Curl Curl

Dee Why to Curl Curl

Now that the mornings are getting cooler we notice that there aren’t so many people out and about. I must admit it is harder to get out on a cold morning - I am so tempted to pull that doona up and snooze. What gets me up on these cold mornings is knowing how much better I do feel once I am out amongst it all, and the fact that Shaz will be waiting in the cold for me always give me that added boost.

We had a bit of everything in this walk – from the rocky and somewhat overgrown track on the headland between Dee Why and North Curl Curl, to the well-used pathway through the Curl Curl playing fields and then through the suburbs of Curl Curl and Dee Why. Whenever I walk the track through the Curl Curl playing fields I am always surprised at what an expanse of green space there is. I found myself reminiscing about the amount of time I have spent on the sidelines of these ovals over the years. On the Abbott Road side for soccer games then over the other side at Weldon Oval for AFL. Then of course there have been cricket games on the various ovals. Most of you have probably experienced this area too: the games, the Saturday traffic jams and parking chaos especially around the netball courts – doesn’t it bring back a flood of memories!
Back to the walk - we started at the end of Pacific Parade and headed up through the small reserve and up the steps to the bush track which goes through the bush, winding around the coast in between the ocean and the houses. Follow the track around to North Curl Curl Surf Club then head down Griffin Road and over the lagoon, then across the road and onto the pathway through the reserves. After walking to the end of the reserves and back we crossed back over the lagoon and headed up a side street to our breakfast stop at the corner of Pitt and Ross Streets. We then took the shorter route back to our car - up Griffin Road, but of course you could retrace your steps and go via the coastal route.

Curly’s on the Corner

They do great coffee here and I have had several take-aways over the years but this was the first time either of us tried their food.  We both went for the scrambled eggs with spinach and bacon and tomatoes on the side. The eggs were tasty and the bacon and tomatoes delicious, but honestly, it should come with a warning that the serving size is huge – we really could have done with one between two. The meals coming out to others looked great and appeared to be normal sized servings, so I guess we just ordered badly!

Our Reviews

Dee Why to Curl Curl and surrounds

difficulty:                             easy to moderate

distance:                             6km return

time taken:                          2.25 hours including breakfast

parking:                               on street at Dee Why (we parked on Pacific Parade East)

worth doing:                         yes

dog friendly:                         on leash

Water and toilets are available at Curl Curl Surf Club and at the playing fields when they are open.

Curly’s on the Corner

Food:                                 good and coffee great

Service:                              good

Ambience:                           good - outdoor heaters are a bonus!

Would we go again:               yes

Elanora to Narrabeen

Elanora really is a hidden leafy enclave on the northern beaches. If you don’t live there you wouldn’t know how beautiful the leafy streets look in autumn with a riot of red and orange. It’s a great place to live when you are bringing up a young family and both of us lived there when our children were younger. Things have changed somewhat since our time there but more of that later.

Starting at the shops and heading toward windy Elanora Road we made our way down the hill towards Narrabeen Lake. Heading south toward the Lake we discovered Narrabeen markets were setting up and our walk was nearly sabotaged by stopping to browse at some of the goods on offer. We pressed on and managed to reach the playground at Wheeler Park at the south end of Narrabeen before we turned back and made our way up to Elanora.  There are many routes you can take to get back to Elanora, all of which involve hills. We went up Woorarra Road (which has some killer hills) and followed it around onto Lumeah Road then back onto Kalang Road and to the shops.

There have been a few changes at the Elanora shops since we lived there – there is a new unit/retail shop development at the corner of Powderworks Road including a great café called Bean & Bread, and the block with the butcher and video shops has gone and will be redeveloped. Fortunately May and Jack’s IGA is still there but unfortunately so is the bakery which has not changed it menu since the 1960’s. 

Bean & Bread Cafe

What a breath of fresh air for Elanora shops – a fabulous, warm and inviting café that serves great coffee and great food. In fact, the food was so good we were still talking about it a week later! The breakfast menu was great - I chose the fritters which were served with bacon and poached egg and Shaz had the breakfast bruschetta which was spinach, bacon and poached egg served on sourdough. They were just delicious and presented beautifully…...we are looking forward to going back and trying something else.

Our Reviews

Elanora to Narrabeen

difficulty:                                moderate – some rather steep hills. (take extreme care of cars on   windy section of Elanora Road)

distance:                                 8.5km return

time taken:                              2.75 hours

parking:                                   Parking bays at Elanora shops

worth doing:                            definitely

dog friendly:                            yes – on leash

Water and toilets are available at the Berry Reserve Narrabeen

Bean & Bread Café

Food:                                      excellent food

Service:                                   great

Ambience:                                great

Would we go again:                   definitely

Palm Beach revisited

A fabulous way to celebrate Mother’s Day was a walk with my mother and my sister! Our first great idea was to beat the mother’s day rush and celebrate it on the Saturday instead of the Sunday. Our second great idea was to combine lunch with a walk. As mum lives on the Central Coast the obvious destination was Palm Beach. Our third great idea was to try the Boatshed for lunch…..that’s where our great ideas fell apart, but more on that later……

Mum caught the ferry across from Ettalong and we drove up the coast to meet her and, as history dictates in our family, Trish and I were a tiny bit late! Mum nearly got in the car with someone else who was waving wildly at her, but alas she was actually waving to the lady standing next to her!.... wonder what would have happened if she did get in that car! After a coffee at the Dunes Kiosk we headed off on the walk up to the Barrenjoey lighthouse. This walk has been on mum’s bucket list for ages. She has, for one reason or another never been able to do it, or thought she was not up to it….but surprise, surprise, she got there….way to go mum! I am reminded every time I do that walk that it really is quite steep in places, and looking through my mum’s eyes, or should I say walking in her shoes, it is quite challenging. However, for Trish and me it was just very pleasant.

Anyway, I got to thinking about bucket lists and wondered if I were to create one what would be on my list ….I am still thinking about that…..perhaps it’s something we should all give some thought to.

For specific walking directions, refer to our first blog post 8/1/12.

The Boatshed and Dunes Kiosk

Now back to the great ideas that fell apart. It seems to me that a pattern is emerging…...it is always the café or the food that lets us down. No surprises that The Boatshed was full to overflowing for lunch. I really don’t get it – what is so good about that place? Is the food really so fantastic that you can overlook 1) waiting for a table 2) waiting in a long queue to order at the counter, and  3) being packed in like sardines at your table in a noisy, crowded café. Maybe it's me, and I’m just not with it (or too old and fussy!)

Back we went over the other side of the hill to the beachside. Dunes Restaurant looked fabulous but we weren't really planning on a eating at a flash restaurant, so we went to Dunes Kiosk next door. There is a choice from the food on display such as quiches, frittata’s and salads, or the blackboard menu of beer battered fish and chips or burgers. We order and sit down on a table in the sun…all going well so far….. but then they serve you, or should I say, they call out your name and you serve yourself. Still no problems, until you notice you get your meal in a cardboard box and  the only cutlery available is cheap plastic crap. I am more than happy to eat from cardboard boxes when I get take-away fish and chips, or when picnicking, but not when I am dining in at a café and paying café prices for the pleasure. Even asking for a plate was no good, I was told “no, not on weekends, we are too busy” – too busy for what I ask?…..service perhaps!!! By the way - the food was okay, but nothing special…such a shame because it’s such a lovely place to sit and soak up the sun.

Our Reviews

Palm Beach to Barrenjoey Lighthouse

difficulty:                             moderate

distance:                             4km return (from the carpark)

time taken:                          1 hour

parking:                               meter parking in carpark (Pittwater parking permit valid)

worth doing:                         definitely

dog friendly:                         no dogs allowed              

Water and toilets are available at the surf club near Dunes and on the Pittwater side near the Boatshed but nothing available along the track.

Dunes kiosk

Food:                                   average but coffee good

Service:                                poor

Ambience:                             okay

Would we go again:                only for coffee

Warriewood to North Narrabeen Rock Pool

We had a change of pace this week and walked at night by the light of the 'super moon'. It was spectacular! I don’t usually walk at night but thoroughly enjoyed it and made a note to myself that I should do it more often…..something else to add to the list! The cold air was invigorating and the moon and the stars were just beautiful, in particular the one special star near the Southern Cross named in memory of Christopher.

We started our walk on Garden Street Warriewood, walking through the dog park, across the creek to Namona Street, onto Pittwater Road, through Lake Park then across Ocean Street to Narrabeen Lagoon then down the track to the rock pool. It was amazing  - the tide was huge with the water surging right over the top of the pool and totally filling the mouth of the lagoon. 

As we didn’t  stop anywhere for a coffee on Sunday night  I wasn’t going to do a café review…..but then I remembered our stop for lunch on Saturday on our way to the Mind, Body, Spirit Festival. The Sugar & Spice deli on Edinburgh Road Castlecrag was a great find. Their food is great and coffee even better.  They have fresh daily salads, wraps, pastries, cakes, hot food and all sorts of goodies. Their shelves are full of interesting things including beautifully packaged gift baskets (that sounds like an ad!). If you are looking for a brekkie or lunch stop on your way to the city I would highly recommend this deli.

And by the way, the Mind body Spirit festival was fascinating. There were lots of stands that you would expect such as crystals, cards, physics, healers, lotions, potions and several weight loss stands. Then there were the really bizarre stands that we could not reconcile with the notion of mind, body spirit such as the Max Marxson stand (publicity agent tart)  where you could have a photo taken with him (yes people were actually doing this!) and  the Hurstone Park RSL…..go figure!

Our reviews
Warriewood to North Narrabeen Rock Pool
difficulty:                        easy
distance:                        5 km return
time taken:                    1.25 hours                  
parking:                          On street on Garden Street
worth doing:                  definitely
dog friendly:                   yes, on leash.

water and toilets available at North Narrabeen Surf Club


Sugar and Spice Deli Castlecrag
food:                               great
service:                           good
ambience:                       good
would we go again:        yes