A day in Manly

On the schedule for Tuesday was a hike out to Manly from Spit Bridge. The day started off a little overcast but it fined up once were in Manly and we had some proper beach weather!

One reason I love this hike so much is because you get to go through many different types of surroundings. From Spit Bridge, you start off in a rainforest-y pathway through lots of fern groves and tree cover.

Starting out our hike!

There were many exciting lizard spottings all day. These little guys are so chill - they just sit there in the sun and let you walk right by. Or take pictures of them.  =)

We stopped for a snack break about 1/3 of the way through. It was kind of chilly down by the water, but still beautiful.

It was pretty wet from all the rain.

But that made everything nice & green.

We made it up to the top - and the clouds started clearing off! There are great views of the city, Watsons Bay, and the inlet to the harbor from the peak of the hike.

Then we headed back down and to the final stretch toward Manly.

By the time we got to Manly Beach, there were some tired people ready for a nice picnic lunch. The surf was up so we had lots of entertainment watching the surfers while we ate.

The sand was nice and warm, perfect for a post 6-mile hike nap!

A beach nap makes everything better!

The water was just warm enough to put toes in - for a second!

A little ice cream before we headed back to the ferry....

And then a great seat on the ride to the city!

We closed out the day with dinner with my lovely friend Susan from work and her husband John. We lucked in to a table at Jamie Oliver's and had a great Italian dinner - yum!

Then Dad, Toby, and I walked down to the shore for some twilight photos while Mom rested her feet.

 Some pictures courtesy of Dad (taken with a real camera, not an iPhone camera!): 

Tuesday sunset behind the Harbour Bridge

One of our bat friends hanging out in a tree near our apartment

And a picture from the aquarium from Monday

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