Bronte and Bondi Beaches, and the journey in between

Nicolas, Gillen, Jesse and I stayed for two nights at an apartment that Kenneth and Naomi had sublet this week, so that we could be close to the beach (and it was good to give Kenneth, Naomi and Zoe some room for a few days). There was no wireless so I am behind in the blogging. They were full days and now there is too much to say.

First of all, today (in the U.S.) and yesterday in Aussie time, Nicolas turned 40. This was his first birthday ever in summer. Not a bad place to turn 40, especially with Kenneth and Naomi's generosity. They rented a boat for a few hours and we spent the afternoon exploring the harbor and its beaches, with Moet champagne, chicken, prawns and a Sacher Torte. I gave him some good sunglasses. I somehow lost the other big, bug-eyed, not my favorite in the world pair (not on purpose, really). He's looking good, eh? I'm glad that he has finally joined the 40's with me. Now he can know the joy.
And might as well get my Zoe moment in, right away. Here she is sleeping in her mother's arms in a tent at the beach.
We were based at beautiful Bronte Beach, on the east side of Sydney. The beach was technically closed, due to dangerous currents, but that didn't stop the lifeguards from setting up and we all followed the natives into the water. We did witness a lifeguard jet-skiing out to a surfer who was in trouble. Gillen kept his "surfing" closer to shore.

Jesse eventually got over his fear of a tsunami (Magic Tree House Book #28 - don't read it)and he continued playing his "Fight to the Finish" game (Jesse created) on the beach, in the water and in holes he dug in the sand (to bury American quarters - part of his spy epic).



If you look really closely to the right, you'll see me, in my red "cossie" (Aussie word for bathing suit) and my new hip straw hat, looking not quite as hip as I'd thought, in the surf.






Gillen's long-haired surfer look, finally making sense. Ironically, the real surfer dudes now have closely shaved heads.
There is an amazing cliff walk between Bronte and Bondi beaches. Any tiny dots you may see in these pictures, out at sea, are brave (maybe insane) surfers.














This last one shows the beginning of the cliff walk, as seen from Bronte Beach. My calves are remembering the walk, right now.