Surf Rescue, Clovelly

A very Sydney Christmas

Well, it was gorgeous. The best type of Christmas weather - warm, very sunny, the gentlest of breezes. Perfect for a swim and snorkel in the morning, back home for an outdoor meal in the mid-afternoon, lingering into the night.

Seasons Greetings to you and everyone in your life.

The coast walk from Clovelly to Bondi

Around Waverley Cemetery. The path used to go along the edge of the cemetery. It was crowded and becoming eroded, so this new cantilevered decked walk has been built.

I've shown this stretch and the cemertery before, prior to the new walkway being built: click here.

Clovelly 4 - Off The Rocks

Outside the breakwaer, where the rocks are, kids were having agreat time jumping and diving off the rocks into the ocean. The rock platform extends quite a way, because they were able to stand in the water.


For more pictures in this sequence click here (link to my Swimming Blog) . There's also more pics of the pool shown two days ago.

Clovelly 3 - The cafe

My sincere apologies to the lovely people who are leaving comments and to whom I am not responding. Finding time at the moment is a real problem. But I do read them all, and appreciate everyone who takes the time to drop a line....I hope to get back to you as soon as I can.

Clovelly 2 - the pool

You didn't really think there's be a story about Clovelly without a pic of the pool did you? Kids' Saturday morning swimming races were on when I visited.

Clovelly 1 - that Mediterranean feeling

We're leaving Bronte for a while now and following the coast south (the Sculpture By The Sea series in November last year covered much of the territory between Tamarama and Bondi, which are the beaches north of Bronte). Last weekend I went to Clovelly, so we'll have a look at that most "Mediterranean" of Sydney beaches for the next few days.
The reason it reminds me most closely of the Med is its calm waters and the concrete surrounds, with steps down to the water at regular intervals. Last time I swam from a concrete promenade at a beach with a great cafe overlooking the water was probably somewhere in Greece!

Clovelly does have a sand beach at one end, and a concrete sea water pool, but its main attraction is the calm, shallow waters perfect for snorkelling. The most famous residents are the blue gropers (see yesterday's entry).

I swam about 4 laps of the bay, from beach to the breakwater entrance and back - the length of the bay is about 350 metres. The day was hot, and the water cool (about 21 degrees - it's been pretty "fresh" this year)

Photos taken 31 January 2009

Clovelly Bowling Club

As lawn bowling clubs are disappearing (read more here) , the land usually being developed for medium density housing, Clovelly Bowling and Recreation Club hangs on to its prime position overlooking the sea.

You can hire the club and greens for birthday party or wedding, take part in a casual game of bowls, under the instruction of members ($10 per person), or in the words of the club, have a great corporate good time:

"The Clovelly Bowling Club makes it easy for you to organise your company's off-site. Forget the new age mumbo jumbo, nothing good comes from building a tower out of scrunched up newspaper blindfold. Real team bonding comes naturally from a little sunshine, a few cool bevies, a well cooked snag and some healthy competition. "