indonesia - bali - legian 2012

Legian 2012 part 1

Me , Paul - when the grey skies turn to blue

Off to Indonesia for 2 months. The plan … surf west Sumbawa, surf Lombok, snorkel and volcano climbing in Flores, surf Sumba, meet up with the family, snorkel padangbai, surf Balangan, surf east Sumbawa, family returns home, surf Ballan. Well, this was the plan roughly with the main focus being surfing. Funny, how you think and plan a trip for ages and then it all changes.

This was one of those trips where the unexpected happened. My plans were all changed. What I wanted to do didn’t happen but I enjoyed all the changes… the bad and the good. Sometimes bad happens but it is for good reasons that unfold with the passage of time.

So what happened… in a trip the scenery counts, the adventures count and the people count… I’m still counting.

I started the trip with my friend Paul, who is an artist. We left Australia and arrived in Bali with little drama. Paul managed to have himself searched very carefully at Sydney airport. Later, he couldn’t find his visa ticket on arrival at Bali and consequentially blocked the customs exit with all his gear. Eventually, the customs offices highly amused waved him on.

Nyoman, our driver and a friend of mine for many years was there to pick us up and on we went to Legian. It was good to see Nyoman again but he was pretty stressed out. He bought a new second hand car, a house and land near Tabanan and he needed the new tourist driver license. He was in debt beyond his wildest dreams/nightmares. He asked me if he had overdone it. I tried to be diplomatic but basically yes he had overdone it. The interest rate for the bank loan was 20%. Yes he had overdone it. This story unfolded more with each visit I made back to Bali on this trip.

The following day, we went surfing at Keramis, had good waves and later changed money, bought indo sim cards, etc.

So far, everything was going well. Paul wasn’t impressed with Bali beaches and the amount of rubbish on the beaches, in the water and piled up towards the road. Oddly enough, I see it too but it doesn’t offend me.

The following day, we were off to West Sumbawa and Nomad Tropical Resort.

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water - Woy Woy Inlet - kayak - 26 february 2012

Warm sunny morning. I went for a kayak at Woy Woy Inlet.



There were a number of places to launch the kayak but the boat ramp was the easiest.

I paddled south into Correa Bay. There was a amazing number of birds foraging in the mud flats. The creek ventured further but with the low tide crossing the mud flats was not an option.

I followed the north edge of the inlet going into Horsfield Bay and Phegans Bay. At the eastern tip of Phegans Bay , I paddled ashore onto a small beach. After a rest, I paddled back to Correa Bay boat ramp.

It was a nice kayak. The highlight was the birdlife.

CENTRAL COAST - Liss'n Sweetie - Hardys Bay RSL - 19 February 2012

Sunny and warm Sunday afternoon, off to listen to 'Liss'n Sweetie'.  My old college friends Helena and Tony were playing.



It was a great afternoon with the music either flicking me back to the past or pulling me forward into the present.

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water NP - Thommos Loop, Kariong Falls, Old Quarry - HIKE/MTB - 15 february 2012

I parked the car at Staples Lookout.

I cycled down Woy Woy Road about 400m and on the right side of the road is a locked gate which is the entrance to Thommos Loop Trail. The trails is wide and easy to follow.

Eventually, there is a track turn off on the right ith a sign 'Girrakool'. This track passes Kariong Falls. The track can be ridden for part of the way but becomes too steep and rocky for a bike. It is easier to walk down to the flls and back.

 

The falls are very pretty an cascade down to a small pool. The vegetation is very lush.

 

The walk back up is steep.

Once reaching the bike, I continued riding along the trail and turned left into the quarry.

The quarry is rocky and andy with pools of water. A lot of fun to cycle around.

I turned out of the quarry and continued on the trail towards Woy Woy Road. It is a steep cycle along the road to Staples Lookout.

A good cycle with two interesting visiting spots.

CENTRAL COAST - Kincumba Mountain - Warri Kanning trails - MTB -12 february 2012

I parked in the top car park and rode my bike along the warri warri trail. i returned the same way but took a turnoff on my left along a rough track that lead to the kanning trail.

I cycled along the kanning trail and turnoff towards the end along a track on the right that lead to the avoca beach lookout. i continued along the track eventually joining onto the main trail.

i return along the kanning trail and took a track turnoff on my left. this was also rough and lead to some flat sandstone rocks where i rested for awhile.

i continued back along the track and onto the kanning trail. i continued for a short distance than took a rough track on my right that lead to the wari warri trail. i followed the trail back to the carpark.

CENTRAL COAST - Woy Woy Bay - KAYAK/HIKE - 8 february 2012

Drove to Woy Woy Bay and launched from park near the end of the point.

I paddled along following the jetties. A short distance after the jetties there were mangroves and hidden amongst the mangroves was a small creek. I paddled up the creek with a paddle At the end i walked around following the creek and the many cascades of water it produced. pretty!!!!

Back in the kayak, i paddled back along the creek and around the bend and came across more mangroves and another creek which was a bit wider and longer. Once again at the end, i followed the creek and it's cascades up the hill. Pretty!!!

The journey back was a bit harder as the wind had increased and i was paddling against it.

CENTRAL COAST - Strickland State Forest - Bellbird and Stoney Creek Tracks - MTB - 6 february 2012

Time to test out the new bike in more challengling conditions!!!

I parked at the lower car park at Strickland State Forest. A short ride down hill and there was a creek to cross. The track from here on varied from service road to 'where is the track?' to 'is this a track!'

Along the way there was a suspension bridge and a fallen log bridge, numerous obstacles to go over and lantana specifically designed for slicing arms and legs.

It was very humid and overall it was a great, varied and exciting ride.

CENTRAL COAST - Kincumba Mountain - Kanning Trail - MTB - 4 february 2012 - 'NEW BIKE'

Bought a new bike. time to ride!

Due to foot injury, I took it easy on kincumba mountain's kanning trail - flat and wide and some tracks through the bush.

All went well.

CENTRAL COAST - Wamberal - surf - 20 January 2012

i have an injured foot so i am out of the water still.

I went down the beach to watch the dawn patrol surf.

The waves were short and fast to start but quickly filled with the incoming tide.

I moved to a shallower sand bank further down the beach and got some shots of some friends - Micheal, Paul, Tim and Jeckle.

Jeckle was a wave magnet that morning. The better waves just seem to form up in front of him.

CENTRAL COAST - Wamberal Lagoon - kayak twilight - 18 January 2012

It was slightly windy when i started and i was paddling into the wind.

I paddled a short distance and came across a group of roosting cormorants.

I continued to the far side of the lake and out of the wind on the Forresters side. The lagoon was serene and peaceful. there were a number of birds and croaking frogs.

The paddle back into the sunset was awesomely pretty.

CENTRAL COAST - Wamberal - SURF- 13 janaury 2012

Recovering from my foot injury, I sat on the beach and watched the glassy waves breaking along the beach at a heap of different peaks.