Stage 1 - Tamarama to Maroubra Beach

On the 15 June 2008 on a blustery rainy winter's day the intrepid explorers, John C, Rose, Gerri , Di and John H otherwise known as "JJ and the bushbabes" set off on their coastal walk from Tamarama Beach en route to Melbourne!!

This first section of our walk is part of the Clovelly to Cronulla Coastal Sydney walks. Our umbrellas in tow and full wet weather gear we set off. How crazy are we! We pass Tamarama beach and climb to the top of the cliff. We walk along the cliff tops to Bronte beach past the beach and we walk through the old cemetery and look at graves that are over one hundred years old. People died so young in those days and we are quite moved. By now we are saturated but Gerri is elated as she loves the cold, wet, windy weather....the colder the better for her. On we trudge past the Clovelly bowling club and along the Clovelly headland to Clovelly beach. What an interesting beach. It is a very narrow stretch of land and we have to walk around it to get past the breaking waves. We scurry along and make it to Coogee beach where we have our first well earned pit stop. By this time with the wind howling and the torrential rain everyone is looking at Di and wondering why they are here and not tucked up at home in front of a hot fire and cupping a mug of hot chocolate with a pink marshmallow.

JJ and the bush babes enjoy a delicious lunch and intrepid as we all are....."life be in it" .....we say and off we go.With renewed energy we walk along the coastline and lo and behold there are dolphins everywhere close to shore and having enormous fun surfing the waves. We look up and thank whoever for pushing us on so we could feast on this fabulous view. We are getting tired. Our umbrellas are constantly pushed inside out with the force of the wind. We are now walking along the streets and looking at all the interesting house when nature calls for Rose....but where is a toilet? Thank heavens there is building work up ahead and a port-a-potty. Oh well, discretion is the better part of valour and relief is sort and given. We are on the home straight. We pass Lurline Bay and arrive at the end of our first day at Maroubra Beach. We have probably only walked about 8 kilometers but in these conditions it seems much longer. We wait patiently for a bus to no avail and hire a taxi...a taxi which was meant for 6 people only seats 5 but we pile in regardless and arrive at our cars tired but very happy. We are on our way!!! Our goal is to reach Melbourne!!!
Di
P.s I believe that Rose was sick for a few weeks after the walk but the soldier that she is, I didn't hear a word of complaint!!!! Three cheers for Rose.Yip pip hoorah,yip pip hoorah,yip pip hoorah.