CENTRAL COAST - BRISBANE WATER NP - WARRAH TRACKS - MTB - 14 february 2015 - 'A TANGLED WEB'

I drove out to Bouddi National Park and parked at Warrah Trig.

The ride started down the service road from the trig then a turn off on a fun track that followed the main road.

Crossing over the road, I followed and backtracked a number of service roads and tracks.

The track leading down to Patonga Creek was steep and rutted. It was heaps of fun but not the grind back. The track ended at some very steep rocks which descended sharply down the escarpment.

The other tracks were fun - riding  over tessellated sandstone, bush bashing here the track petered out, heaps of spider webs to run into, wildflowers,  a rock wallaby and finally views over Broken Bay.

distance - 11.43 km
elevation range -  127 metres

CENTRAL COAST - KILLCARE BEACH - ROCKPOOL - 12 february 2015

After the bike ride, I drove to nearby Killcare Beach.

There was a picturesque rock pool in the corner.

I went for a relax and soak in the pool. It was very pretty with the occasional wave breaking over the rocks and into the pool.

There were small fish swimming around probably waiting to get out when the tide was higher.

CENTRAL COAST - BOUDDI - BOX HEAD - MTB - 12 february 2015 - 'VISAGE'

distance - 5,35km
elevation range - 78m

I followed the main service road out to Box Head and turned off to the right.

The road was steeper and bumpy. It was fun to go over with a bit of speed. The road ended in a track which unfortunately, was a pretty rutted and steep so I had to carry the bike for a bit.

The track improved and joined on to another track. i turned right towards Lobster Beach. This track was fun with some obstacles.

I retraced my path back to Tallows then followed the service road back to the car.

The views were so good - over the ocean on one side and Brisbane Water on the other.

I'll do this again but reverse the first turn to the right.

Heaps of fun!

BOUDDI NATIONAL PARK - MTB - 'ESCARPMENT' - 10 FEBRUARY 2015

Another bike ride to improve skills.

The last time I did this ride I had a few problems. This time, I did a lot better, especially, in a few spots where I had problems before.

It was a fun and hot ride.

CENTRAL COAST - MOONEY MOONEY CREEK - MTB - 'DEOPPILATION' - 9 FEBRUARY 2015

Time to hone the new skills - getting over small logs and rocks and maintaining balance to increase general performance.

Well, that all sounds good but ...

This was a longer ride and there were a number of obstacles to test out skills. There were a number of logs and most I made. Going over obstacles - rocks, tree roots -  was better, being a bit more fluid. The highlight was a two metre dry creek of erratic rocks. I made it through with some speed and comfort. That felt so good!

The ride was very pretty with creek views, ferns and varying track terrain,

The ride ended where the track crossed over Mooney Mooney Creek in a small cascade over the rocks. It was nice to sit there and watched the water flow and the light play with the vegetation.

distance - 5.71km
elevation range - 40m

CENTRAL COAST - KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN - MTB - 8 FEBRUARY 2015

I watched a view you tube videos on improving bike skills. Time to put theory into practise.

I concentrated on balance. It felt much better in that my riding felt smoother.

I also practised going over logs and drops. They felt more comfortable with the improved balance.

distance - 3.72km
elevation range - 40m

CENTRAL COAST - MOONEY MOONEY CREEK - KAYAK - 'PRETTIER THAN A PICTURE' - 7 FEBRUARY 2015

A warm morning... just right for a kayak.

I drove to Mooney Mooney Creek. It was still and quiet. The fish were breaching the water on the odd occasion adding to the naturalness of the area.

I paddled up creek. The water was reflecting the trees and the backdrop of the sandstone escarpment. So pretty.

There were small crabs feeding amongst the mud. I watched them for a while but the mosquitoes were ferocious!

Along the banks, were two water dragons. One fell from an overhanging branch and swam to shore with the swaying movement of its tail. Once on shore, it scuttled to a safe distance to observe me.

The end of this paddle was great. There were heaps of rocks and pools and I just managed to negotiate them to get to end of the paddling section of the creek. It was a lot of fun.

At the end, I landed and walked over the rocks with water cascading over the sandstone forming small falls and swirling pools of water.

CENTRAL COAST - TERRIGAL HAVEN - WALK - 6 FEBRUARY 2015

A late afternoon walk around rocks at Terrigal Haven.

The sun was still shining strongly and there were a lot of people out and about - swimming, on beach, SUPs but there was no one walking around the rocks.

The tide was very low so It was a great view of the sea life that is normally covered by the sea.

CENTRAL COAST - PILES CREEK - MTB - 'TAKE A RIDE ON THE CREEKSIDE' - 4 FEBRUARY 2015

I parked on the Old Pacific Highway near the bridge at Piles Creek. There is a sign and parking area indicating the Great North Walk.

The track starts downhill over an uneven old road to the bridge. It then follows Mooney Mooney Creek and turns into the Piles Creek direction. There is a small junction at this point that leads to a fishing spot on the corner of Piles and Mooney Mooney Creek.

Retracing the track to the small junction there is a short uphill over steps then the track continues to the Piles Creek camp area where there is a suspension bridge.

The track is varied and fun. It is steep and narrow in places and slides downhill towards the creek, bush or rocks. There are a lot of obstacles - rocks and trees. The view is pleasant with the bush opening up to show Piles Creek or the misty mountains in the background.

The Piles Creek camp has a long suspension bridge which was fun to ride over.

A good 5km fun ride with heaps of variety.

CENTRAL COAST - WINDSURF - 'BUMPS, JUMPS AND FUN' - 2 february 2015

This was the best windsurf I've had in ages. Not the wind hasn't been around, it is just having the opportunity to get out for a long enough period of time.


The wind was strong with a couple of wild gusts. The lake was bumpy and a bit unpredictable which always makes it more fun.


A couple of jumps, a few spills and at the end I was so tired. BUT a 'good' tired.

CENTRAL COAST - MOONEY MOONEY AND PILES CREEK - KAYAK - 'SOLITUDE' - 31 january 2015

Along the old Pacific Highway, then turn off for Mooney Mooney Creek.

The creek was misty and the air was cold. Towering above was the bridge of the motorway. From above it was a good view down into tranquillity, from below the bridge looks so fragile.

I chatted for a while to a guy who had returned from fishing. he was off to work. Another guy was launching his fishing kayak. He must have gone in a different direction as I didn't see him on the waterway.

The creek and bush was silent this morning - an occasional bird call and the slap of my paddle.

The tide was high and outgoing. I have to check my calculations again as I thought it would be still going high. ?????

I paddled along Mooney Mooney Creek and into Piles Creek. The shore was lined with mangroves but towards the end of Piles Creek the landscape became steeper and the vegetation changed to ferns and eucalypts.

The creek ended at a major crossing intersection of bush tracks with a large narrow suspension bridge traversing the creek. I landed and wandered around the area and crossed over the bridge.

My 'disasters' started on the way back. Firstly, I lightly bumped the go pro on the kayak and the mounting unstuck and it fell in the murky water. The water was about 1 1/2 m in depth. I used my feet to touch the bottom and eventually I found it. Lucky!

Next, my fishing line became tangled and the lure was lost and I had to untangle the line and put on a new lure. I took for ages due to not having my reading glasses... something to remember next time. Sometimes, I drop a line off the kayak and trawl as I paddle. So far, I have only caught one fish.

Overall, 'solitude' was the word that came into my head for this kayak.

5.85km paddle