First try at surfing in the waves since the hammy injury...2 months ago.
It was so nice to be in the water with my board.
I was a little apprehensive. Actually, I was a lot apprehensive but I paddled out and brushed aside my fear of retearing the hammy.
It felt so good when I pushed myself and tried a little bit more. In the end, I could sit on my board, paddle out, duck dive, paddle over and through waves, paddle on to waves, slide down the board to avoid a dump on the closeouts and cut across the wave. I was lying down the whole time as standing up wasn't really a go on the small but dumping waves.
I got out feeling good and tired.
No photos just feelings.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Sunday, March 13, 2016
TOOWOON BAY SNORKEL - 13 MARCH 2016
A clear sky sunny morning.
Down to Toowoon bay for a snorkel.
The tide was low. I walked out to the sand point of the beach and plonk myself down on the beach. The narrow stretch of water between the beach and the rock island had a small, sheltered channel running between the two.
I snorkeled in the channel. the water was shallow and clear though visibility decreased on the ends of the channel.
There were lots of fish, the seaweed swayed with the currents and the light flickered in endless patterns on the sand and rock base of the channel. All very pretty and clear like being in a filtered fish tank.
A pretty and fun snorkel followed by a soft sand walk and coffee.
Down to Toowoon bay for a snorkel.
The tide was low. I walked out to the sand point of the beach and plonk myself down on the beach. The narrow stretch of water between the beach and the rock island had a small, sheltered channel running between the two.
I snorkeled in the channel. the water was shallow and clear though visibility decreased on the ends of the channel.
There were lots of fish, the seaweed swayed with the currents and the light flickered in endless patterns on the sand and rock base of the channel. All very pretty and clear like being in a filtered fish tank.
A pretty and fun snorkel followed by a soft sand walk and coffee.
KARIONG MTB - 12 MARCH 2016
A foggy morning.
I drove to Kariong for some fun cross country tracks.
It was a great morning. Some tracks were a little overgrown with some very hard spiky bushes. Other spots were open sandstone with tuffs of vegetation growing in patches over the rocks. In addition, the sandstone formed some great shapes like sand under the ocean.
The views were blanketed with fog giving an eerie appearance especially at the drop offs of the sandstone escarpment.
At the end of one track, I came across a group of glossy black cockatoos. I think these are an endangered species in the wild.
A enjoyable 6.69km ride.
Thursday, March 10, 2016
KATANDRA RESERVE WATERMAN HIKE - 11 MARCH 2016
It was a cloudy and warm morning. Time for a hike.
I drove to Katandra Road and parked in the picnic area. the track was easy but a lot of dried leaves made it slippery in places.
The track at one stage descended steeply and wound its way briefly through dark rainforest. It was silent except for the crunch of leaves underfoot and the call of birds.
Next stop, was the Seymour Pond. The pond is small surrounded by dry rainforest and filled with waterplants. It was tranquil to gaze upon it for awhile.
I followed the track around the pond through dried rainforest. All was very quiet. Along the way there were glimpses of the trickle of water that fed the pond. This trickle disappeared at times going under the rocks.
Back to the pond and the sun was appearing. I only had time for a short walk so I had to back track rather than continue further afield.
A quiet and pleasant hike.
I drove to Katandra Road and parked in the picnic area. the track was easy but a lot of dried leaves made it slippery in places.
The track at one stage descended steeply and wound its way briefly through dark rainforest. It was silent except for the crunch of leaves underfoot and the call of birds.
Next stop, was the Seymour Pond. The pond is small surrounded by dry rainforest and filled with waterplants. It was tranquil to gaze upon it for awhile.
I followed the track around the pond through dried rainforest. All was very quiet. Along the way there were glimpses of the trickle of water that fed the pond. This trickle disappeared at times going under the rocks.
Back to the pond and the sun was appearing. I only had time for a short walk so I had to back track rather than continue further afield.
A quiet and pleasant hike.
AVOCA LAGOON KAYAK - FOGGY MORNING - 10 MARCH 2016
A foggy morning covering the sea and land.
Over to Avoca Lagoon for a kayak.
The water was glassy and mist shrouded. I paddled towards the ocean end to start and the fog covered the ocean and beach but there was still visibility.
Deeper into lagoon towards the west the fog was thicker and it was amazing seeing a shade of white that turned into a group of pelicans as I paddled closer. It was fun as everything seemed like a surprise as it came into view.
The lagoon was very shallow, so I was very restricted to where I could paddle. I have always considered the lagoon better when full with water but I must admit it was fun paddling in the very low water. The shallowness lead to channels of water between places where I normally would paddled. Such a different perspective. The erosion around the shoreline was visible showing undermining to sometimes to a metre in depth.
There were a lot of birds this morning as well - coromorants, ducks, black swans, swamp hens, pelicans and some other bird I have yet to identify.
A fun misty 2.55 km kayak.
Over to Avoca Lagoon for a kayak.
The water was glassy and mist shrouded. I paddled towards the ocean end to start and the fog covered the ocean and beach but there was still visibility.
Deeper into lagoon towards the west the fog was thicker and it was amazing seeing a shade of white that turned into a group of pelicans as I paddled closer. It was fun as everything seemed like a surprise as it came into view.
The lagoon was very shallow, so I was very restricted to where I could paddle. I have always considered the lagoon better when full with water but I must admit it was fun paddling in the very low water. The shallowness lead to channels of water between places where I normally would paddled. Such a different perspective. The erosion around the shoreline was visible showing undermining to sometimes to a metre in depth.
There were a lot of birds this morning as well - coromorants, ducks, black swans, swamp hens, pelicans and some other bird I have yet to identify.
A fun misty 2.55 km kayak.
KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN MTB - 9 MARCH 2016
Time to try a harder track to ride.
Up to Kincumba Mountain and off I went on the long new track.
It was so much fun riding with no problems from the hamstring - hard pedal up the grinds, some speed downhill and comfort on the bumps.
A fun ride and I was covered in perspiration at the end. Yahoo :)
Up to Kincumba Mountain and off I went on the long new track.
It was so much fun riding with no problems from the hamstring - hard pedal up the grinds, some speed downhill and comfort on the bumps.
A fun ride and I was covered in perspiration at the end. Yahoo :)
Saturday, March 5, 2016
KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN RIDGE TRAIL HIKE - 6 MARCH 2016
I watched the sun peek over the ocean horizon then headed to Kincumba Mountain for a hike.
Another push for the hamstring as this hike though short - 1km - is steep and rocky in sections.
Hiking is definitely the way to get closer to nature. I could hear the leaves crackle under each step or the call of birds in the tree tops.
I stopped a number of times to look closely at the bark, trunk and canopy of the trees. The shapes are varied and sometimes strange. One spotted red gum had a branch bigger than the trunk which grew towards the ground then bend upwards again in a 'U' shape. Some other tress were shaped around a sandstone outcrop before continuing their upward journey.
The rocks were also interesting. Being sandstone they were relatively easy to shape by the wind, rain and tree roots. A few of them looked a little face like though a bit grotesque.
It was a pleasant and quiet 1km hike with some interesting features.
Another push for the hamstring as this hike though short - 1km - is steep and rocky in sections.
Hiking is definitely the way to get closer to nature. I could hear the leaves crackle under each step or the call of birds in the tree tops.
I stopped a number of times to look closely at the bark, trunk and canopy of the trees. The shapes are varied and sometimes strange. One spotted red gum had a branch bigger than the trunk which grew towards the ground then bend upwards again in a 'U' shape. Some other tress were shaped around a sandstone outcrop before continuing their upward journey.
The rocks were also interesting. Being sandstone they were relatively easy to shape by the wind, rain and tree roots. A few of them looked a little face like though a bit grotesque.
It was a pleasant and quiet 1km hike with some interesting features.
RILEY ISLAND KAYAK - 5 MARCH 2016
Blue sky and intense sunrise.
I launched my kayak from near one of the boat ramps at Davistown on Brisbane Water. My objective was a slow paddle around Riley Island.
It was a pleasant relaxing paddle with the odd SUP and kayaker passing by. I stayed within the shallows close to the island shoreline of mangroves which was enclosed in parts by oyster farms.
gliding across the mirror surface of the still waters
bobbing in time with the wake waves caused by passing boats
overhanging branches of mangrove trees
clusters of sharp oyster shells in the shallows under the mangrove trees
battling against the current
gliding with the current
spending time on a small soft and fine beach on Riley Island
standing in the water on sand with small fish playing around my feet
spotting and guiding over the odd stingray
one stingray shooting under thee kayak and off into the distance
old rusted tank relics on the island
swirls of water
an intense sunrise.
an ibis and egret roosting in a tree near each other
A slow, relaxing 4.4 km kayak :)
Thursday, March 3, 2016
TOOWOON BAY SNORKEL - 4 MARCH 2016
Once again a beautiful sunny morning with some cloud cover.
Down to Toowoon Bay for a snorkel.
A glorious golden sunrise.
The visibility was a bit obscured but there were lots of fish. The fish were around me most of the time. At one stage, I turned around and they appeared to be following me. Maybe, I was churning the sand so that were some smaller animals to eat. Dunno ???
Interesting, I talked to a lady who spent a lot of time teaching overseas. A different life to spend a lot of time in various countries as I imagine it would make you more worldly.
Also, ran into Ralph and Sue who I hadn't seen in years, lovely couple.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN MTB - 3 MARCH 2016
Back in the saddle on some fun tracks on Kincumba Mountain.
It was a hard ride for me and I was sore and sweaty but at the end but I felt soooo good.
Down to Terrigal Haven for a swim.
PELICAN ISLAND KAYAK - 2 MARCH 2016
It is officially Autumn but the weather is still hot and will remain so for a while. A beautiful sunny day again. Sometimes, it becomes a worry when there are so many days without rain.
I drove to the Woy Woy channel and launched the kayak off a small sandy beach into clear calm water.
It was only a short paddle across the channel to Pelican Island but it was a world apart from the manicured urban other side of the channel. With in a short time, I came across an ibis foraging in the mangrove shallows for food.
A little further along the island is spilt in two by a narrow channel which enters into a shallow and wide bay. I paddled through and across the bay with pelicans, cormorants and ducks on the water and large flocks of sulphur cockatoos flying overhead.
I paddled around the island close to shore where there was water deep enough to navigate. In addition, a short distance from the shore the island is surrounded by oyster farms.
Towards the end, There was a small beach on the channel apex of the island. there were a number of birds here and the water was very clear. A speed boat passing by caused waves which broke on the shallow sand banks of the beach giving off a nice surfing wave type effect.
Back to the van and feeling good though a little sore on the rump from the 3.44 km paddle.
Afterwards, I drove to Terrigal Haven for a swim and a paddle on my new surfboard.
I drove to the Woy Woy channel and launched the kayak off a small sandy beach into clear calm water.
It was only a short paddle across the channel to Pelican Island but it was a world apart from the manicured urban other side of the channel. With in a short time, I came across an ibis foraging in the mangrove shallows for food.
A little further along the island is spilt in two by a narrow channel which enters into a shallow and wide bay. I paddled through and across the bay with pelicans, cormorants and ducks on the water and large flocks of sulphur cockatoos flying overhead.
I paddled around the island close to shore where there was water deep enough to navigate. In addition, a short distance from the shore the island is surrounded by oyster farms.
Towards the end, There was a small beach on the channel apex of the island. there were a number of birds here and the water was very clear. A speed boat passing by caused waves which broke on the shallow sand banks of the beach giving off a nice surfing wave type effect.
Back to the van and feeling good though a little sore on the rump from the 3.44 km paddle.
Afterwards, I drove to Terrigal Haven for a swim and a paddle on my new surfboard.
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