12/01/2022: Down By the Riverside: Cooks River Bikeway to Cronulla

 A couple of days ago we decided it was time to explore the downstream half of the Cooks River.  We waited until the UV had reduced to sensible levels, hopped on our bikes, and off we went.

And very nice it was, too.

One of the best things about riding a bicycle is that even in really big cities, the bikeways follow the rivers and the railway lines and it's possible to pretend that you're pedaling in the country when really, you're not.  We pedaled along an old railway line where serious signs threatened dire consequences if we left the path.

Roger survived, but barely.

We pedaled along deserted railway corridors,

and beside swampland with twittering birds and a background symphony of frogs (the first frogs I've heard in Sydney, by the way).

The Cooks River turned suddenly from swampland to an actual river, complete with lots of boats of all kinds,

and then we were very surprised to find a farm,which was not what we expected to find in Sydney but was very nice all the same.  Here are the Kyeemagh Market Gardens, which have occupied this space since 1892 and are very pretty to cycle past.

Past the market gardens we had a grand view of the airport and the planes taking off and landing across the other side of the river.  Our resident plane-spotter dallied here awhile, but the cycle path was calling...

and just past the airport we left the Cooks River and entered Botany Bay, where we found a hippopotamus!

Friends.

Having reached Botany Bay and the official end of the Cooks River Bikeway, we contemplated turning around and pedaling home again, but a shared pathway wandered off beside the sea and the high rises of Cronulla beckoned on the horizon.  We could catch the train home from Cronulla.

Off we went along the beach.

Family groups picnicked and frolicked beside the beach.  ebikes and escooters buzzed up and down the path and walkers meandered in and out and all over the place, creating a moving slalom course for bicycles.

Over the George's river we went...

past the old oyster beds,

where we did some bicycle posing

and headed off down to Cronulla.

where we had tea beside the sea.  Well, not quite beside the sea because Cronulla is not so well-mannered as to put it's takeaway shops beside the sea.  We had tea in Cronulla's almost-deserted pedestrian mall instead.

Then we caught the train home again, and we had the whole carriage to ourselves all the way home.  We sat and watched the rain splatter across the train windows and enjoyed being dry.

We had a good day.