The Sphinx Delivers 4 Bars for 'Le Tour'

Being a Tour De France addict isn't easy. It's not just the riders who suffer. For one thing, there are late nights to endure. Commitment to getting better coverage for the 2015 edition included buying a TV in Launceston and then installing it and the aerial while we were in Hobart's Constitution Dock last spring. The Bloke's visit up the mast took so long that he had bruises from the riggers harness. Yup, true commitment. So imagine our distress at not having TV reception around Pittwater where we are currently based!

 The Sphinx Memorial

Not to be deterred, we could live-stream over the Internet we thought. Oops,  can't get Internet or even a mobile phone signal in some of the Creeks and anchorages. Sad faces all around. Smiths Creek was not only a dead end (albeit lovely) but a 'dead spot'. Castle Bay gave intermittent signal and admittedly seemed better at night for no discernible reason and even Cottage Point which is out in the open, was not a lot better. We decided to revisit Bobbin Head. It's so much closer to Sydney and civilisation that we thought we'd give it a shot. Well, still no TV signal but phone and Internet are solid. An added bonus was the possibility of daytime activities ashore. NSW National Parks has a Visitor Centre at Bobbin Head, there is a Marina, Coffee Shop, restaurant and walking trails. Unbelievably, a Sphinx as well. All this with the added bonus of connectivity. Four bars. Deluxe!

Once the early morning fog had lifted and the generator fired up to provide the extra amps that all the anticipated viewing would consume, we embarked on a trip ashore. The target was the Bobbin Head Trail via the Sphinx. A quick coffee at the Marina Coffee shop would have us firing in top gear for the 9.5km stage which was predicted to take 3.5 hours. We also would be hill climbers in our peloton of two!

 

 We set off with quite some enthusiasm.

 Is this still the path?

Fabulous rock formations  

This graffiti was probably NOT the Aboriginal artifact we expected.

 

 Up, up, up!

From water level to the top of the ridge and down again.

   

The Sphinx Memorial Site is a War Memorial and includes a couple of pyramids too.... so it's not (a) Lonely? (b)Out of context? In any instance, it took a lot of imagination, perseverance and perspiration to erect to the memory of those who fought in WW1.

The Bloke was rewarded with his efforts with Friday Fish and Chips at the Marina kiosk. We only just made it back in time. Phew!

And now to use up some amps, some of our Internet download allowance and watch Le Tour in the alpine stages. Allez! Allez!