Central Tilba is small hamlet south-west from Narooma which can be reached along some beautiful and quiet gravel roads. Paved sections start and finish the ride but in between is wonderful, undulating gravel through a green and forested landscape. If you arrive early enough in the morning Tilba is still asleep so the main road is quiet, like you have it all to yourself. Cycling is a beautiful way to see this small part of the south coast of NSW.
Read MoreCycling on an old, grass-covered velodrome - Corunna Point NSW, May 2024
I had a big smile on my face and I was feeling exuberant while whizzing around a historic grass-covered track. The course was still damp from the previous day’s rain, and more clouds threatened. Despite that, I was having a natural high because this abandoned course was still usable over 130 years after it was made, and I was using it. I was riding my Trek Checkpoint SL6 gravel bike around the old Corunna Point Velodrome and loving it.
Read MoreWaterbirds, Lizards and Dragonflies - Cycling and Photographing the northern Centenary Trail on Friday, 15 January 2021
On Good Friday 2019 I went for a ride around the southern section of the Centenary Trail, taking my camera with me so that I could photograph interesting subjects that I found. Back then I the only lens that I had to use for such a trip was a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM that had been a kit lens with my first DSLR that I bought, about ten years earlier. I was using that lens because I wanted something would give me some range but I did not want to take my bulky Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM, mainly because I was worried about breaking it. Since that ride I had always intended to complete the Centenary Trail by riding the northern section and also take a camera along, however, now I would take a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM and a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM so that I was better prepared for what I may see.
Read MoreWhite-fronted Chats and a Little Pied Cormorant - Photographing around the National Arboretum with my bike on Saturday, 14 September 2019
The National Arboretum was the perfect place for me to test out my road bike that my local bike shop had converted into a gravel bike. The weather was glorious for this early in Spring and I took the opportunity to take my camera with me as well. Unfortunately, I did not want to take my good 100-400mm telephoto lens so I only had my 18-55mm kit lens and my 40mm. I am glad I had a camera as I saw some lovely birds but I really wished I could have carried my better lens. I saw some lovely White-fronted Chats around the pond at the bottom of the hill at the arboretum and also a Little Pied Cormorant resting on the edge of Scrivener Dam. The day has really whetted my appetite to do some bike-packing/bike-touring with my camera so I can get out and really experience the environment around me. I hope you like the photographs below.
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