Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 50: Happy swimmer

I didn't ask this man's name, but we chatted for a while as we rested between laps. We were both enjoying the water at Dee Why pool. He agreed to let me take his photo. He was visiting with his children and nephews. They were having fun teaching the little one to balance on a boogie board in the small pool.

They were lovely kids, having a great day out.

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 49: Bird on a Rock

Dee Why pool

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 48: Walking

No sooner had we discovered this helpful brochure online, than this group came walkign off its pages!

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 47: Jeremy

On a windy, overcast, but still warm day, we met Jeremy, who with his friend Alex was kite-surfing at Dee Why Beach.

We stood and watched them for ages - looked difficult, but lots of fun!

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 46: Long Reef

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 45: Surf School's In!

Morning learn-to-surf school at Collaroy Beach

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 44: Collaroy pool

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 43: Cinema

Tuesday 9 January was so hot - it reached a maximum of 43 degrees - that in the afternoon we retreated to the airconditioned cinema at Collaroy.

It's a lovely example of 1930s art deco 'ocean liner' style.

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 42: Keeping cool

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 41: Water

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 40: North Narrabeen Pool

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 39: North Narrabeen Ocean Pool

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 38: Narrabeen Lagoon from Narrabeen Head

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 37: Driveway

Had to laugh at this driveway in Bruce St, Warriewood.

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 36: Sandstone

Sandstone outcrop on the small headland separating Mona Vale and Warriewood beaches.

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 35: Pelican

Pelican Head ?

At the ocean pool at Mona Vale we encountered this pelican. A local later told us there are three which live there. This one was very keen on being as close to the fisherfolk as possible - an easier way to "catch" breakfast than doing it for yourself!

Then it went for a stroll around the rock platform outside the pool.

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure: Mona Vale

Looking south from Mona Vale headland. Bongin Bongin Beach is the first one, then the Mona Vale ocean rock pool (we;ll visit there tomorrow), Mona Vale Beach and Turimetta Head in the distance. The large white boxy building is Mona Vale hospital.

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 33: Festive Melaleucas

In Melaleuca St, Bungan Head, a stand of melaleucas (paperbark trees) hosts some Christmas decorations and kids' play equipment.

There's even a rung on the ladder marked out for me!

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 32: Headlands

Taken from Bungan Head, the next headland is Mona Vale, then Turimetta, and in the distance Long Reef

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 31: Drying at Newport

A windy afternoon at Newport Ocean Pool - just right for drying sarongs and other buts and pieces.

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 30: Rocks at South Bilgola

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 29: Showoff!



Bilgola Pool



Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 28: Bilgola Bird

An Australian pied cormorant (also known as a the pied shag) surveys the world from the  chain at the edge of Bilgola pool.

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 27: Bilgola Pool Outlet Pipe

In 2010, a man was swimming in the pool, doing his laps, when a coucil worker came along to prepare for the weekly pool cleaning. He opened the outlet valve, and the man was sucked through the pipe and ended up on the sand below. Fortunately he survived, but with cuts due to the rough, barnacle covered interior.

You can read about it here.

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 26: Bilgola pool

Bilgola is a 50m, eight lane pool with disabled access. There's an active swimming club which meets at the pool (Avalon - Bilgola)

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 25: Bilgola North Lookout

Perfect walking conditions for the longest day of our walk - we covered approx 16 kilometres from Whale Beach to Bungan. These pics are taken at Bilgola Head.

Top: The view south: Bilgola Beach, with pool on the rock platform at the southern end. The larger beach to the south is Newport, after Bilgola South Head.

Left: The view north with Avalon Beach, and Avalon Head. The higher headland in the distance is Bangalley.

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 24: Farewell Avalon

Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 23: Fishing at Avalon