November 7, 2008

November 7, 2008
Woke to birds screaming above my tent at about 5 am, and was treated to a world-class sunrise…that’s one thing we don’t getonthe Left Coast: the sun rising over the ocean. Beautiful stuff.
Drove through several towns that were like Kaneohe meets Carmel. Big escarpment/mesa cliffs covered in vegetation frame the whole coastline, which is roiling with points and rock shelves and pocket beaches with perfect white sand and pine trees. Lovely area.
Wollongong wasn’t much to speak of, but it was about 7:30 am and not much was going on.
I detoured inland to Minnamurra National Park, and was not disapppointed. It’s a “rainforest” (seasonal, of course) gulch about 20 miles inland. I was the first park visitor and was amazed at how well organized the park is. By keeping foot traffic on raised platforms, they have successfully limited erosion and as a result, I was able to see yellow-tailed cockatooes and the lyebird (sp?)…and there was a lovely little waterfall at the end.
Returning to the coast, I was stunned by how similar the countryside looked to Point Reyes. I could have easily been on the the Petaluma-Marshall Road. Green, bucolic, soothing.
Got to Warmra or something like that and pulled down a suburban road, threw out my mat, and crashed. I needed a siesta.
I just recently arrived at Jervis Bay, where I am awaiting a “chicky” sandwich and putting together my guerilla camping options. There’s lots of beach around here and I don’t think any one’s going to give a hoot if I’m in and out.