With my 2013 mission to live everyday as if it was your last, today Michael and I joined forces with our good friends Bev and Don to do the magnificent 6km section of the Kiama Coastal Walk from Kiama to Gerringong.
Bev and Don are doing a walking holiday through Spain and Morocco later in the year so now looked like as good a time as any to get fit.
And before you knew it we were off – looking pretty confident at this stage considering all four of us had major surgery during the year
Our section of the walk took as on a ‘dramatic, coast-hugging route between Kiama Heights and Werri Lagoon’.
A popular spot for taking out the tinnie
Looking back to Kiama
The boys were keen to set the pace. Check out that work boot tan
Sadly there were far too many fisherman playing Russian Roulette on the rocks without lifejackets
and illegal squatters Tut tut
Kiama’s very own ‘apostle”
The Kiama coastline at 8am this morning – just divine
says Michael
A little bit of history for you from the brochure ……….
“The Kiama area was once dominated by a vast rainforest known as the Long Brush. By the time the cedar-getters arrived in the Kiama area in 1815, the local Aboriginal people would have been aware of the impending changes to their way of life. Strange and deadly diseases would have already arrived and the spread of the destruction of the bushland was certainly feared.”
By the 1820’s Kiama was supplying 9/10ths of the Sydney Cedar Market. The round insert and reference on the map shows the tiny patch of coastline that still supports the rainforest. As you can see from the first picture the cows in the pastures along the coastline would welcome the return of some trees
“As land grants were taken up, the traditional owners were forced from their lands.”
“Before long the magnificent forests were cleared to provide timber for the new colony, expose the volcanic soils for crops such as potatoes and wheat, and clear the way for dairy farms”*
Kiama Pioneer Butter Factory – Australia’s first Dairy CO-OP opened in 1869
At the half way mark we were all starting to feel pretty confident we were going to make it
Lynne and Michael looking confident
as did Bev and Don
When you see these magnificent cliffs you know have made it and you can pat yourself on the back.
Before we knew it we had reached Werri Beach Lagoon
and Kerrie was waiting to take us to breakfast
and how lucky were we to avoid the queues we saw as we left ?
after tasting the food. (Which dairy farmer chews his nails????)
and drinking the milk shakes and lattes
and taking in the view at the Sea Vista Cafe, Gerringong, we could understand why people were prepared to wait
Such a special day, so many wonderful natural resources to appreciate and along the walk you may be reminded of days past,
or you may just enjoy the rolling hills, boulder beaches, sea caves, rock platforms and exposed cliffs that create the dramatic scenery and from May to June and September to November, the walk provides great vantage points for whale watching.
Well worth a visit we can guarantee you !!!!!!!
* BTW You can read the history of dairying in the Illawarra here