Sunday Morning
Why would you give up your precious morning sleep in your warm bed,
out into the darkest and coolest time zone before the world come awake?
Because this everyday-different-panoramic-show captivates you?
Because otherwise it would be disappeared obliviously?
I don't know.
Now I recall clearly the colour of dawn that quiet early morning which enveloped us and whispered us
with those special spirits while the whole world was asleep.
As always it dissipated too quick as soon as the sun rose.
It was 5 am when we were ready with layers at the top with gloves and head torches to go on an early morning walk.
We thought one hour was enough to reach top of Yacaaba Head.
We tried to find a way to the beach stumbling around in the middle of our huge caravan park, typically
I relied upon Eddie blindly and instantly upset with this tiny bit of hitch that he didn't exactly know where to go.
As if he should have known everything while I didn't try to know any details.
I didn't even realize until later we had to walk two beaches before we met the actual Yacaaba track.
Jimmys Beach at the left and Bennets Beach at the right
When we came out into Jimmys Beach I saw lights flickering at the other side of sea which must have been Nelsons Bay.
This part of ocean facing Jimmys Beach was indented like a lake which made waves reach gingerly the shore rippling.
Constant incoming waves didn't have longer or usual intervals in between with much softer rhythms.
I assumed according to my memory Yacaaba Head should've been on my right hand side.
(We walked on Bennets Beach straight from our car before climbing up there 4 years ago.)
I walked following my instinct without thinking and I saw Eddie's head torch was
getting away from me making more distances between us.
With doubt I turned around and started walking towards him and he met me in the middle.
And I realized I had to reach Bennets Beach that way.
It was easier to walk on the relatively hard surface near diligently coming waves but mostly walking on deep fine sands
required more efforts feeling like you were not moving but at the same spot with all the struggles.
With the sea and other landscapes stood the same.
From time to time I checked my back to see two big sets of zigzag foot prints following us.
We arrived at the end of Jimmys Beach when I realized it was almost time for the sun rise.
Estimated sun rise time was at 6 am.
We crossed easterly over a high sand dune into Bennets Beach and as if he read my mind Eddie suggest
we settle there for the sun rise.
We didn't want to be stuck in the middle of bush before the sun rise.
To my utter surprise and regret he brought our two camping chairs along with a thermos full of hot coffee, snacks,
and rain clothes.
Not to mention two one-litre water bottles!!!
In his usual big hiking back pack!!!
He was pulling out everything as if he swished a magic wand.
He woke up more than an hour before me and prepared all of these.
OMG!!!
I sat on the chair with my hood up and my rain jacket on my laps(to warm myself) facing the east fully ready.
I felt like a princess sipping warm coffee sitting on the most comfortable chair in the world amidst of priceless
natural feast.
I remembered suddenly an old couple gazing the sun rise sitting on the chairs a few years back
at one of the beaches in Sydney.
Of course you had to enjoy the most spectacular sight sitting in these chairs I felt amused.
Inside my mind I really appreciated all the efforts Eddie made for us and most of all I felt lucky to be able to be
there with him.
I declared to Eddie without hesitation that this majestic show of sun rise at that particular place
at that time was the best ever in my life.
We were close to southern end of Bennets Beach where I could see the beach spread and curve(to my eyes) at the northern end
by engulfing the sea in it which gave us a good angle of extraordinary view point.
Beach was wildly alive with hugely surged empowered waves which were formed from nowhere and came thrashing
and crushing itself with its all energy and then it repeated the same process again and again.
Oblivious of time and other existences like two humans or a few sea gulls.
What a contrast between two beaches!
After all these grandeur show we packed unwillingly and started walking south bound into our initial destination.
A small mountain( rather we could call it a hill) route was 3 km in return and last 500 metres were very steep and rocky
after passing a tall open forest.
We arrived at the top around 7 am and looked down at the place we were with more objective eyes.
We looked at Tomaree Headland from there too which were across from the sea.
We went back all the way through to arrive at our accommodation around 8am.
We didn't meet a single soul at all during our morning adventure.
Morning walk took 3 hours which made us pleasantly tired and hungry.
I loved this kind of physical tiredness which made me ponder the meaning of puritanism(metaphorically
not religiously) or yogi(in terms of training and torturing your body).
Tomarree Head from Yacaaba Head
Sunday evening
We changed our initial plan for Monday's sun rise and went back to Yacaaba Headland for Sun Set.
We learned we would have a rainy day the next morning.
This time we knew we had to have at least one and half hours to reach top of Yacaaba Headland.
We wanted to leave our accommodation around 4 but it was almost 20 past 4.
We didn't waste too much time to make it at the top for the show.
Unlike morning we saw a few people wandering enjoying warm late sun rays at Jimmys Beach.
We had to follow a four wheel driver's which was making too cruelly distinct tire marks on the beautiful
fine sands all the way till end of Jimmys Beach.
When we reached top of the hill the huge sun was about to set which was partially blocked
unfortunately from the trees but Eddie climbed on to a tall tree to catch unobstructive views.
It was a bit disappointing not to have a full view from there but I was happy with my accomplishment
of two walks in one day for sun rise and sun set.
It was absolutely amazing to have witnessed two everyday-happening-but- every time- unique events
with the perfectly good weather both at morning and at night.
By the time we walked on the Jimmys Beach it was totally dark with the glittering lights from Nelson's bay
across the sea.
It was unforgettably memorable moments to walk holding hands with Eddie relying on our dim head
torches listening to waves in the dark.
Salty seaweed smells reminded me of old memories.