Grotto Point Reserve (The Spit to Manly)

I walked from the Spit Bridge to Manly today.

It was a ten-kirometre cource but I didn't think it was long because it was such a exciting walking.

At first, I crossed the Spit Bridge and started my walking.

I saw a lovely yacht on Clontarf Beach. Two people was paddling a kayak. A man on the kayak waved and I waved back.

I went into the bush. There was lovely view from the foreshore track.
I could see Grotto Point from Castle Rock.


I found a huge flower by the track.

The national park was very big.
When I was walking in the bush, I couldn't see the sea so much.
But sometimes spectacular views came into view. It was very exciting.

I arrived at Grotto Point. There was a lighthouse.
I could see Middle Head on the other side of the sea. I walked there last week. I could see Balmoral Beach and South Head as well.

I went back to the main track and walked towards Dobroyd Head.

There were some engraving which were protected and it had been eroded.
But some were obvious that they were kangaroos (or wallabies), fish and sharks.

I continued walking. The city was seen from the track.


After a few minutes, I arrived at Craster Cove Lookout. Manly and North Head were seen.

It was a rocky foreshore and there were some huts which fishermen had been living in.

I walked towards Arabanoo Lookout. Arabanoo was an 18th century Aboriginal man who played an important role in helping Governor Phillip communicate with the Aboriginal people.
I saw an couple there and they took a photo for me.

It was such a beautiful view. I walked along the track which is in the photo below.

I walked towards Reef Beach. The Manly Wharf which was my destination could be seen.

I arrived Reef Beach. It wasn't a nudist beach but there was nobody.


I arrived at Forty Basket Beach. There were many lovely dogs. I saw a lovely dog playing with Frisbee.

I met an old man with a dog. He lives near the beach. He told me that he was very lonely since his wife had passed away but now he is very happy because he started living with the dog. His dog was an eight-year-old male and very intelligent.

Soon after, I met two little boys. When I was walking on the track, they suddenly asked me which one was taller. We walked together and had a chat for a while. They told me that they had been friends since they were 6 years old. Now they are 12 years old. They were very cute and friendly. I thought that if children glow up in a beautiful place like there, they must have a cheerful dispositon like them. Their smiles made me feel happy.

I arrived at North Harbour Park. It was just 2 kirometres to Manly.

I could see North Head, Dobroyd Head and South Head at the same time near the Fairlight rock pool. It was lovely.

Both the sky and the sea were pink. I was looking at the sky for a while.
There was a woman next to me. She was also looking at the sky. I told her that it was very beautiful in spite of myself. She told me that she lived in Manly and was going to Singapore next Thursday. She came from UK. Probably it must have been the only chance to see her.

She looked like she was trying the views in her mind. I wish her good luck.

Aftre that, I arrived at Manly Wharf soon.
I could see many friendly people today. I was very happy.
It was such a pleasant day.

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8/6 draft

Kerri's housewarming

I met Justine again at 6 p.m. at Central Station.
Kerri invited me to her housewarming party.
I visited her house with Justine because it must have been a lovely meeting for them.

We caught a bus to Newtown. It was my first time to visit there. There were a lot of shops, cafes, and restaurants. Many people were having dinner.
We talked that we had to come there again for shopping and lunch.

We arrived Kerri's house at 7 p.m.
We were the first people and too early.
I brought a bottle of extra virgin olive oil and some cheese for her.
Justine and Kerri became friends quickly. Justine is a writer and Kerri is an editor.
Kerri's new house was very lovely. There were a nice backyard as well.

We met many of Kerri's friends there.
I spoke with Mr. and Mrs. Ball. They were very friendly people.
Mr. Duncan Ball is a writer. He writes children's books.
Some of his books were translated into Japanese. I must read his book shortly.


I first met Kerri last October. She was Rita's host mother. I met Rita at an English school in Sydney. Rita came to Sydney for 4 weeks and has gone back to Switzerland.
We went to a Japanese Restaurant and it was Rita's first time to try raw fish.

5/10/2006 at Musashi in Sydney

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5/6 draft

Sydney Writers' Festival

I met Justine at Wynyard station at 9 a.m. in the morning.
We went to the Sydney Theatre to watch "Mark Haddon in conversation (via satellite)".

We went into the hall.
But the programme was delayed because of their communication trouble. We could hear him but he couldn't hear the hostess.
It was funny because he looked perplexed.

The programme started 20 minutes later.
We enjoyed the conversation. He was very talkative.
He was not only a great writer but also a great talker. I became his fan.
I'm reading "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" at the moment.
It is my first English novel and such a interesting story.

After that we had a brunch at a cafe in Walsh Bay. It was a lovely time.




After we separated, I walked torwards the Rocks.
They were having the Rocks Market. I took a walk in the Rocks.



I went home before I came out again in the evening.
Kerri invited me to her housewarming party this evening.

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5/6 draft
7/6 revision(2 grammar)