Day 283 - Sunday 8 October - Into Sydney's Northern Beaches

Day 283

Sunday –

8 October 2017  - Finished the novel “Girl in Between” by Anna Daniels. This was a very easy read, a chick flick in a book. I like the fact that the setting was familiar, Rockhampton and some other notable spots on the east coast, as well as London.

Toowoon Bay – Mona Vale

I was awake early with the sun only just making its self known. I was happy to stay in bed and finish off my book but by 8.15am we were up and getting busy. Shower and breakfast out of the way and the car packed wit our things, we jumped on the M1 heading to Mona Vale an hour and a half drive south.

Being Sunday, the road was relatively easy to navigate. I remember this stretch from our previous visit, though we travelled the old M1 before. The highway crosses the Hawkesbury River, another substantial water system and extremely pretty with the rolling forest lined hills leading to the water.

The road is also quite a feat of engineering with it carved deep into the rock bed. Where freeway off ramps were required, more of the rock was cut away leaving wedge like pie pieces from Trivial Pursuit standing ominously. 

When our left turn came up, we followed the road into the northern Sydney suburbs, passing through some very swanky areas, old majestic homes of stone lining the expensive streets on huge blocks. We passed Knox Grammar and remarked at how expensive it must be to send students there. 

We eventually made it to our destination and parked outside the Modus Operandi Brewery. It wasn’t due to open for 30min so we took the opportunity to duck into the shop for a pee and then went for a long walk around the block taking in much of the shopping, food and light industrial businesses within in the area. 

Two laps later, we were finally in the gate and checking out the brewery. I did my usual whip around for photos and then joined Paul, with Lockie who was kind enough to take us through the brewery and into the basement where the canning takes place. 

Once we returned to the bar, Paul got stuck into the beers while I sat back and had my usual water. We watched the food come up and were so tempted, but with increasing waist lines and decreasing bank accounts, we refrained, however by 2pm, I was starving and with Paul all done, we made our way to the Mona Vale Beach at the end of the street. 

After grumbling about having to pay for parking, we sat at a park bench, watched the waves roll in and the para-gliders taking to the overcast sky. We made the most of our hour parking, opting to walk the neighbourhood, wandering past the busy an highly manicured golf club, before making our way back to the Getz.

With the keys now in my hands, I let the GPS do the navigating, while Paul took the opportunity to enjoy the noddies.

The drive home was just as uneventful as the one there. The rain had begun, though it was only light and just enough to make a mess of the windscreen. We stopped for fuel on our way back and just after 4.30pm we were home sweet home.

The park had thinned out dramatically and our neighbours had gone, leaving the area behind the van vacant, so Paul opted to pack up the car and get it on the trailer. Once all the outside stuff was done, we sat back in the van enjoying the quiet and completing our work.

I rang home to get the latest, of course not much was happening, though they both sounded healthier. Mum let me know Brad was on his way to the Gold Coast for a week of golf after only getting back from Exmouth with the family.  Some people have the life!

I set about finding a route, that didn’t involve toll roads for tomorrow’s onward journey to Windsor. Once that was sorted we organised dinner and ate before once again settling in for the night.