March 7

Awoke to sunshine and 80’s. The bird show begins and they must be fed.  Off to north Sydney area beaches.  Stop off at near Scotland Island at Church Point, Pittwater Bay; we curve around narrow roads of lush vegetation and harbors filled with every kind of boat.  Those who live on the island must travel by dinghy to get to their cars for work.  Very posh living.  We can see large plumes of smoke rising from two locations where the national park is doing a controlled burn.  The smoke can be seen traveling out over the ocean and we can occasionally smell it at Knight’s house.  Further up we start at Mona Vale Beach and pass by a  series of beaches going south along the coastline back toward Sydney.  Every curve of the shoreline has a sandy beach, many with salt water tidal pools for swimming.  We stop at Long Reef Point a National Park on a headlands that sticks out into the ocean; affording a great view of the various headlands and beaches in the distance.  Beaches are red sand further north and get lighter going south.  Stop at Manly on top of one of the headlands for lunch; A WWII military installation is still intact for visiting. Bunkers are still visible.  Great views from here.  We stop up there for a lunch at Italian café with outdoor veranda under giant fig trees, excellent food.  The trail takes us to one side of the headlands that sit at the mouth of Sydney Harbor.  Captain Cooke missed this entrance and landed at Botany Bay which was much more inferior for development. We can see the skyline of Sydney in the distance and the many kinds of boats and ships in the area including ferries.  There is a large cruise ship in port that dwarfs the Sydney Opera House.  Oddly we see no sea birds at all.  Not sure why but think it’s strange given the amount of seafood gathered in the area.  Drive to Manly with an incredible beach of white sand facing the ocean.  It is a big tourist area and a place for many big events.  There is a lovely pedestrian shopping street with cute shops.  See our first Aboriginal art store and start to think about what to buy.  On the other side of Manly, it faces the Harbor.  We board a harbor ferry and head toward Circular Quay downtown Sydney.  We pass even more small sandy beaches and all kinds of ships and boats.  We can’t believe passing an Australian Navy submarine.  We take the local train back to Killara at the Knight’s.  It’s rush hour and lots of people.  It’s an oyster card system similar to London.  We enter the train level with the platform then it divides upstairs and downstairs.  Very clean, fast and efficient.  Back at Knight’s the bird parade returns for feeding.  We have grilled lamb chops on the lanai and more good Oz wine.  We have a euchre throw down and the guys win.  The possum returns tonight and he allows us to take his picture.  Another great day in this beautiful country.