Kayaking
reports: (bike ride reports here)
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Tuesday
31 August 2010 - Gwandalan
Twenty-four
paddlers set out in perfect conditions around Crangans Bay, with a short
foray into Mangrove Gully Creek, then up to Nords Wharf and beyond, before
heading back straight across the lake for a well-deserved morning tea. Doug
and Sue didn't paddle but came up with the tea/coffee and sangers, while
Suzie and Russell brought hot freshly-baked puffs and scones to complement
all the other lovely stuff brought by us. It's a beautiful area up there
and it was blissful touring around in our kayaks for free.
Next week it's down to the other end of the Central Coast for another tour
of the mighty Hawkesberry. Bob's photos are here.
Includes his pix of last week at Narara Creek.
Danny |
Sunday
29 August 2010 - Kee's adventure paddle
Seven
paddlers (Tony H, Dennis, Robert H, Mike S, Doug, Mark & Kee) turned up
for this Sunday adventure and they were all happily rewarded, for different
reasons. All had the almost windless and sunny day which was more than perfect
for the occasion. The distance covered from Berowra waters upstream was
estimated at around 17 km (No GPS available) but Mark would have covered
55 km, having started from the Hawkesbury Bridge next to the F3 at around
06.30 this morning.
We made 2 stops for tea and lunch along the way.
We went past a lady paddling a double canoe on her own. Tough, but she managed.
Saw quite a number of scouts and girl guides at the camping ground near
Crosslands.
Five of us managed to clear a bridge of The Great Northern Walk before the
top of high tide and had sufficient water to take us to the end of the creek.
Tony was happy when a kookaburra left behind some of his lunch. The bird
took precautionary action by watching Tony swallowed his first bite of the
sandwich and survived to take the second bite before it swooped down from
a nearby branch, taking the sandwich almost from Tony's mouth.
Doug is now totally settled into his Osprey. Mike had a blister on his hand
after the paddle and now has sufficient excuse not to do any gardening for
a while. Dennis bought sufficient hot water to treat the paddlers to coffee
after the paddle.
There are so much to report but the attached photos will tell the story
better. (Click here for Kee's photos.)
Kee
PS: All present felt that today's weather would have been conducive for
the Marramarra assault (proven by Mark who had to paddle past there to get
to Berowra Waters) but the heavy Sunday water traffic would have been an
annoyance. It was proposed that we should pick a Friday to try the Marramarra
trip again but only when we get forecast of conducive weather. So this could
be a short notice adventure. Expressions of interest recommended. |
Tuesday
24 August 2010 - Narara Creek
Today
21 paddlers in 20 kayaks headed off from Gosford waterfront to Narara Creek.
Whilst it was a glorious sunny, clear day, the wind gusts were at times
quite strong and cool. The distance paddled today varied between 10km and,
for the more adventurous and fit, approx 19.5kms.
This was an easy paddle going with the tide in both directions, which is
always a bonus. Crossing the Broadwater on our return was a little more
choppy than we would have liked with an increasing cross wind, but there
were no dramas and all arrived safely back onshore ready for the usual morning
tea/lunch spread. Last week's visitors of Lindy and her 3 kids returned
today as Sue wasn’t able to paddle again – hopefully next week she will
be back on the water.
Come on all you Guys and Girls, the mornings are lighter and brighter and
not so cold and the days are glorious, so dust off those boats and join
us before you think it will be too hot to paddle.
Sue
Now a word from Kee:
To add to Doug/Sue's report:
The weather was beautifully sunny but the wind was fresh at the start. Some
of the paddlers were hoping that we adjourned to Dell Road (offered as an
alternative) for a more sedate start. However, one of the troop of the Marramarra
assault (ie me) managed to convince them that anything less than a 30 knot
wind would be manageable.
Once we got under the railway bridge into Narara Creek, the water was flat and it was a good re-grouping point to make sure that all were safe. Thereafter, we began to explore the creek in various strategy.
Doug and Russell chose to explore all the inlets/canal along the way, even under overhanging branches. Those with faster boats decided to go to end of Narara Creek which seemed to go upstream forever. Tony and Bill decided to turn back at the Manns Road Bridge. Only 4 persistent paddlers (Linda, Dennis, Peter and Kee) made it to the end and it was only 300m from Manns Road. The water was cleaner at the end of the creek and a woman was also seen pruning the trees at a very lovely house.
Again Sue turned up with the tasty refreshments after the paddle and I can assure you that food brought by the ladies were well appreciated by all who made it home over the Broadwater.
During tea, Mark gave a safety demonstration on how to inflate the folded
life jacket that comes with a gas canister. The water was too choppy for
him to test whether it would float him on the water.
Kee.
Kee's photos are here.
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Monday
23 August 2010
Jen and Graeme
have sent a new fascinating episode in their American adventures. Find it
here.
Also for those interested, the new improved Toukley Cycle Club website is
to be found here, and
links to the sailing club and the bike club are at the top. All future cycling
reports will be on the bike club site.
This page has now been split again to include only reports since 1 July
2010. Older website pages going back to The Beginning can be reached via
the links at the bottom of this page. My wife has gone out so I can do all
this stuff today.
Danny |
Friday
20 August 2010 - bike ride
An
excellent ride was undertaken today from Toukley to Nobby's Breakwater,
Newcastle. About 75km. A stiff westerly breeze helped us most of the way.
After starting at Gorokan Fish Co-op we headed up through Toukley and picked
up Peter B on the way, even though he had intended going to The Entrance.
So the six of us, me, Peter, Doug, Richard, John D and Mike enjoyed the
ride and then caught the train home. So this week I have ridden about 170km
and paddled 28. Think I'll have a day off tomorrow before doing the Wyong
to Catherine Hill Bay on Sunday, for relaxation.
Danny |
Thursday
19 August — Berowra Waters
Six
guys, Kee, Danny, Daryl, Rob H, Mike and Phil from Sydney, turned up for
Kee's Big Adventure. The wind, NW, started at 15 knots, but built to 20-30
kts by noon. Can you imagine paddling into that? We couldn't, so we turned
around about 3km short of Marramarra as we couldn't make any headway into
this wind. However, we did 16km, except for Mike, Kee and Phil who went
exploring in a quiet creek valley, adding another 3-4km. Apart from the
wind, conditions were good with warm temps and sunny skies. Kee came well-prepared
so we had a barbecue back at the park after our return. I was in Mark's
Prijon Millenium but found it tough going until I got a lesson in how to
paddle properly (using my shoulders not my arms) and found instant improvement.
Kee's photos are here.
Danny |
Wednesday
18 August 2010
By-the-way,
a top ride today with the Toukley club up at Newcastle, with 35 riders.
But, the news is, yesterday's Tascott photos are up, including Bob's pix
from last week at Dora The Explorer. No captions at this time due to time
constraints (there are 58 photos so work that out!). Anyway, they are here.
Danny |
Tuesday
17 August 2010 — Brisbane Water/Woy Woy
About
20 kayakers turned up at Tascott for a very pleasant day of paddling, around
Pelican Island, and, for some, under the road/rail/bike path bridge into
Woy Woy Bay and Waterfall Bay. For those who did the full distance it was
nearly 14 km. Conditions were excellent with almost no breeze and cool but sunny. I had Mark's Prijon for a try-out before Kee's Big Adventure on Thursday and found it very comfortable and fast, compared to my old DAG. Thanks Mark!
Sue and Doug's daughter Lindy was at the park with her 3 kids under 3, the
twins, Hamish and Lucinda, and tiny Sophie. Beautiful, all four!
Trevor was represented by his son Bram to keep Jill company.
A top day on the water!
Danny
PS See Kee's new report below. |
Sunday
15 August 2010 — Kee's solo adventure
On
Sunday, I had a paddle alone from Berowra Waters to Crosslands and beyond
and all the accessible creeks on a rising 1.5 m tide, clocking about 20
km. The weather was beautifully sunny most of the time and a slight breeze.
As I got back to Berowra Waters at around 1.00 pm, the dark clouds came
followed by strong winds. I had to paddle along the edges next to Mangroves
to seek shelter. As I as near the ferry, heavy rain fell and the next thing
I knew, I was covered with ice shavings. Luckily there was no golf ball
sized hail stones. The water also became very choppy and with running waves.
And as I was about to load the kayak onto my car, the clouds cleared, it
was sunny again and the water was flat. You would not have believed it if
I told you that it had just rained except for the wet road surface.
Cheers,
Kee. |
Thursday
12 August 2010
Kee
and Robert couldn't help themselves so went kayaking at Bobbin Head this
morning. He sent this picture of Rob up Cowan Creek. After viewing the photo,
click on Back (Arrow) to return here.
Kee's photo |
Tuesday
10 August 2010 — Dora Creek
The
philosophy of 'don't give it away till you're there' worked well for those
of us who used it today. Despite all the rain and cloud a dozen of us turned
up at the beautiful Dora Creek river and paddled out onto Lake Macquarie
and across to Shingle Splitters Point, about a 9km round trip. Not all of
us went the whole way but that's the beauty of kayaking with us, if you
stop we'll pick you up on the way back. Splingle Shitters Point is very
nice with some beautiful trees which you will see in the photos, and it's
not even a kilometre from the mouth of the river. There was a slight breeze
once we got out onto the lake making small waves to add interest to our
trip, especially for me as I went back in Doug's sit-in streamlined kayak
which is totally different to my old tub. I survived but it was a bit small
for my legs. Fast, but!
So plenty of cloud but not cold or windy, and only a few drops of rain and
lots of lovely kayaking water to satisfy our outdoorsy fresh-air lifestyle.
Harry's and Russell's photos are here.
Danny
PS
See note on Thursday's paddle above (could be postponed). |
Friday
6 August 2010 Bike Ride
Seven
riders made the trip to Swansea in conditions approaching perfect. Richard
was late but caught up with us, and Marshall parked his car at Swansea and
rode down to meet us. Doug, Hans, John and Anne D and I made up the rest
of the contingent. We had our usual little tour of Swansea, around the waterfront,
before we headed back, going back through the SRA and Elizabeth Bay re-tracing
our wheelruts from the trip north. A light SW breeze made the ride up very
pleasant and cooled us down on the way home. For most of us a round trip
of aout 70km, but for Richard riding from home 101km. A very satisfying
day out with friends.
Danny |
Tuesday
3 August 2010 — Dora Creek
Yes,
alright, it was a shocker of a day, but seven spunky seniors turned up at
Dora Creek, mostly with their kayaks. It was cold, windy and rainy with
patches of sunshine but not nearly enough to tempt us into the water. So
we found a little shelter shed and went straight to morning tea and had
a good chat and a moan, and adjourned proceedings till next week, same time,
same place. Whether you decided to come or not you made the right decision. Photos are here.
As you may have seen from our photographic tribute, our friend Don Harley
died last Tuesday. Our sympathy is extended to his family and friends.
Danny |
Friday
bike ride - 30 July 2010
Much
better weather today, apart from a 12 knot NW, but only 3 starters, down
to me and Richard after Barry pulled out halfway up Elizabeth Bay Drive.
So we only went up the SRA, across towards Summerland Point and back down
through Chain Valley Bay. We met Kevin and Jean on the highway, bless them.
I was home again by 1130. On Sunday at 0900 the CCTV mob are leaving from
Wyong (next to the bridge, west side) going round to The Entrance for coffee.
Nice relaxing social ride. All welcome.
Danny
PS Have a look at this pic of a kayak venue at the Grand Teton Mountains, where Jen and Graeme are visiting. Click here
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Wednesday
28 July 2010 — Bike ride
Seventeen
hardy riders assembled for today's ride in rainy conditions, but not cold
or windy, so we were all keen to go for it. Some slightly less hardy members
peeled off for home as we progressed but most of us continued up to Doyalson,
then along Wyee Road, but after Warwick copped a couple of punctures we
took a shortcut up Bushells Ridge Road/Tooheys Road to get back to the Motorway
Link to save time. This involved a fair bit of gravel/mud roads but it was
fun and a change. Our lunch venue was not equipped with shelter so we adjourned
to Col's place around the corner for lunch where John H brought the coffee
stuff, and Col made pikelets and scones with raspberry jam. Or Jan would
have if she was home. There are some photos on the bike club photo page here.
Russell's photos have been added to yesterday's Patonga Creek album, click here.
Danny |
Tuesday
27 July 2010 — Patonga Creek
Our
second visit to this isolated paradise was met with comparatively warm weather
and almost no breeze, and no rain. So we paddled up as far as we could,
all 18 of us, till we ran out of water. A beautiful wilderness, except for
the oyster leases. I wonder how much rent those oysters pay? There weren't
many facilities at the launch site, so we adjourned to a near-by picnic
ground for lunch, shared with many noisy miners, currawongs, kookaburras
and other cheeky birds. Doug negotiated with the CaraVan Park manager for
us to use the CVP boatramp and facilities next time. Can't wait!
Jen and Graeme's latest travelog is here.
Photos for last week at Gosford are now here. Today's pictures are here.
Danny |
Sunday
25 July 2010 — Sunday bike ride
Doug
and I were at the Warnervale station nice and early for the Morisset/Cooranbong
ride, but unfortunately the train didn't stop at Warnie so that was the
end of our scheduled ride. However we rode home via Wyong, Tuggerah, The
Entrance, Budgewoi and Charmhaven to clock up a respectable 60km. My only
regret is that I purchased a $2.50 train ticket and never got to use it.
See you all on Tuesday!
Danny |
Friday
23 July — Bike ride to Terrigal
Threatening
spitting weather gave way to clear sunny skies for 6 intrepid cyclists who,
after making their way to Noraville cemetery, rode to beautiful Terrigal
for some coffee, with a lovely tailwind up Wilfred Barrett to complete a
blissful ride. We used the new cycleway from Magenta and it's very nice,
but not as fast as the road. Barry, Doug, Peter B, Mike, Richard and I made
up for the non-start on Wednesday.
Danny |
Wednesday
21 July 2010 — Toukley Cycle Club ride
Just
a quick report for those interested: today's ride around Tuggerah Lake was
cancelled, in the face of 10°C temperature, 20-25 knot southerly wind
(see Seabreeze),
constant rain... that's all. Eight people turned up, including Kevin and
Jean who rode from home, and Merrilyn who drove down from Cooranbong. And
Warwick and Robyn up from Woy Woy. So plenty of courage there, but we know
when we're licked. Try again Friday.
Danny |
Tuesday
20 July 2010 — Brisbane Water paddle
Twelve
very keen kayakers turned up at Gosford Sailing Club for a paddle around
Pt Frederick to Punt Bridge. the temperature was about 15° but felt
much cooler in the 10 knot westerly breeze. So we had a head-wind into chop
going to Pt Fred from both directions, and a nice tailwind after rounding
it. The boats and houses down there are very nice and make you realise how
poor you are. Or does for me anyway. Russ and Suzie brought a couple of
visitors in a tandem, Jack and Marco, but I think they found it a bit arduous
in the conditions. We had to rug up well for lunch, but were kept warm by
Sue's sangers and the hot coffee which Doug brought, as usual. Remember
this day next February when it's 35°C.
Danny
Next week, Patonga Creek, not to be missed. See report from October last year here. Last year's photos here. |
Friday
16 July 2010 — Bike ride
Good
ride today, from Fassifern rail via Freemans Watering Hole, Cooranbong and
Morisset. Lunch at Macca's, then home via Wyee and Doyalson. About 60km
with plenty of hills, at a fast pace. Nine riders: Peter H, John and Anne
D, Richard, Barry, Doug, Col, Mike and Danny. A bracing temperature but
clear sunny skies. No verbs in this report.
Danny |
Wednesday
14 July 2010
Mike's
lovely Mum recently passed away and he sent us a nice Thank You card for
our good wishes for him. Click here to
see it. |
Tuesday
13 July 2010 — Swansea paddle
Twenty
kayakers left the beach at Swansea in warm still air and headed south through
the very shallow water, past Galgabbah Point and on towards Murrays Beach,
a nice residential estate with parkland, toilets, a cafe and bike path where
we rested before completing the nearly 12 km trip by going back the same
way. The water was mostly quite shallow, very clear and calm, save for the
wash from long-gone passing speedboats. The wind sprang up to slow our return
and the temperature dropped, so we all stood around in our jackets for lunch.
Sue made boxes of sandwiches and Suzanne made a yummy quiche with Rosemary,
and fetta cheese. We saw a regal Osprey in a gum tree and many little fish.
Then we all went home and had a nap. Except me as I had to write this report.
Harry and Russell's photos are here.
Danny |
Friday 9 July 2010 — Bike ride from West Ryde Wharf
Nine
hardy bikers travelled to the Ferry Terminal at West Ryde for Richard's
Adventure Ride. A pleasant meander along bike paths beside the Parramatta
River, and around Olympic Park, Homebush, covering about 45km was our reward,
with no rain despite threatening conditions all day, including rain going
there and coming home. Well organised, Richard! Peter H took four riders
and their bikes from Toukley area using Doug's excellent trailer. Merle
was the on-duty Super-Nan, having no trouble keeping up to Richard's cracking
pace. Also participating, apart from those already mentioned, were me, Tony,
Kee, Alan, Clarry and Col. Round trip there and back >200km but who's counting?
Well done y'all! Some photos are here.
Danny |
Tuesday
6 July 2010 — Avoca Lakes
What
a wonderful day! Not all that cold, ripening into a beautiful sunny afternoon
at a picture-perfect location. Thanks to the recent rain, there was an abundance
of water in what is technically Bulbararing Lagoon. This meant that everywhere
we went there was plenty of the runny stuff so running aground was never
a concern. This allowed the more adventurous paddlers to explore the reeds
and drowned forests and people's back gardens. A few of us went as far as
we could up Saltwater Creek which was a long way, and although it got very
narrow (one metre) it was still quite deep (one metre), as Denis found out
when he came to grief going under a low tree arch. He got stuck on a spike
and grabbed hold of the overhead branch... The water was over 6 feet deep,
and cold, and his sit-in kayak filled with water and sank, along with his
camera bag etc. Doug and Russell and I had to drag the sodden vessel and
skipper to a bank to empty out the kayak and wring out the paddler. The
camera did not survive the experience, shame!
Afterwards we made a big fuss over Don for reaching 80, with a cake, candles,
novelty present and choral tributes (we sang Happy Birthday and Freeze a
Jolly Good Fellow, which would have suited Denis). Not to mention a gorgeous
Apple Cake from The Cheesecake Shop with 80 candles. A photo album with
Russell's and my pix, and some from Kee's trip through Nepean Gorge is here.
Danny |
To
see old reports up to 30 June 09 — click here.
For reports 1 July 2009 to 31 December 2009 Click
Here.
For reports from 1 Jan 10 to 30 June 10 Click here.
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