Mona Vale Ocean Pool (8 Jan 2013)

A really hot day in Sydney, an early start, a morning swim. A close encounter with one of the resident pelicans at the lovely pool. This was one of my favourites on the northern beaches walk.



From Mona Vale Headland looking over the pool. The first beach is Bongin Bongin, then Mona Vale, then after the rocks in the middle, Warriewood. The headland in the distance is Turimetta Head.




Mona Vale pool from Mona Vale Head





Looking north from the pool towards Mona Vale Headland





This pelican seems to think it knows where its breakfast is coming from!





And then the pelican went for a little stroll around the outside of the pool



Newport Ocean Pool (7 Jan 2013)

In August 2012, the carcass of a young adult humback whale was washed into the pool. Click here to see some fabulous photo, and here to see more.



Newport Beach: the pool is on the rocks in front of the headland



Bilgola Beach Ocean Pool (7 Jan 2013)

From January 6 to 11 2013 my friend Ann and I walked the Northern Beaches of Sydney, from Barrenjoey Lighthouse to Shelley Beach, Manly. I had wanted to do this trek, part of Sydney's Bicentennial Coastal Walk for some time, with the aim of swimming in all the 14 ocean pools along the way. Here's pool number 4: Bilgola Beach Ocean Pool (7 Jan 2013).

Avalon Bilgola Amateur Swimming Club swims at the Bilgola Rock Pool on Saturday mornings during the summer months. The club was formed in 1961.

In 2010, a man was swimming in the pool, doing his laps, when a coucil worker came along to prepare for the weekly pool cleaning. He opened the outlet valve, and the man was sucked through the pipe and ended up on the sand below. Fortunately he survived, but with cuts due to the rough, barnacle covered interior.

You can read about it here.

Avalon Beach Ocean Pool (7 Jan 2013)

From January 6 to 11 2013 my friend Ann and I walked the Northern Beaches of Sydney, from Barrenjoey Lighthouse to Shelley Beach, Manly. I had wanted to do this trek, part of Sydney's Bicentennial Coastal Walk for some time, with the aim of swimming in all the 14 ocean pools along the way. Here's pool number 3: Avalon Beach Ocean Pool (7 Jan 2013).

Here's an Avalon factoid: In the 1990s, an episode of US TV show Baywatch was filmed at Avalon.

There was some talk of permanently relocating the show to Avalon, but that got stymied due to protests by locals.

Avalon was named in 1921 by a local developer, Arthur Small, after the mythical resting place of King Arthur.

The 25, pool is at the southern end, nestled under the cliff. On the day we visited, the water was warm, but there was a lot of seaweed at the bottom - not a good place to put one's feet down! That did mean it was good for some underwater shots.



The pool is down theat the end of the beach, nestled under the headland