Bermagui to The Entrance

 Around the world lives the misconception that Australia is always sunny and warm, or tropically hot. We already wrote that temperatures can be quite cool along the south coast, since penguins do not like it hot. Well, I can now also tell you that on the east coast there is fall, and the saying 'when it rains it poors' might just as well be thought up down under as in England...Today we are taking shelter in a motel from a day long, serious downpoor and gusty winds. A good day for writing if not for cycling.

From Bermagui we were facing a day of Princes Highway. Luckily it has a decent shoulder quite often and there are some escapes. The main one being the touristy historic town of Central Tilba, where we enjoy some great pancakes. It is a steep climb to get there, but it was a nice place full of 'old' buildings and shops from around 1900. As Europeans we are somewhat amused with all the historic sites in USA, NZ and Australia. Mind you, our own house, built in 1928, would be quite the attraction here.

Central Tilba main street

The next day starting in Moruya we plan to take the George Bass Drive that would get us off the highway for quite a nice stretch, when we see signs indicating the road will be closed that day to host a triathlon. O bummer!

We decide to give it a shot anyway. Luckily the officials are understanding and with a 'Please ride in one line' we are allowed in the cycling contest. We get lovely comments and looks from participants and even a bottle from the service team, spectators are cheering for us. Great experience, it felt like winning even if we didn't.
And although we are on the highway the second half of the day we manage to hold on to the good feeling the triathlon gave us.

Triathlon

Also the next day there is no escaping the highway. From Ulladulla to Nowra we soldier on, feels more like exercising than holiday making if you can appreciate the distinction. By now we are in pretty good shape and we reach Nowra in a nice time, the gained time we than use to find a place to stay...

The next day we get on Sidney's city train. On our way to the station we are almost run off the road by a very Dutch appearance: father on bicycle, small kid in a seat attached to his steer, second kid on small bike trailing his bike. The only thing that made it Australian was that both dad and the child on the trailing bike wore high-viz jackets and helmets and of course dad gave us a kind g'day while racing by.

We spent the next 3 nights in a backpackers in Sidney, doing the usual touristy stuff: historic walking tour, hop on hop off bus, afternoon on Bondi beach, dinners in China Town and at Darling Harbour. Sidney is a nice and vibrant city, of course with a very interesting past, being the first place where Europeans came - or better were sent - to settle. But personally I found Melbourne had a nicer atmosphere. Quite literally too...my sensitive airways needed a full day adjusting to the pollution and or air condtioning!

Governement House

Walking Harbour bridge for free ...

Climbing harbour bridge at 200 dollar (we didn't)

Even Ibis are numbered in city life

Schoolkids wear uniforms

Impression of Harbour Bridge

This Notre Dame inspired cathedral was built in the 18..s, the towers were finished in 2000...just before the olympics.

Wooden streets in the early days of Sydney

Semi old and modern going together

We left Sydney by ferry to Manly and cycled to Wamberal from there. Although the weather was still slightly better then today we were reminded of our NZ excursion to Doubtful Sound and were looking for waterfalls. Our 20 year old route description listed yesterday as easy and flat. We sometimes wonder if the route maker ever cycled here, since we measured with our modern equipment that we have climbed 700 m and also went down about as much in 60 km. He must have had a very good day!

Enjoying our rainy days!?!

On our way to a nice dinner with live music in a dry place