Coming to Australia we were well aware of all the deadly dangers this huge continent has to offer.  One only had to watch ‘Deadly 60’ to know that Australia is number one on the list for most things.  But here it is not just the aquatic or land animals that you need to watch out for it’s also Mother Nature herself.  As experienced only a week ago,  things can go sour within seconds so we must respect her at all times.  Today was no different as we woke up to news of more devastation across NSW, Victoria and surrounding areas. From the forest fires in and around Victoria over the past week, where 1000s were effect and  many lost their homes with one fatality we are suddenly at the other end of the weather scale.  The ‘monsoon’ we got caught in yesterday continued through the night and early morning causing landslides, flash-flooding and homes being washed away with more fatalities recorded.  Many mountains, beaches,  parks and tourist destinations were closed for the coming day for safety reasons. One young lad (aged 12-13) who was swimming at Shark Beach where we swam last week, got attacked and is in a critical condition where he was bitten several times by what the media call a ‘big shark’. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and all those affected over these past few days.

We do count our lucky blessings, as we’re due to leave Sydney for one of the campsites that was flooded and work our way slowly up the east coast stopping at coastal and inland sites along the way.  Now this will need much more meticulous planning to avoid road closures and floods. Undeterred, we will make our way to Brisbane and the Gold Coast with a lot more caution than previously planned.

With all this in mind,  how would we spend out last full day in Sydney. Suggestions of the aquarium, museums and shopping were discussed but none appealed to our adventurous side.  Plus we had our local tour guide Benny to entertain.  After breakfast, we decided we would take a bus to Coogee and go watch the power of Mother Nature herself as all the  northern beaches were closed due to sea swell. 

Coogee was definitely too wild so we trekked to Clovelly, the place we had out first swim some 12 days ago.  A little hop over the hill and we were there.

When we arrived, all the lifeguards were around their station so we stopped to find out the local gossip.

A few people swimming but this wasn’t our spot either.  Though we had built up an appetite so we stopped for a picnic. From Benny’s ‘Tardis’ bag he laid on a huge spread.

We weren’t the only hungry ones.

Now we are full, let’s try our luck at Bronte Beach. The weather was now 24⁰+ so things were looking up.

After a well deserved rest we headed across the coast once more.  A few climbs and descents, all with a magnificent view of the water crashing against the cliffs and the waves rolling in violently to shore.  

Finally after 30mins we get to Bronte. Finally the perfect spot for a dip.  Enclosed and safe with the full force of nature at our backs.

All three of us had a good dip and swim.  Quite an awesome feeling with the wild ocean crashing around us, almost goading us on to come out of the sanctuary of the pool and join her along the beach where her rip tides would surely have the final word. Not this time we’re afraid.  We showered, changed and hopped back on a couple of buses. 

All was going well until we had a change of driver a few miles from home.  We were thrown from side to side as she kept testing her brakes worked for an emergency stop.  3 or 4 cars had to slam on their brakes every time the bus pulled out of a stop into the flow of moving traffic. It sounded like we were in a celebration parade with the number of car horns aimed in our direction. To be truthful the ferry ride yesterday was smoother than this bus ride.

After wobbling off the bus shaken and stirred we headed back to Surry Hill.

As it was Sunday we headed out for a tasty roast and were joined by the one and only,  king of Sydney (his words not ours 😜), Ronan. He was accompanied by the beautiful Luna. 

After dinner we parted company with the young love couple and headed for an ice-cream parlour on the way home, taking our delights to the park to eat with the bats.