Sarah Jane, alias the alternative Cinderella...
Cinderella will go to the ball, actually to the beach!
As many of you know, from my travel memoirs and blogs, the beach has always been my thinking place for major decisions. Whether it's a rain and windswept Cornish beach in Looe, before deciding to move to Australia. Or, Marion Bay, Tasmania, deciding to relocate to France to be nearer our grown up children in the UK; these life changing decisions have been made looking out to sea for inspiration, clarity and maybe some divine guidance.
Therefore, it was only fitting that I gravitated to the nearest beach before leaving Sydney.
Day 2- Bondi Beach, Sydney
Walking out onto the balcony at the hotel bore no comparisons to the previous day when I was met by sun, warmth and a freshness in the air from the brief overnight rainfall. Today my morning welcome consisted of smoke, limited visibility and poor air quality. Undeterred, there was no way that a visit to one of Sydney iconic beaches was going to be missed. Destination - Bondi beach 😎
The Bondi visit started with breakfast and coffee, because I don't function well without either. Today I opted for Eggs Benedict with Tasmanian salmon, I am doing well with my omega 3 intake on this visit.
With my caffeine levels adequately bolstered it was time to explore. The mixture of smoke and cloud on the horizon was reminiscent of rainy days in Cornwall, but the smell of the smoke told a different story. Despite this the beach was busy with bikini clad beach goers, surfers and families building sand castles. The sea was host to the local surf schools giving lessons as well as independent surfers. The sea, rough and choppy, didn't lend itself to helping the surfers get to their feet on their surf boards, however, for me as a movie lover I thought it looked like a scene from the 1991 movie Point Break starring another of my favourite actors Keanu Reeves.
A few swimmers were moved on as the dangerous current signs were displayed on certain sections of the beach. That said, the sea was a perfect temperature for paddling and enjoying the sensation of sand and water between my toes. I love the energy of the beach goers here, looking along the shoreline people were dancing, moving, talking and enjoying themselves showing no signs of letting the dark skies and smokey conditions impact on their activities or plans.
As I sat looking out across the sea towards the horizon, thinking about my future hopes and dreams, I couldn't help feeling guilty that I was here enjoying myself when there were people only 20-30kms away dealing with the aftermath of the bushfires or fearing the increased risk of bushfires, threatening their lives, homes and communities.
Walking along the promenade, I was in awe of the Bondi Sea Wall art project, which has been in operation since 1970 and contains images painted by street and contemporary artists. This was attracting a lot of tourists and photographers. There are a couple of examples below:
This exhibition of art work is not in isolation throughout Sydney, although in some areas it appears more as classic graffiti some of it is so beautiful and intricate it truly
With the smokey conditions increasing, Carol and I decided it would be prudent to start the next stage of our journey which was a road trip back to Canberra. We were acutely aware that the road conditions could deteriorate leading to bushfires smoke road closures as had happened a few days previously.
Our chosen route from Sydney to Canberra was via the Hume Highway, on the NSW side. Until 1928, the NSW side was known as the Great South Road, until it was later renamed after Hamilton Hume, one of the first european explorers to traverse the route with Captain William Hovell in 1824.and
Along the route evidence of the bushfires management and clean ups were evident. Convoys of army trucks and congregations of fire trucks at the services, with much needed breaks being taken. However, the most haunting vision was that of a low loader truck containing the remains of burnt out cars coming out of the road from Bundadoon which had been engulfed by a fast travelling bushfire, overnight a couple of days earlier. This is the reality for the affected towns and communities here, loss of life, homes and an uncertain future ahead.an
Our coffee stop on this trip was at the Coolabah Tree cafe at Sutton Forest. Carol mentioned how quiet it was considering it is the school holidays here in Australia and normally the services would be filed with travelling families enjoying the NAS coastal towns, but with many affected by bushfires the tourists are keeping their distance and following fire safety advice.
At the end of Day 2 safely in Canberra, it's smokey but safe, as I look forward to the next stage of my journey.
Take care and stay safe, I will be back with the next update very soon.
As many of you know, from my travel memoirs and blogs, the beach has always been my thinking place for major decisions. Whether it's a rain and windswept Cornish beach in Looe, before deciding to move to Australia. Or, Marion Bay, Tasmania, deciding to relocate to France to be nearer our grown up children in the UK; these life changing decisions have been made looking out to sea for inspiration, clarity and maybe some divine guidance.
Therefore, it was only fitting that I gravitated to the nearest beach before leaving Sydney.
Day 2- Bondi Beach, Sydney
Walking out onto the balcony at the hotel bore no comparisons to the previous day when I was met by sun, warmth and a freshness in the air from the brief overnight rainfall. Today my morning welcome consisted of smoke, limited visibility and poor air quality. Undeterred, there was no way that a visit to one of Sydney iconic beaches was going to be missed. Destination - Bondi beach 😎
The Bondi visit started with breakfast and coffee, because I don't function well without either. Today I opted for Eggs Benedict with Tasmanian salmon, I am doing well with my omega 3 intake on this visit.
With my caffeine levels adequately bolstered it was time to explore. The mixture of smoke and cloud on the horizon was reminiscent of rainy days in Cornwall, but the smell of the smoke told a different story. Despite this the beach was busy with bikini clad beach goers, surfers and families building sand castles. The sea was host to the local surf schools giving lessons as well as independent surfers. The sea, rough and choppy, didn't lend itself to helping the surfers get to their feet on their surf boards, however, for me as a movie lover I thought it looked like a scene from the 1991 movie Point Break starring another of my favourite actors Keanu Reeves.
A few swimmers were moved on as the dangerous current signs were displayed on certain sections of the beach. That said, the sea was a perfect temperature for paddling and enjoying the sensation of sand and water between my toes. I love the energy of the beach goers here, looking along the shoreline people were dancing, moving, talking and enjoying themselves showing no signs of letting the dark skies and smokey conditions impact on their activities or plans.
As I sat looking out across the sea towards the horizon, thinking about my future hopes and dreams, I couldn't help feeling guilty that I was here enjoying myself when there were people only 20-30kms away dealing with the aftermath of the bushfires or fearing the increased risk of bushfires, threatening their lives, homes and communities.
Walking along the promenade, I was in awe of the Bondi Sea Wall art project, which has been in operation since 1970 and contains images painted by street and contemporary artists. This was attracting a lot of tourists and photographers. There are a couple of examples below:
This exhibition of art work is not in isolation throughout Sydney, although in some areas it appears more as classic graffiti some of it is so beautiful and intricate it truly
With the smokey conditions increasing, Carol and I decided it would be prudent to start the next stage of our journey which was a road trip back to Canberra. We were acutely aware that the road conditions could deteriorate leading to bushfires smoke road closures as had happened a few days previously.
Our chosen route from Sydney to Canberra was via the Hume Highway, on the NSW side. Until 1928, the NSW side was known as the Great South Road, until it was later renamed after Hamilton Hume, one of the first european explorers to traverse the route with Captain William Hovell in 1824.and
Along the route evidence of the bushfires management and clean ups were evident. Convoys of army trucks and congregations of fire trucks at the services, with much needed breaks being taken. However, the most haunting vision was that of a low loader truck containing the remains of burnt out cars coming out of the road from Bundadoon which had been engulfed by a fast travelling bushfire, overnight a couple of days earlier. This is the reality for the affected towns and communities here, loss of life, homes and an uncertain future ahead.an
At the end of Day 2 safely in Canberra, it's smokey but safe, as I look forward to the next stage of my journey.
Take care and stay safe, I will be back with the next update very soon.
Sarah Jane
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