Jacarandas and Bay Swims

November has been a beautiful mix of heat waves, cool changes, and a few rainy, humid days. And as we move into summer, it looks like bug and snake season is officially here.

 

Earlier this month, Tom and I stumbled upon the purple jacarandas in Sydney, and I was delighted to discover that Melbourne has them too. I suspect ours bloom slightly later because of the cooler climate, but once I spotted the first one, I couldn’t stop noticing them every few blocks; such a stunning pop of color! They’re surprisingly challenging to photograph, but I'll be ready for them next spring.

   

I’ve been keeping busy this month with swimming, reading, volunteering, working at the bike shop, and two professional development courses. And while Tom and I were in the Blue Mountains, I got some exciting news—I accepted a job offer from a small Aussie nonprofit called Advocacy for Animal-Free Science! After three months of full-time job hunting, I’m both relieved and thrilled to have landed a role that aligns with my values and is the perfect next step in my career. I’ll be starting in the new year, which gives me the next month to live my best life, worry-free.

 

This morning was my second swim with the open water squad, and the conditions at Half Moon Bay were ideal—calm and warm enough to ditch the wetsuit. I felt free and easy, gliding through the clear water, and had a bit of a surprise when I swam right over a stingray! The best part was feeling some real improvement in my stroke, thanks to our coach, Nick.

After class, I wasn’t in a rush to head home. Luckily, I'd tossed my paddle board in the car that morning—just in case the conditions were right. Nick hadn’t packed up his kayak yet, so he joined me for another outing on the water. It was my first time back on the board since Oregon, and while ocean paddling is different from lakes and rivers, I was buzzing.

Today felt like my first real "adventure" since June, when we bought the car. Before we moved to Australia, I used to take them more regularly—usually epic hikes, followed by that amazing high on the drive home. The mountains here are far, and frankly, not what I’m used to, but the bay is much closer. Our suburb is perfectly located for cycling but not the beach (especially with traffic), but it's still completely doable to make beach trips my new adventures.

Ironman 70.3

With a desire to tap into the local open water swim community, I recently joined the SwimWell squad. Much like when I joined the road cycling community in August, I needed guidance on how to safely navigate bay swimming. Plus, I saw it as an opportunity for stroke improvement.

This experience boosted my training leading up to the Ironman event in early November. Ironman is a  company that organizes long-distance triathlons, and Ironman 70.3 is a half-distance triathlon covering 70.3 miles over three disciplines. With seven shorter-distance triathlons (spring and Olympic) under my belt, I felt ready for this next challenge. My goals for the event were simple: finish strong and enjoy the journey.

On Sunday morning, my alarm sounded at 4:15am. I got ready, packed up the car, and drove to St. Kilda's Catani Gardens. After setting up my transition area, I made my way to the beach for a quick warm-up dip. 

Standing at the water’s edge, I paused for a moment of gratitude, taking in the calm sunrise and feeling a surge of excitement for the day ahead. While I waited for my start time, I found my friend April who is just starting her tri journey. With her first race just a few weeks away, she was excited to see the event unfold—and to support me.

Swim: 1.9 km (1.2 mi)

My group began around 6:15am. The water was just cold enough to make it a "wetsuit mandatory" race, but the conditions couldn't have been more perfect—glass-like water on a windless morning. 

 

Unlike most triathletes, swimming is my favorite leg of the race, and I felt calm throughout. In fact, I was almost disappointed when it was over! Triathlon distances are not proportional, skewed heavily towards cycling and running.

 

Bike: 90 km (56 mi)

The transition from swim to bike (T1) is always a struggle to peel off your wetsuit and put shoes on wet feet. 

The bike course along scenic Beach Road was a fast, flat course that I know well. It was a real treat to ride it with the road closed to traffic and free of stop lights. The weather was ideal—not too hot, sunny, or windy. 

 

I stayed on top of my nutrition with Clif bars and blocks, only slowing down through aid stations to grab electrolytes. This was probably the longest (and fastest) ride I’ve ever done without stopping.

Run: 21.1 km (13.1 mi)

After a quick T2, I was ready for the half marathon. Like the bike course, it was a two-lap, flat route along the bay.

I used to love running before my knee injury; now I find it hard on my body. Still, I kept a steady pace, stopping only at aid stations to hydrate and fuel, and once to pee. 

Occasional glimpses of the city skyline filled me with gratitude as I pushed forward. 

April and Tom were cheering me on at the iconic finish line.

 

Crossing the finish line was a moment of pure joy and relief. Though sore, sunburnt, and chafed, I was riding the high of adrenaline. 

I am incredibly proud of my results, with a final time of 6 hours and 14 minutes. I excelled in the swim and T2, but what I’m most proud of is the steady, consistent pace I maintained throughout. I managed to avoid hitting the wall or "bonking," a testament to my abilities an an endurance athlete.

 

The Melbourne Ironman 70.3 was the crowning achievement of a spring filled with athletic challenges. Now, I’m looking forward to slowing down and shifting my focus to open water swimming.

 

Blue Mountains

Victoria observes an annual holiday in early November for the Melbourne Cup, a controversial horse race often criticized for its cruel and abusive practices. Taking advantage of the long weekend, Tom and I booked a trip to Sydney's Blue Mountains.

On Friday afternoon, we left the cats in the care of our trusted house sitters and hopped on a one-hour flight to Sydney. Upon landing, we picked up a rental car and drove 40 minutes to Sydney's northern beaches. We checked into our B&B in Freshwater, a small suburb next to Manly. After settling in, we enjoyed dinner nearby at Stowaway Bar.

November 1 - 5

Saturday: Sydney

We eased into Saturday with coffee with our lovely hosts, Christian and Mark. Sydney is known for its beautiful weather, so we were unlucky to experience a dreary and cool day with scattered showers. It was one of those rare weekends when the weather was actually better in Melbourne! Tom and I joked that it must be the "rain tax" for all the good weather we've had on recent trips.

Undeterred, we donned our rain jackets and set off on foot, walking along Freshwater and Manly beaches. Sydney is a very active city—people are out early, running, cycling, surfing, and doing every other sport that you can think of. 

Manly, in particular, is somewhere I’d love to explore more in the future.

Getting caught in the rain, we made our way to Manly Wharf. The 20-minute ferry ride to Circular Quay is part of the public transport system—fast, affordable, and incredibly scenic. A bit like Seattle in that respect.

I briefly visited Sydney with my girlfriends back in 2019, but this was Tom's first time so we were keen to hit the main attractions. We started with the Opera House Tour. 

Only 51 years old, the Opera House opened in 1973. Danish architect, Jørn Utzon, designed it around the natural cliffs of Bennelong Point. One million white tiles cover its iconic sails, meant to reflect the colors of the sky.

The building houses seven venues, including the Concert Hall, which has natural acoustics created by its wood-lined interior. We were fortunate to peek in on a rehearsing symphony, which was using the Grand Organ—the largest mechanical pipe organ ever built!

In the Joan Sutherland Theatre, we watched a crew "bump out" the set from a recent production, clearing space for the next touring show. Our guide was explained how the Concert Hall is designed with acoustics in mind, while the Theatre draws the eye to the visual experience on stage.

Return visit pinned for a symphony or opera!

After the tour, we strolled through the Royal Botanic Garden and grabbed a bite to eat. Every October and November, pockets of Sydney bloom in a sea of purple as the brilliant jacaranda trees flower.

Then we made our way to the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Pylon Lookout & Museum includes a fascinating history of the bridge, from its conception and construction to the excitement surrounding its opening. 

The view from the top of the pylon offers panoramic views of the harbor.

The Rocks is a historic neighbourhood of cobbled laneways in the shadow of the bridge. Locals and tourists mingle at the open-air markets, purchasing street food and handmade fashion. The area is home to some of Sydney’s oldest pubs as well as upscale restaurants. On the recommendation of Tom's colleague, we enjoyed cocktails at Maybe Sammy—not just a bar, but an experience.

 

That evening, we took the ferry back to Manly. Dinner at Little Pearl, a relaxed bar with ocean views.

Sunday: Grand Canyon Track

The Blue Mountains National Park begins just 50 km (about an hour) west of Sydney. It is part of the Great Dividing Range, with dramatic valleys and towering cliffs. The steep sandstone landscape reaches 1,189 m (3,901 ft) at its highest point and is home to several protected species, lush rainforest microclimates, and stunning waterfalls.

Tom and I drove up from Sydney in the morning, stopping for a hike near Blackheath. The Grand Canyon Track is a 6-km trail that dives deep into the canyon, winding past waterfalls and ferns along a series of narrow stairs and ledges. 

 

It's one of the most popular walks in the park, but it wasn't overly crowded during our visit.

 

We hiked the loop counterclockwise to end at Evan's Lookout with breathtaking views of the Grose Valley. If you have the time and energy, I recommend combining the Grand Canyon Track with the Cliff Top Track, or at least driving to Govetts Leap Lookout.

After the hike, we stopped for lunch in Katoomba, the main town in the Blue Mountains. We refueled at Italian pizza bar, Rustico. 

Then we checked into our charming B&B in Wentworth Falls. We really knocked it out of park with accommodation on this trip. 

 

The area was alive with the vibrant spring blooms and sweet melodies of birdsong—interrupted only by the deafening chorus of cicadas. It seemed that we'd timed our visit with their noisy return to the Blue Mountains, emerging after seven years underground!

Monday: Grand Cliff Top Walk

The Grand Cliff Top Walk is an 18-km thru-hike from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba. It's a great way to experience the Blue Mountains’ top hits in one spectacular walk.

Tom and I set out early to beat the forecasted storms, picking up the trail from our B&B. A mild descent leads to the cliff edge, offering sweeping views of the valleys below.

From there, it's a continuous series of lookouts along rolling hills (trekking poles recommended). We had the trail almost entirely to ourselves, assuming most people were at work—after all, the Victorian public holiday doesn't extend to New South Wales.

Along the way, we came across our first wild lyrebirds, known for their striking tail feathers and remarkable ability to mimic sounds from their environment.

 

We took a short detour to Empress Falls, which has the perfect swimming hole on a hot day.

 

Many people complete this trek over two days, staying overnight near Gordon Falls in the village of Leura. This is a great way to explore the side trails at a leisurely pace.

 

The trail grew busier as we neared Katoomba, particularly around Echo Point Lookout, where crowds gather to see the Three Sisters rock formation.

The trail ends at Scenic World, a family-run attraction featuring the world’s steepest passenger train and a scenic skyway.

From Scenic World, it's a 2-km walk, or a short bus ride, to the Katoomba train station. After grabbing a bite from Jords Sandwich Bar, we boarded the train back to Wentworth Falls.

The Grand Cliff Top Walk was a highlight of our trip. If I were to do it again, I’d recommend starting at Scenic World to tackle the crowded areas early on, leaving the quieter stretches for the second half of the hike. And definitely consider spreading it across two days!

For dinner, we returned to Katoomba to dine at the Bowery, located inside a historic church. Sublime Point Lookout for sunset.

 

The rain rolled in on Tuesday, so we packed up and took a scenic drive along the northern edge of the park before heading back to Sydney for our afternoon flight.