Sat 27/7 Continuing the northern exploration, 1st stop the Baha'i temple, on the way to Barrenjoey. There was a crew of surf lifesavers there practicing on jet skis, with a platform behind, sometimes with a rescuee on. Back via the Serpentine Road, via Bilgola and Whale Beaches. Dinner with Mel at Forestville RSL.

Sun 28/7 First stop, across the road to the French's Forest Bushland Cemetery, Davidson Section. Really interesting, particularly the "family vault" section. The original internees were often from Sicily, and Calabria, with them or their descendants now dying in Manly, Curl Curl, Collaroy, Dee Why or Belrose.

It is a classy form of burial. Is it time we thought about a Duffy,Fahey,Green,Davies Family Vault?

As we'll be racing back the M1 on Wednesday, we went north on the Old Pacific Highway. It's so scenic that it's mostly 60km/h - and today that was enforced by 2 different speed cops. In spite of that, being a sunny Sunday, it was still popular with bikers. Pie in the Sky and The Old Road Cafè are popular meet-ups. We had lunch @ the latter, with a free show of the comings and goings. Most were middle-aged Harley riders. Like outlaws would come to a 60km/h road!

At Ettalong Beach we checked into the Middo's unit at the Mantra. Our own spa, a large balcony overlooking the pool, and the beach a couple hundred metres away. Many thanks Allan and Michele. They'll be taking delivery of their (JB) caravan shortly, but will be heading north, not west.

29/7 Local area, 1st to Pearl Beach, recommended by Allan and Michele as the best in the area. It was a little gem, though we found the water temp chillier than expected. Yes, we were the only ones swimming. We didn't stay in long.

On to Patonga Beach at the end of the road, a picturesque little village (and caravan park) for boaties, fisher-folk and other right-thinking people. Properties on the other side of the inlet only accessible by boat.

As usual mynah, plus lorikeets, an Ibis, multiple kookaburras (including on the back of the cafè seat beside us), pelicans, and a flock of small birds looked that like Merv's Welcome Swallows in Rome. At dusk we were by the pool, in the guest spa and there were clouds of these small birds working zones, presumably after insects.

30/7 Drizzly, headed north Copacabana, Avoca Beach, Terrigal, Bateau Bay, The Entrance. A few surfies out, many of them tradies. They seem to keep the board on top of the 'ute and when the swell looks good, it's gotta get priority, cobber. Lunch at yet another cafè called the Boathouse, watching 3 guys in fluoro rain jackets standing up in a tinny, fishing.

Eating in (in our jammies) tonight to finish our food and put another load of laundry through before we get on the train tomorrow.