Sydney: Thursday/ Friday January 12/13

 Thursday turned out to be a very tough day for me, with my pedometer showing ten miles at the end of the day.

We set out on the bus to the starting point for the Heritage Trail, which took us on a very taxing but scenic route--about four miles-- along the water to Shark Beach, where the intention was to swim....but no--the place was closed for major construction...new sea wall, new changing facilities, new cafe...and so we just had to press on through the streets to Parsley Bay. Along the way, through Vaucluse, we passed amazing houses, obviously multi-million dollar places, and all extraordinarily well-manicured. Joan and Alison swam in Parsley Bay, and they came out itching and stinging--some sort of sea-lice. Both were caught at the same time, and both turned to each other to say, "are you being stung?"

On into Watsons Bay and lunch at Doyles--me standing in line to pick up our order of fish chowders, while Alison and Joan went across the park to look out over the Pacific. And after our lunch, we took the walk out to the Heads, the entrance into Sydney harbor from the Pacific. Ferry from Watsons to Circular Quay, and the usual walk home across the park, down to Cowpers Wharf, up the dreaded 114 Maclehone Steps, on to Woolworths, then the wine store, and back home.

I had found the walking quite tough. On the Heritage trail, there  were lots of steps and steep uphills.

I am writing this on Friday. Alison and Joan have gone to meet (and swim and lunch with) a friend of a friend of Alison. She lives in the Mossman area, and A and J had to take a bus from Wynyard bus station in the middle of the CBD and travel across North Sydney out to The Spit, where they would rendezvous with the friend of a friend.

I had decided to stay at home today, after yesterday's strenuous activity. So a quiet day, just a walk to the Wine Store and back in a loop to the cafe at Rushcutters, where I had a granola bowl for my lunch--granola, various fruits, and yoghurt.

And now for a session with the novel I am reading.