Stage 3 - Kurnell to Cronulla Beach

Sunday, 3rd May 2009

We started on the 3rd leg (or is it the 4th) of our walk at 9am at Captain Cook’s Landing place in Kurnell. The “original” 5 – John & Di H (who is definitely our leader and organiser), Geri (who loves to walk in the rain and as a consequence the heavens open up when she comes just to please her) and John (who always brings along snacks in his backpack) and I (Rose).

The morning is crisp but the sun is shining and we happily start our walk. We lost the track (and we barely just begun) but after a little detour were soon back on track. We find ourselves climbing the cliffs with the most stunning views of the coast. As we move on it starts to rain and we’re soon wading through puddles and mud along the heathlands and wetlands. The views are spectacular, especially when we near the Cape Baily Lighthouse. There is water cascading down the lime rock-faces and the path meanders through native bushland, such as the Banksia Robur (a native of the Sutherland shire). I just wish I had remembered to bring along my camera and a book of native plants, so I could identify them.

We come upon ‘Boat Harbour’ where there are large shell middens everywhere (I’m beginning to wonder whether they’re really middens or just shells washed up by the sea). But the idea of the former seems much more romantic, so we stick to it. Aboriginal communities were here way, way before us but this is all they left. Below there are some weird looking huts and such – it looks like a squatters community. Curious, I ask a ranger on the beach and she informs me they’re fishermen and holiday huts. Well if that’s what they call it, then it’s fine with me. They’re certainly situated on a prime beach location. On the other side of the bay we can see Cronulla, our destination.

We take a break and enjoy our snacks. Let’s see – dried mangoes, nuts and seeds and fruit, yum…..all washed down with H2O, lovely. Geri is certainly enjoying the break. She worked a 14 hour shift and is now facing a 14km walk.

The walk takes us along the beach which seems to go on and on and on. It is a pleasant walk, unfortunately Geri is suffering from the spurs on her feet and we all slow down and encourage her onwards.

Whilst we’re walking it occurred to me that as we’re planning to do some more of these walks (hopefully one day we may reach Melbourne) then we might as well start up a ‘blog’ wherein each one of us writes about our experiences and also we need a name for our group. And after many many references to baby boomers (all strongly rejected) John H comes up with :

‘JJ and the bush babes’

We finished in Cronulla and enjoyed the most scrumptious lunch at the Alley Break Café which is right on the beach. The grilled fish, salad and chips went down a treat………….