Sydney, November 2: Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach Trail

Walking along the trail from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach last year I imagined how much Don would enjoy it. Despite the dreary forecast, we spent the day hiking along the coast. At the time, I wrote about the different beaches. It still amazes me how a very short distance means a huge difference in type of beach. Some are dog-friendly. Others are great for surfing, but not for family swims. Some have an area separated as a swimming pool. Some have towns right next to them making grabbing lunch a cinch. Others rave about their life guard training. The whole walk is about 6 km (3.5 miles) and can take a few hours if you are strolling, or less if running up and down the many staircases. As with the Jersey Shore, the construction of the path changes suddenly, likely due to ownership.

We optimistically wore bathing suits under our sweatshirts. I guess technically that makes this a swimsuit picture.

I started and ended with my toes in the Pacific Ocean, the azure Pacific Ocean according to one website. Azure blue is the exact shade I was trying to remember as I stared at the clear blue water. Deeper than sky blue. Lighter than royal blue. No hint of the purple in periwinkle blue. Azure. Just saying the word I feel transported to the tropics. 

On the beach was something else blue.

The big difference on this walk was the addition of large public artwork along the shoreline. As we continued our walk, we then noticed a tent displaying models of the artwork. These were for sale starting around $5,000 AUD ($3,200 US). Even the models were too large for our suitcases. We learned the event was called Sculpture by the Sea and is an annual fundraiser. The 2 km stretch of beach includes over 100 sculptures by both Australian and international artists.

Here are a few of my favorites:

The paths around the sculptures were very crowded. It was a Saturday in the Spring, but I thought the rain would keep people away. Once we left the path, it did. 

We saw lifeguards training. Other than the trainees, there were not a lot of people in the water that day. Later we talked to someone who, pointing to blue bubbles, said there is jellyfish in the water. Suddenly the pieces clicked and the blue blobs we saw on the beach we realized were washed up jellyfish. Good reason to stay out! 

We supported a local fundraiser by buying a "snag" and hoping we would return to Bunnings for one of their snags.

We also stopped at the Victorian era Waverly Cemetery, considered to be the halfway point of the trail. It is amazing the tombstones have survived being so close to the water. The salt air cannot be good for them.

Overall the walk felt longer than last year. On the way back we stopped at a street fair to look for dinner, but we were both too hungry and too indecisive to make a decision. We ended up at a Thai restaurant near our hotel, and had chocolate mousse cake for dessert. As strange as the combination felt in the moment, it seems even odder as I write about it.

We cashed in our our welcome drink -- a White Rabbit White Ale for Don (he meant to get the dark one), and bubbly white house wine for me. Felt like grown ups taking it to our room.

Some more pictures from the walk.