Winter returned to the west coast recently with near gale-force north-westerly and westerly winds and solid swell. A procession of squall lines brought heavy rain and hail for several days and nights. For one of my ocean swims during this cold spell, while the water temp was an agreeable 14°C, the air temp was 9°C … Continue reading Strong September Winds, Solid Swell and Surfers on Victorian West Coast
There is a small grassy clearing on a headland on the west coast of Victoria to which I keep returning to watch the mighty winter waves from the Southern Ocean end their long journey on the reefs and rocks there. My eyrie overlooks a rock shelf which is completely underwater at high tide. The rock … Continue reading Winter Waves on the West Coast of Victoria
BMW R1200 GS motorbike ride through cool temperate rainforest in the Otway Ranges Afternoon sun in the Otways State Forest. The temperature in the hills didn't get above single figures. These coastal hills get a lot of rain. The cold clear air smelt deliciously of rich damp soil and the abundance of temperate rainforest vegetation. … Continue reading Motorbike Ride in the Otways Rainforest, Black Kites and Winter Ocean Swell
I did this ride solo on my BMW R1200 GS motorbike. I've owned it since new (2008). The bike had its 230,000km routine service just before this ride. The engine is original and has never been overhauled. It performs as it did when new. But a thorough wash and polish no longer brings it up … Continue reading Solo Motorbike Tour of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia April 2021
The forecast was for gale force onshore winds with an 8m+ swell around Pt Campbell on Sunday, peaking a few hours after midnight - and that's what happened. Coastal cliffs just west of Loch Ard Gorge & Mutton Bird Island The wind at the time this was taken was blowing from the SSW at 30-44 … Continue reading Big waves breaking over cliff tops on the West Coast near Port Campbell
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