The start of a big walk

Me at the start of my big coast walk on the Pittwater: photo taken by Ryan

Palm Beach from Barrenjoey

25 July 2010: At long last I have started on my quest to walk Sydney's beaches, following the coast from the very northern beaches of Sydney, to the most southern, that is from Barrenjoey Head and Palm Beach all the way to Cronulla. I've been told that it's about 100 k, but need to check that. My son Ryan was forced to tag along with me on this my first day, totally unaware that his mother is on a mission! He's 21 years old and has autism, and so gets to do lots of things like this, and I am forced to work a bit harder for him to make it interesting for him too. Today we started at the southern end of Barrenjoey Beach and walked along the beach and then up to the lighthouse. I am sure that the last time I did this walk was in 1987 when I was very pregnant with my first son, and I'm also sure that it was much easier because we walked up the road. I really don't think that I would have made it up the narrow and steep path we followed this time. Ryan's great on hills and managed to pass most others struggling up, and not knock anyone over at the same time. He didn't want to go into the lighthouse, but did follow a short bush track out to the point, and was sort of interested in the grave of one of the lighthouse keepers who was supposedly killed by lightning - but who probably died of a heart attack unrelated to lightning. The walk back along Palm Beach was just gorgeous. Back to the car and happy and satisfied to have finally started my walk. Distance: about 3 k.

Barrenjoey Lighthouse and Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage

The Pittwater, looking north