The weather this morning breaks cloudy with blue sky patches.

It is days like this where we have to decide how to spend the day—beach, art gallery or walking tour. John has discovered a walking tour guide of Cremorne Point produced by Sydney Ferries that seems both reliable and interesting. This is our plan of action today.

Taking our cue from Ms. J. Jordan in Toronto, we have been trying to get back to the gym whenever one is available. Our building has a small but very serviceable gym that John has been actively engaged with. I had two days of easy treadmill and over-extended my left knee. This is what happens after 45, I guess. But I will get back at it.

Ferry to Neutral Bay and Cremorne

Gym time over, we head to Museum subway station and head down to Circular Quay for the ferry to Neutral Bay and Cremorne Point. This walk proclaims itself as one of the prettiest harbourside walks, with great harbour views, flora and fauna and lots of glimpses of history. It also has some of the most expensive property in Sydney, beautiful Arts and Crafts mansions on the water with garages for their Rolls Royces. (One owner drove up in a RR Corniche (convertible) while another RR was parked in her driveway below).

Spiders, Oh My!

Further on we head into the Cremorne Reserve on our way to Cremorne Point. There are a family about 20 paces ahead of us and I watch as the children flap their hands over their head and squeal with either horror or delight. As we approach we see huge spiders in large webs over the walkway, waiting. Further along, we watch in fascination as one devours what looks like a wasp for lunch.

We come out of the reserve at the Cremorne Wharf ferry dock just as the ferry arrives and we decide to continue our walk to Mossman Bay, which is another 40 minutes around. We immediately plunge into even bigger and more beautiful houses, priced in the millions of dollars with even bigger yachts moored in the bay. Our path winds its way between houses and apartments on one side and beautiful gardens and bush on the other. One garden in particular is the Lex and Ruby Graham Gardens. Lex and Ruby decided, in 1959, to clear up the public dumping ground that existed in from of their house—kitchen sinks, mattresses, refrigerators, whale bone corsets, you name it. It is now a beautiful, tranquil garden respite on the path to Mossman.

We end our walk at the Mossman Ferry returning to Circular Quay and a quick train ride home to Oxford and College Streets. The next five nights out are booked for us. It is Mardi Gras after all. We spend a quiet evening in front of Australian TV again–Neighbours, Home and Away, old seasons of ER and CSI. Yawn…bedtime.