COOKS RIVER CYCLE - 'BRIDGES' - 16 DECEMBER 2019

Down to Sydney today for a short while. I was taking my daughter to a medical appointment. While she was there I had a cycle along Cooks River.

It was a fun cycle with heaps of bridges to cross, a very narrow path under a bridge and some short tracks through the bush. There were a few diversions along the way.

KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN MTB - 30 MAY 2019

A mountain bike ride at Kincumba Mountain.

A fun ride. I rode the summit twice and a track near Warri Warri lookout.

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.

KINCUMBA MTN - NEW TRACKS MTB - 13 MAY 2019

I started the day with a morning surf check from North Avoca to Shelly Beach. The swell was still a bit big and the waves were coming in straight so it wasn’t very good. Forries looked okay on the sets and North Avoca might get better when the swell drops.

I had a mountain bike ride on Kincumba Mountain and tried a few tracks on the northern side. I came off lightly on one track that seemed to keep getting harder. 

On another track, I had a fun long run with plenty of rocks, tree roots and heavily eroded dips. Getting back to the top wasn’t my idea of fun. J

At home, I finally oiled the deck furniture. It took awhile as it was very fiddly. I also sprayed the mold on the southern house wall which gets very little sun and cleaned the lower deck. The birds are now on the top deck for winter.

ROYAL NATIONAL PARK MTB - 10 DECEMBER 2018

A day in  Sydney so I visited Royal National Park.



I checked out Garie Beach for surf - very small. I checked Hacking River for kayaking - no private crafts on freshwater side of weir but okay on tidal side with a launch at Rids Crossing. I checked Loftus Loop Trail for a mountain bike ride.

I settled for the mountain bike ride. there were a lot of trails/tracks leading off the loop trail. I followed a number of them and some of them were long and flowy and heaps of fun. the Temptation Creek Trails was in part a long downhill and a steep uphill. It was very exciting with loose rocks and steep corners. I was a bit nervous on it but survived. Towards the Loftus Oval side I found lots more flowy tracks and a young guy showed me where a few off shoots of the main track was. It was great.

I'll be back there later in the week.

BOUDDI NATIONAL PARK - TURKEY, NORTHWEST, STROM MTB - 25 OCTOBER 2018

I went exploring for surf. Even though the conditions had improved the waves were very small.

I sat at the Haven drinking a cappuccino while looking at the ocean view. I decided to check out Bouddi to see if the tracks were dry enough.

The tracks were good and mainly firm and damp.

I started on the Turkey Track. It was pretty exciting riding a long track again. There was a bit of erosion making some of the drops just a little harder.

I started at the very top of the NW ridge track and had a ball winding my way through the bush. I love the variety of this track - downhill, narrow obstacles, drop offs, hard turns, sheer drops over the escarpment and spiky bushes - which all adds up to fun.

I returned via the NW trail and rode it till the end. I followed the road to the trackhead on the Strom Trail. The trail was great with speed, control, small obstacles and beautiful scenery. About half way along there is a narrow track that winds its way through ferns and grass trees. It was very pretty.

The last section back to the start was very steep. I walked this part. :)

I did my best time on this run, yet I felt like I was riding calmly. :)

BLACKWALL MOUNTAIN MTB - 15 MAY 2018

PARKING

Bay View Crescent, Blackwall. Off Blackwall Road. There is very limited parking at the top of the road.



I passed around the gate and slowly grinded my way to the top of the service road. Once at the water  tank there are a number of tracks that go in various directions.

The tracks are generally short and join onto other tracks. The area at the top isn't that large so it easy to go back to the top and try a different way.

A lookout sign isn't posted but there are great views from there and at the very end of the track over Hardy's Bay to Umina.

BRISBANE WATER NP - WARRAH TRACKS - 7 MAY 2018

Parking

There are eight parking spots at the end of Warrah Trig Road.

Staying

A Central Coast Council campsite is located at Patonga.

The Ride



A beautiful sunny day with a cool morning bite to the air.

I started at the end of Warrah Trig Road and rode down the road. Part of the way down the road, I met a fellow rider who had ridden up from Pearl Beach.

Towards the end of the road, I took a turn to the right and followed an obscured track and onto the tessellation platforms. A bouncy ride at times but it was open and fun and the view amazing.

Back to the dirt road and then another turn to the right just before Patonga Drive. This as a smooth short track through the trees and bushes that ends on Patonga Drive.

Following Patonga Drive for a short ride to a gate on the right. A peddle around the gate and onto a vague track that winds its way to another tessellation platform that is across the gully to the other tessellation platform. Once again an amazing view plus an open area to pedal where you feel like going.

I turned off the platform and turned left onto Patonga Drive. A short uphill later there was a large dirt parking area on the right which was the start of the Van Dahl trail. After wheeling the bike around the locked gate I followed the wide easy firetrail. As the trail veers more sharply to the right, there was a short side track to the left that has some nice views and smooth sandstone to ride over. Back to the main trail and after awhile it becomes steeper and more eroded.

Part of the way down the steep section was a turn to the right. This was the Sani Depot trail. This track as a wide fire trail but it has two really fun rough steep downhill sections and a long undulating rough section before turning up a steep hill.

Part of the way up the hill was turn to the left. This was the Neera Trail. This track becomes narrower as it progresses through lo trees over a rough ground of rocks and tree roots. Definitely, keeps your mind on the job. Haha. Eventually, it reaches a very steep rocky hill where the bike was carried to the top. At the top, the track runs a short distance to Patonga Drive.

On Patonga Drive , it was a low steep uphill ride to the right. Watch out for the cars or rather hopefully they are watching out for you (speed limit 80 k/h).

At the top of the incline, I turned right onto the dirt parking area for the start of the Van Dahl Trail and followed the trail until I came to the turn on the left. This was the Waratah Patch Trail. There are deep sections of soft sand on this trail. I followed the trail until reaching a wide tessellation platform. I played on this and then turned onto Patonga Drive to the right for a steep and fast downhill road ride

On the left, I turned onto a dirt road which was the Pearl Beach Patonga Trail. This as an easy graded road that lead more steeply downhill as I progressed. I continued and turned right onto the Doyle track that lead to the most awesome stunning views over the Hawkesbury River, Broken Bay and the surrounding areas. A great near end to a great ride.

I backtracked and turned left onto the Pearl Beach Patonga Trail. I peddled uphill and turned right onto the Pearl Beach Patonga Escape Trail and followed it till reaching Warrah Trig Road. I turned right at continued until returning to my van.

A fun ride with so much variety in tracks. there are other tracks to add to the ride and of course changing the direction of the ride would make for variation as well.

The add on to a happy ending was a swim at Pearl Beach.

BOUDDI NP MTB - THE LOOP - 5 MAY 2018

Mountain Bike Ride (MTB) - Bouddi National Park

Parking

There's a number of places to park at Bouddi NP depending on where you start your ride.

I parked at the Maitland Bay carpark, Scenic Road.

Staying

There is a national park camping area at Putty Beach.

The ride

I started at The Maitland Bay carpark and rode north along the Scenic Road past the houses until coming to a dirt clearing on the left. The Turkey Track starts at the end of this clearing.

The track starts narrower and runs smoothly with a couple of drop offs before turning sharply to the left. The track widens more from here and becomes a rough downhill ride with tree roots, rocks and drop offs. After a while the track, the track smooths out and becomes a smooth ride. Towards the end, the tracks goes a steeper uphill and intersects with the NW Ridge trail.

I turned right on the NW trail and continued uphill nearly to the gate at the top of the hill where there is a track to the left. This is the NW ride track. This track goes a short distance and veers to the left or right. I took the left and followed the track which runs out of sight but parallel to the trail.

This a a great undulating mainly downhill track - rocks, tree roots, short steep climbs with obstacles, lots of small drop offs, close vegetation and beautiful scenery. At a few points the track passes close to the cliff edge.

Eventually, the track leads onto the trail and then a short steep downhill with a steep uphill to the Aboriginal rock carving area. Please walk over the tessellated sandstone to a track on the right. This track winds through the burrawangs and joins back onto the trail.

I followed the trail back to the end towards the road gate. From here there are a number of choices.  I chose to ride along the road towards the north and just before the turn off for the Strom Trail there is a track to the right. I followed the track to the right for a short distance and turned right onto the Strom Trail. This trail is undulating, wide and easy but beware sometimes there can be a pools of soft sand.

After a distance there is a track to the right leading uphill towards the ferns. This is such a pretty track - narrow, thick ferns and burrawangs, some drop offs and loose edges in parts. It joins onto the Strom Trail where I turned right and continued. The trail soon leads very steeply uphill, past a locked gate and back to the Maitland Bay carpark.

I called this ride the Bouddi Loop. One of my favourites. A lot of variation can be added or taken away from the ride depending how I feel.

BRISBANE WATER NP - TALLOW TRACKS MTB - 15 APRIL 2018

A mountain bike at Brisbane Water National Park.

I parked at Grandview Crescent, Hardy's Bay.

It started as a road/trail which was fairly steep at the beginning. Once it started to get easier there was a trail to the left - Old Wagstaff Trail.

A great rough ride joining up to a track leading to Lobster Beach. I followed this track until I had a great view over The Box. I did a bit of rock scrambling then rode the track to the start of the downhill to Tallow Beach.

A wide trail but very steep to the bottom then a turn right along a narrow track and a cliff edge towards Little Tallow Beach.

At Little Tallow Beach, I met and chatted with a group of young people from Indonesia and a Basque girl from Bilbao, Spain. A very interesting chat.

I rode back along the cliff edge and narrow track to the big uphill grind of the Tallow Beach Trail. I managed to ride up the hill more than I did on my last ride.

Heading back along the dirt road of Hawk Head Drive, I noticed that my tyre seemed to be wabbling. it turned out that the front wheel was undone. Whoo! I felt very lucky that it hadn't come off as I was riding, especially, the steep sections. A reminder to check your gear carefully before any activity.

MOUNT WONDABYNE LOOP MTB - 6 NOVEMBER 2017

Rain yesterday.

Rain early this morning. The rest of the morning was cloudy and windy but rainless.

The surf was messy so I decided on a mountain bike ride at Brisbane Water National Park.



I parked along Woy Woy Road and off I wen. I wasn't quite sure where I was exactly going to as the wetness of the tracks would decide for me.

I ended up riding to Mount Wondabyne, which is the highest point on the Central Coast. I had impressed myself by making it up all the steep sections except for the last 20 metres before the start of the track to Mount Wondabyne. Love the new bike. :)

I rode along the final track, dumped my bike in the bushes and climbed to the top of the mountain. It was such a fun hike - rock scrambling, a flat section and a nice view. The climb continue like this two more times and then I was at the summit. I love this view. Looking out towards the east was the green of the bush, the blue of Brisbane Water and pockets of  human settlement. Looking towards the west was endless green on an undulating landscape and distant clouds. Well, the clouds didn't look too distant and they looked a little dark.

Back down the mountain and I was reunited with my bike then I heard distant thunder. I continued along the track following the base of the mountain. The track was very rugged and quite eroded. I spend half the time portering and the other half riding. The air was feeling moister and the thunder was getting closer.

I eventually, reached the intersection of the Mullet Creek Trail. I followed it back towards the van. The sky was getting darker, the thunder closer and louder and there were the odd flashes of lightning.

I rode back as fast as I could. There were a few droplets of rain to urge me on and more thunder and lightning. My legs were aching and I was drenched in sweat but I got back to the car, loaded the bike and gear in and then lightning cracked close above me with nearly an instantaneous clap of deafening thunder. I got into the van and it started to bucket down with rain. I just made it.

I drove home in near monsoonal rains with thunder clapping and lightning flashing.

I got back home, the rain stopped and the sun even made a brief appearance. What a morning. :)

BUT there's more. I went down to the Haven late in the afternoon when I brushed my leg and felt a stabbing pain. It was a huge and monstrous tick embedded in my leg. Ticks are not friendly little insects as they can cause massive health problems. We drove to the chemist and bought wart freeze. The idea was that it killed the tick instantly so that they couldn't regurgitate their toxic substances into you. It seemed to work. :)