Manly Again!

Today was our Bible Study group's *social* ie outing to encourage fellowship among our BS group members. Clain (who I suspect is default organizer of such social events) had planned a trip to Northead Santuary up north in Manly and I must say, good choice!

There were 11 of us: me, Mike, Andrew, Vivi, Su Faye, Jessica, Clain, Richard, Peypey, Jeff and Rachel. Unfortunately, Jack, Yilyn and Su Yi couldn't make it today.

(A/N: I know what you're thinking at this point in time, looking at the list of names- that's a whole lot of "Su-s!" 3 of us in 1 group lol)

7.30 am- Slept at nearly 2 am yesterday so this was an extremely ungodly time to wake up

8.10 am- Managed to catch 428 to Circular Quay. No traffic this early in the morning so the journey only took 10 minutes instead of the usual 25.

8.25 am- Almost walk past Mike, Rachel and Richard at Wharf 3 (to Manly)

8.37 am- Others still not here yet.

8.40 am- Somehow, they managed to arrive in time and we're right on schedule boarding the 8.40 am ferry to Manly.

9.30 am- Reach Manly. Head to Coles to buy snacks and supplies

10.00 am- Walk along Manly and Shelly Beach. Played weird version of netball called captainball (sp?). Snack on Doritos and have a good ole "getting-to-know-you" session.

12.00 pm- Peypey and Mike have to go back :(

12.30 pm- Long long LONG trek to Northead begins.

Taking a picture next to the 'Hole in the Wall'. From L to R: Andrew, Richard, Clain, Jeff, Jessica, me, Su Faye, Rachel and Vivi

1.oo pm- Reach cliff with beautiful scenery. Don't believe me? Take a look :)

1.30 pm- Reach WWI bunker

2.30 pm- Reach Northead Sanctuary visitor centre, also visited site of filming for "The Biggest Loser-Australia!"

Inside the Tourist Centre, with a giant map of Manly

2.45 pm- Reach Northead Point, the highest point of Manly which is on top of a cliff. Fantastic scenery of northern Sydney

The lovely ladies of Jack's BS group (from L to R): Jessica, Rachel, Vivi, Su Faye and yours truly

3.00 pm- Reach Quarantine Station to board bus back to Manly Wharf

3.15 pm- Go to McD's to buy ice-cream cones. Wait for Rachel to buy Ben and Jerry's.

3.45 pm- Rachel still not back yet. We're kinda pissed because we missed the 3.45 pm ferry

4.05 pm- Rachel finally returns and we board the 4.15 ferry back to CQ.

5.04 pm- Caught 426 back to IH

So that's what happened today in a nutshell. This little account however cannot describe the beauty of the scenery we saw today, the excitement of hiking 10km along a nature reserve, that anticipation of experiencing the unknown and of the suffering endured in the hot sun! But the view at Northead was definitely worth the walk (and climb!); and best of all was just getting to spend time with a group of such wonderful people.