Sunday - Newcastle.

So i'd set off after lunch to find the beach walk and ocean bathes. Looking at the map it didn't seem so far, and although i knew the walk was 5km I had slightly forgotten about getting to the start and back again afterwards. The walk was spectacular tho, and once again I have lots of pics to upload when I get an internet connection again. The walk took me over cliffs which turned to beaches and then back to cliffs again. Never one to stick to the marked path I had some terrific and terrifying views over the cliff edge. A few surfers were out, beginners I expect who didn't know better, takeling the waves which seemed to be so inconsistent. As I walked along the waters edge on a beach with my shoes tucked into my bag, one minute id be 10 meters from the edge of the lapping wave, the next up to my knees getting my shorts very wet as a wave crashed in then back to 10m out. Bizarre. Apparently too, I have already seen the ocean bathes on my travels, i'd commented on a picture about the swimming pool in the sea and thats exactly what they are. When I came across the one in Newcastle, I decided that I had to try it out, the sign said the water was 16 degrees, but I was dubious as the air temperature sign i'd gone past earlier also said it was 16 degrees. With a victorian style changing room right there I lost no time in getting ready and plunged into the water. No way was it the same temperature as the air outside, it was freezing! Still I managed a few laps and an exploration before retreating to the hot showers. The bottom of the bathe is sand, and it was just like swimming in the sea with random bits of seaweed floating past. In one section they had even marked out lanes for swimming races, but I was the only person stupid enough to be in the water today! After getting out and warming up, my meander took me all the way along the peninsula and out the man made jetty to Nobbys point before walking the 8km back to the hostel as the sun set over the harbour.