Port Hacking and Gunnamatta Bay - Think Cronulla!

Port Hacking sounds like a destination but its really a waterway out of which the Hacking River escapes to the ocean via Bate Bay into the Tasman Sea. There are a lot of waterways to explore if inclined but we can only access some channels at high tide and others are out of our reach because of overhead power lines. Our mast is 15.75m above our deck. Then add a bit for antennas on the top plus +1.2m waterline to the deck + an amount from the deck to the mast step and we are looking for 18m of clearance for comfort. With so much coastline that we can explore without 'height anxiety', we'll have to let others tell us all about it.

The 'Surfer Dude - hanging ten' 

A wind vein reminding all and sundry - This is Cronulla!

We are in the big smoke now. Houses and in many instances mansions, are terraced up the sloping shores overlooking Gunnamatta Bay which is just one of the 'fingers' within the Port Hacking waterway. Many have little boat sheds and 'summer houses' on the shoreline. At low tide it seems that many locals take the opportunity to hold week-end parties on the exposed sand, which from our distance, made it confusing to know just what we were looking at.... Did those buildings almost flood at high tide? The answer is no, they all have a little sea wall and it's quite evident that they are not at all worried about any possibility of oceans rising.

 A golden outlook over anchored yachts.

 

Carol and Jeremy who we've probably known for 38 years have been living in the Port Hacking district for around 30 years and have recently downsized to an apartment that is barely a kilometre from where we anchored for our first 5 days here. They didn't need a 2nd invitation to come for morning tea as they had been carefully following our approaching miles and checking from the headlands to see if they could spot us.

GPS maps on the phone helping us get oriented relative to our friend's house.

The Bloke fetching Carol and Jeremy for morning tea.

Carol and Jeremy have been following our journey and engaged with The Bloke's quest for the perfect sausage roll and brought along a local sample from the local Artisan Bakery. Seeing as we'll be here for at least a week, the Bloke is looking forward to reassessing this variety on a daily basis.... for his research of course!

Proof or our new post code - 2230

On getting ashore, our first task was to each find a hair cut. How could we help Carol and Jeremy celebrate a 34th wedding anniversary looking like wooly sea dogs. Recommendations from marina staff meant that we were both groomed by 10:30 and ready to experience some of Cronulla's delights. One thing that Cronulla seems to have a lot of is hairdressers and barbers. We are not sure of what this says about the locals but they obviously like to look sharp.

The Bloke getting a 2nd look outside 'GRIND' Cronulla's award winning coffee shop.

The Bloke, Carol and Jeremy in front of one of several ocean pools at Cronulla.

Presumably, the pools solve the 2 problems for swimmers - surging surf and sharks!

The OBE's

Daily bathers - Over Bloody Eighty!

There is a VERY out-doorsy and healthy vibe here.

If these two are anything to go by, it's a great life-style.