The Importance of Being Idle

Monday 14th August. Something will change completely. But I don't know what. I could hit the road again, travel up the East Coast and carry on with my Round the World Ticket, or I will move house, beach and suburb and take on a new job. I hope to know by the end of this week, but until I do - I'll just make the most of my last few days based in Coogee.

Royal National Park
On my bike again, I shot into Sydney to catch a train South from Central station to 'Waterfall' - the Southern most rail station bordering the worlds "Oldest Gazzetted National Park". Off the train I found my way to the park entrance before notching up a new top speed on the bike of 55kph; downhill of course. Brakepads smokin', I carried on around the twists and turns of the parks entry. I found the famed falls which weren't really too amazing I guess since there hadn't been much rain lately, though the surroundings were lovely, loads of overhanging rocks and tall trees to really let you know you're in a rainforest - 30kms South of Australias biggest city.

Onward I carried on the tarmac until I found the Lady Carrington Drive (bike trail) turnoff... however I figured it would be a waste to come this far and not see the apparantly stunning coast line so I detoured uphill for a couple of kms to view Garie beach. I had planned to go to the beach but seeing how much elevation I'd have lost - I couldn't face the uphill struggle back again, so I settle for a great view at a lookout point.

Again, +50kph I twisted my way back down to the bike trail. My book had said it was the premiere ride in NSW, after the Blue Mountains it would take some convincing. I was well impressed. Huge trees, murky rivers and tropical vegetations growing from all directions kept me company as I gunned the trail. 10kms later and I came out at a clearing, so spent the best part of an hour basking (resting) in the sun listening to tunes (the main ingredient missing on my last great bike ride in the Blue Mountains).

After picking up some refreshments, I was ready (ish) to climb the hill back outta the park, back into Sutherland for a train back to Sydney... and of course another final ride back to Coogee from Central station - 48ks covered today, I didn't do too much else that evening.




Golf
Since November last year, my backpack had curiously to onlookers contained 4 golfballs, 10 tees and a golfers glove. I finally decided to put them to use and visit 18 Ozzie holes by the sea.

The Coast Golf Club was the venue, just down the road from where I'm living - it's one of 3 courses conveniently located together on the Sydney clifftops.

My form was ropey as a noose. I blame firstly, my epic bike ride the previous day, the fact I was borrowing clubs and spent the round getting used to them, the fact the light was changing and confused me a whole deal, the fact that my glove didn't fit properly, the fact I was at times hungry, the fact I'm getting older, the fact that sometimes my ball got dirty, the fact it was wet underfoot, the fact that there were dirty great cliffs and canyons that you had to hit across... oh, and the fact I've never played upside down before.

Besides all that, I hit a few good balls and made par on a grand total of... err, one hole.

What a view though, playing most of the holes there was a real pleasure and with the boys, we had a great time on what would've been just another Wednesday. The beers at the 19th hole capped off another cruizy Sydney day in the sunshine... mostly.