Beaches. Maybe better after the high tide.

I had an ocean swim at Toowoon Bay. The morning looked pretty and the water inviting. Afterwards, I sat on a bench overlooking the ocean while reading and having a coffee.

On the way home, I checked the surf at Shelley Beach. There was the odd okay wave breaking. I continued home and stopped at Wamberal Beach.

The surf looked ‘not too bad’ and the weather perfect. I had a fun surf with Ed on a shifting right hander 

A big hail storm in the afternoon.

28 December 2018

The surf was choppy and messy. Jacinta and I drove to Umina Beach for a walk along the beach and a coffee/swim in front of the surf club. The wind here was much lighter, the ocean clear and the sun warm.

We ran into John Van E and friends who had just finished a sup flat ocean paddle and had a little chat.

30 December 2018

A beautiful sunny morning and it looked like it was going t be a hot one.

A mountain bike ride at Kincumba Mountain to start the day. I followed the summit and the end tracks then back along summit track then around to the Kanning/Glasson track. It was a flowy ride. There were actually other riders there as well … counted 12.

Down to the haven for a swim and short sit in the sun. The water was cool but very weedy and very little visibility. Still, it was nice to get ocean wet.

31 December 2018

At Terrigal Haven and Jacinta and I did a few laps of the circuit. We ordered coffee and sat on the beach.

A beautiful morning but soon a thick fog set in from the ocean. A bit eerie!

SURF, SNORKELS, HIKE - 13 JANUARY 2018

11 January 2018

Very small surf today.

A snorkel at Toowoon Bay in the morning. The conditions were excellent - light wind, smooth water, low swell - leading to very clear water.

Highlights:

A lot of fish and a few large ones.

Under one rock crevice was an octopus.

At one section the water was shallow and the sea weed thick and I had to snorkel though it. It was like being brushed all over as I moved.

Clear water.

12 January 2018

Very small surf.

Jacinta and I drove over to Blue Bay. It was a beautiful white sand small crescent shaped beach. The swell was small so we walked along the beach towards the north until we found a good spot to sit.

I went for a snorkel along the northern point. There was reasonable visibility, a lot of seaweed, glimpses of large fish and a few stingrays on the sand bottom. I followed a couple of stingrays for awhile. They are so fluid and graceful in the water.

Back on shore, I had a hike around the rocks while Jacinta continued to bake and read. The small swell allowed me to walk safely along the rocks close to the water. There were lots of mollusks, light seaweed, rock pools and interesting rock formations.

Back to Jacinta and we decided on going to The Entrance for coffee. We picked a nice cafe on a wooden boardwalk and took in the view while we drunk our cappuccinos and cake.

13 January 2018

A surf at North Avoca. Looked okay but only had a few nice ones. Most waves were steep and short.

Down the Haven for a coffee with Jacinta.

About mid day, Jacinta and I drove to Copacabana Beach. A little windy but had a few fun waves.

WAMBERAL BEACH SURF, TOOWOON BAY SNORKEL, BOUDDI NP MTB - 16 NOVEMBER 2017

14 November 2017

Surf check at North Avoca Beach. No one out but that isn't surprising as there was a shark attack on the beach yesterday.

Next stop, Wamberal Beach. The waves looked okay so out I paddled. The current was very strong and the crowd though small was aggressive. I got a few waves then paddled down to the next sand bank. The current wasn't as strong but the waves were very bumpy. I caught a few waves then came in.

Jeckle and his son Bryce were at the viewing platform. We chatted for awhile.

The waves seemed to improved and the crowd had dropped to two. I paddled back out and had a great surf on good waves. The current was not as strong and the waves were better. I surfed until the wind started to change.

15 November 2017

A morning surf check at Wamberal Beach - a bit small and not as good looking as the last two days. I had a chat with Mark and Brank, then headed over to Toowoon Bay for a snorkel.

The wind was a blowing ripples across the water and some small waves were breaking on the outer rocks. The water was a little turbulent and so visibility was only okay. There were a few fish and it was nice watching the seaweed swap with the water motion.

I was a bit chilled so I had a wander around the beach then a coffee at the surf club.

Back home to a number of inside chores then up to the local mall with Kara to buy a few things, then back home to the chores.

16 November 2017

I checked the a number of beaches for surf - Wamberal and North Avoca Beach were messy and Copacabana Beach was protected from the wind but the surf was flat.

Next stop was Bouddi National Park. I parked at the top of Wards Hill and rode along the informal tracks to Stroms Lookout. There were a lot of wildflowers in bloom near the carpark.

It was a fun two kilometre ride with a narrow track, small drop offs, sloping sandstone boulders and sharp burrawangs (a plant). The view from the lookout over Hardys Bay and other parts of Brisbane Water was panoramic. I always enjoy this view. It's nice to have a ride with a reward like a view, waterfall, etc.

Afterwards, I drove to Killcare Beach for a coffee and sit in the sun before heading home.

The rest of the day was frantic and busy. My daughter has chronic fatigue and its associated problems. She is currently on a new treatment. The treatments are sort of like one step back and two steps forward. Today was the definitely the step back. 

BEACHES, BOUDDI NP MTB, STRICKLAND SF HIKE - 8 NOVEMBER 2017

7 November 2017

A late afternoon bike ride at Bouddi National Park along the Turkey, NW Ridge and Strom tracks. A fast ride as I did not have a camera with me. :)

8 November 2017

A late start check of the surf at Wamberal Beach. The surf was messy.

I continued on to Toowoon Bay but the wind was too strong. And damn the coffee cafe was closed.

Plan C was a hike. so I detoured over to Strickland State Forest. The GPS took me a different way than I normally go from home. It was an interesting drive past farms and crossing two bridges over the main freeway between Sydney and Newcastle.



I parked at the top carpark. there was a guy there and his dog there. We started chatting and he had just returned from working in the bush (out in the far west)).

I hiked along two tracks - the Cabbage Tree track and the Strickland Falls track. They were both great hikes passing between huge boulders and through rainforest. As their names implied, the first track passed heaps of Cabbage Trees and the second lead to Strickland Waterfall.

The falls were flowing lightly but it's the general quietness that is the main attraction to me. Silence that was so profound that it's overpoweringly loud. It seems funny to write it that way but it seemed the best way to describe it.

TOOWOON BAY HIKE - 13 SEPTEMBER 2017

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.

Later, Kara, Mr Archibald and I had brunch at the Cove Café at Terrigal Haven.

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.