Tues, 9th Sept, 2014 Forresters Beach (exploring the beaches)

Lovely morning – the lorikeets were feeding in the tree next to the verandah.

Went for a walk with Pete onto the ridge to the point near his place and we looked down on the blow hole again and across to Terrigal and further to Broken Head.

I zoomed my little camera in on some houses on the furtherest ridge – great little camera.

Steve and I then walked down the steep street north and around to the Wamberal Lagoon reserve where we can also walk down to the beach below Pete’s place which is called Spoon Bay. The Lagoon does go out to sea further south around the point.

We went for a drive north towards The Entrance again to go exploring for the day. We turned off at Salt Water Creek where there was a boat ramp into Tuggerah Lake. Further along were very long jettys. Near the first one there was this poor dead octopus someone had dumped after cutting off his tentacles.

Great view from the end of the jetty north to Pelican Island and the power stations in the distance.

Long Jetty – also the name of the suburb, was very long and built originally in 1914.

Found a park near the Memorial Park. The water here is so clear.

Headed towards the sea on the Esplanade and there were great history plaques along the way.

 The entrance etc has changed a lot over the years.

The Ocean Baths were interesting.

Great rock formations on the front of the point.

Blue bottles were everywhere here too – pushed in by the north easterlies yesterday. Went pop when we walked on them.

 There were even a few in the baths – which were being cleaned I suppose to get them all out.

 

It was a bit smelly as there was heaps of kelp and sea grass everywhere too.

Someone started a Thong (Jandal) tree.

Back to the car for a cuppa and biscuit. Broke off a bit for a seagull – then there was 2, then more. One cheeky chap would hoover by our heads to take the biscuit out of our hands.

 Appeared to be two types – red or brown feet ones.

Even a pigeon came to check out if there was any scraps.

Someone did a sculpture of Percy the Pelican – wasn’t very good though.

Walked all the way to the Lake end of the walk and got a good shot of the bridge.

It used to be a wooden bridge and there was still the street sign near the boat house.

The boat house is still the original construction – with repairs. Amazing as it is built on the land and over the water so the tide doesn’t rise much here.

 The old tender boats need a lot of love – one in the rafters shows the old workmanship.

Steve and his birds – this bird walked along the seat and even let him pat it. We saw him later quietly walking back to the boat house.

The info plaques are great and it was interesting comparing the old and now buildings.

At the end of the walk in the Lake area the pelicans were waiting patiently for their “catch of the day” from the fisherman.

Steve spotted a Rennai hot water hanging off the wall of a unit – he is always checking out gas fittings everywhere (even the BBQ thing last night).

Lovely war memorial area.

Drove round the coast road to Toowoon Bay and had lunch warming in the sun up on the top of the ridge. The breeze is still very cool. Rang Kaylene in Melbourne – wonderful news her dad, Bill, is doing so well after his surgery. Walked down the stairs to the beach/rocks and watched some snorkelers and others on the beach point.

 A windsurfer was enjoying the good breeze.

Further on to Shelley (Shelly) Beach – they can’t make up their mind how it is spelt. Same with Forrester/Forester Beach.  Looking back at the ridge where we had lunch.

 Looking south to a caravan park on the south of Shelley Beach, called Blue Lagoon.

Round to the next bay – Bateau Bay – and walked through the Reserve that is part of the Wyrrabalong National Park. Came out overlooking Shelley Beach and the caravan park – it is huge. A lot of permanent vans in all the van parks around here.

Back into the Reserve and we came out looking down on Bateau Bay – better protected from the north easterlies so a few sunbakers here.

Further round the ridge and we climbed up to Crackneck Lookout and looked back over The Entrance, Tuggerah Lake and further to the power stations.

It was a 1.5km walk to the next lookout – Wyyrrabalong Lookout so off we went. Lots of lovely and unusual trees and flowers along the way.

Walked through low shrubby then into taller tree area toward the tower in the distance.

Half way there and great view back to Tuggerah Lake and Budgewoi Lake further on.

Good view out to sea high on the cliff.

The love padlocks are here too.

There were a few stairs!!!

And then a few more.

Finally at Wyrrabalong Lookout – great view down.

Then south to Broken Head.

The small monument was a trigonometrical survey point and the big one a communications tower.

Handgliders and paragliders launch off the grass area here and down onto Forrester’s Beach below –

  the ridge where Pete’s house is in front.

Found another survey marker near the edge of the lookout.

Steve then check the info sign and realised we could have driven to this lookout. But I said it was the journey that was just as important as the destination – well it was a nice walk and we need the exercise.

Climbing back up the stairs again and wondered what the girls were looking out.

An echidna – fancy that – see it was worth the walk.

Back to Crackneck Lookout to hear the currawongs singing again – such a lovely melody.

There were lots of bellbirds, whip birds and other birds singing along the way.

Headed back to The Entrance to watch the pelican feeding which was great. They were all waiting patiently for the volunteers to start the feeding at 3.30pm. They look after the ones that get hooked etc. One has one wing, another is blind and there were a lot of young ones.

 He caught it – was a bit of an ordeal to swallow it though.

 Foods over so they shooed them back into the water.

They certainly were entertaining. Even did a video of them. This one thinks he is a light.  

 The tide was running out fast now but a kite boarder was having a ball.

Back to the van and I cooked Mum’s curried sausages for us and Pete. I had put a fair bit of curry in and it was tasting funny. Went to put more in then realised I had bought Keen’s mustard, not curry!!! Found the curry paste from Tuckshop so dumped a heap in and mixed it in. Tasted ok and my cousin loves mustard so he thought it was delicious. Left him with the leftovers as I had made a double batch. Rang Mum then to have a laugh. Steve said “Should have gone to Specsavers” again!!!