Mahon Pool with Darelle and Sally

Today we returned to one of our favourite pools, Mahon at Maroubra.

What's good about it:

• there is a change area (though it desperately needs updating), so you don't have to travel home with that clammy "swamp-butt" feeling
• the water is lovely, and because the seas get high at Maroubra, it does get regularly flushed
• there is a great cafe just across the road. Plus they were able to serve me a delicious salad without any salt! RARE!
• there is soap available in the toilets
• it isn't too much of a "scene". No yummy mummies with oversized "look-at-me" strollers, just a great mix of people of all ages and ethnicities
• parking is relatively easy to find, even on a Saturday of a long weekend, in the school hols

The downsides:

• not much shade
• the steps are getting a bit slimy with algae and are a bit precarious for those of us with some balance issues

Sally and Darelle's Swimming Adventures - Guerilla Bay

An overcast and humid day for a final swimming adventure. The northern end of Guerilla Bay where there is a shallow cove.

Darelle and Sally's Wild Swimming Adventure. 7 Jan 2018, Part 2. Happiness restored!

Between fish and chips at Bermagui, and scone and coffee at Bodalla, we had a refreshing "wild swim" immersion in the Tuross River at Eurobodalla. The river passes under the bridge at the turn off to Nerrigundah.

The older wooden bridge is still in operation while the new, higher concrete model is being constructed.

 Trolls under the bridge waiting for billy-goats wanting to cross

We reckon under the new concrete bridge are the remains of a first, lower wooden bridge. Possibly swept away in a long ago flood?

Planking in the river!

Sandy bank

Sally and Darelle's (non) Swimming Adventure - Blue Pool, Bermagui. 7 Jan 2018 Part One

We set off with such high hopes, fuelled by fond memories Sally had of the two previous times she had swum at Bermagui's Blue Pool. Its setting down the clifftop, with a backdrop of the sapphire-blue sea is quite stunning.

The first view from the clifftop was non-too promising. For a start it wasn't looking blue, and second, noone was in it. Also, though the car park was busy, people seemed to be coming and going in quick succession.

Disappointment was our name:

The reason had been posted: CAUTION Algae Bloom. Due to insufficient swell the Blue Pool hasn't been able to flush itself out which has allowed Algae to grow. 

After admiring the view, and spotting some seals in the ocean, we retreated into town for fish and chips for lunch.

Sally and Darelle's swimming adventures - Sandringham 15 Feb 2017

After our swimless trip to Bronte on Monday, we headed to the calmer waters of Botany Bay, at Sandringham for a quick dip, and a coffee at a favourite haunt, Kiss The Barista.

Apparently stingrays are amused by the old soft shoe shuffle, but only between April and October.......

...which meant tapper extraordinaire, Darelle's, dancing feet were not on display today

The owner of this pushbike told me what to do if stung by a stingray - pour on water as hot as you can stand it.

Obligatory selfie

The grey building at the end has toilet amenities; big enough to change in. Ample free parking (weekday), benches to sit on, and some shady trees. 

Some very well-behaved dogs came to watch and wait

Time to repair to Kiss the Barista for coffee

Darelle and Sally's Swimming Adventures: Brighton-le-Sands 3 Feb 2017

An overcast but warm afternoon for our second foray to Botany Bay. The beach is known as Lady Robinson's Beach. Originally the beach was known as Seven Mile Beach. The beach was renamed after the wife of the then Governor, Sir Hercules Robinson (4 March 1872 – 24 February 1879)

Yes, we went in, but my waterproof camera is broken. The water was lovely - warm, clear and felt "soft".

Pony tails were the theme for the day.

Can always look out over the port and watch planes take off and arrive at Sydney airport

 Once upon a time, when we were kids, Brighton Baths had an elevated boardwalk all around it. I remember in the late 1960s/early 70s being brave and sliding down the slippery dips into the sea.

Postcard 

Photo from NSW Government Printer, Dec 1929 (State Lib of NSW collection) 

Photo from NSW Government Printer, Dec 1929 (State Lib of NSW collection) 

Now the swimming enclosure is marked by nets between the posts.

Lots of cafes and restaurants clustered around Bay Street and The Grand Parade, including one on the beachfront. Nice coffee (including decaf!)

Once upon a time, sand from the dunes used to periodically cover The Grand Parade. These days, landscaping and dune stabilisation through vegetation prevents that.

The Grand Parade is a lot busier than it was when this pic of new crossing signs was taken on 17 September 1964 (State Library collection)

A fair number of the red brick flats that were starting to sprout are still there, though traffic lights have replaced crossings!