It all started in 1985…… Thirty years ago, Bev and Mark travelled around Australia. It was BC (before children) – the trip took 5 months. When plotting the trip, it was decided that we would not “do” New South Wales as it was close to home,we could do that in our normal annual holidays. WELL, thirty years later it was time to do the “CLOSE TO HOME” stuff!!.

Where to begin….. our 3 weeks at Narrabeen Beach, north of Sydney, has been action packed & fantastic. Amazing weather has allowed us to enjoy many outdoor experiences.

Swimming in surf and beach rock pools, kayaking on Narrabeen Lagoon, sailing with friends on Pittwater, beach trekking (walking) and bike riding! All of this has been pretty hard to take!!

At Shelly Beach, near Manly, snorkelling with the abundant aquatic life was idyllic and we even spotted the famous large blue groper and the wobbegong shark. Bev even discovered / invented a new aquatic sport … snorkelling calisthenics…Ha!!. Yes, the fish decided to swim to deeper waters after experiencing this.!!?

It was great to spend time with Mark’s cousin David, his wife Sue and their four beautiful daughters, our great friends from our AllSail Turkey adventure, delicious dinner at Dee Why with Sharyn and Chris (Ex Melbourne), a wonderful stay with Natasha and James at their home in Balmain.

Mark has also been adventurous – stepping outside his comfort zone and swimming the iconic ‘Bold & Beautiful’ event at Manly. An ocean swim through the surf with 100’s of keen swimming enthusiasts. The ‘Bold & Beautiful’ is an informal group who meet out the front of Manly Life Saving Club and swim at 7am, 7 days a week from Manly to Shelly Beach 750m, most people swim back – Mark did the one-way trip. http://www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/ The swim is free – but you have to wear the pink cap!! Thanks to Ian and Teresa for telling us about it. 340 people swam that morning – including 34 newbies. It was a colourful spectacle with lots of pink bobbing heads visible from shore.

Australia Day (26 January) was action packed!! Locally, a community breakfast was organised. Bev forced herself to join the “Yoga in the Park” session at 7am. Mark went for a walk!!

Lunch saw us at the Sydney Latin Festival at Olympic Park. Sabrina and her crew

“Empowered Entertainment” took to the stage and wowed the crowd with their amazing choreography and performance.

Their performance is on YOUTUBE here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_riqFR2wNE

NEXT, we joined good friends Natasha and James on a Sydney Harbor Dinner Cruise – Australia Day evening – and the fireworks were spectacular. Never fail to be impressed when cruising beneath Sydney Harbour Bridge with the Opera House, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, The Rocks area; the islands in the harbour, a couple of cruise ships, then Tooronga Zoo and Luna Park on the north side. Always magnificent!!

About to trek up to Barrenjoey Head Lighthouse and Bev spies the cast and crew of Home and Away in action. It is being filmed at Palm Beach (the beach is called “Summer Bay” in the show). Bev, of course, prefers to watch this action, so Mark does the steep climb to the summit on his own!

Not far from our camp it was rather ironic that there was a memorial to none other than … Bruce Bartlett…

Funny they should name a playground after our motorhome………

As part of our Visa Application for France, we sought advice from Paris Tourisme in Sydney city. The public transport was excellent. The bus stop was 100 metres from our camper trailer, took us to Manly then the ferry to Circular Quay in the heart of Sydney. A sight seeing adventure – all on public transport.

In Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall, Bev was interviewed for her opinion on “Women’s perceptions of themselves” for “The Living Room Morning Show” on Channel 10.

Then, back on the bus, over to the famous Bondi Beach. It has a certain Mediterranean look to it from this angle.

That day saw four separate bus trips and three ferry trips – spread over nine hours. All for A$23 each. Great value – don’t you think?

Sydney, and the surrounds, have provided us a wonderful “playground” but all good things must come to …… no they don’t !?!. We are on the road again & now look forward to exploring the stunning southern NSW coast…