North Head

North Head has become my favourite running ground in Manly. North Head, part of the Sydney Harbour National Park, is a headland of approximately 4 square kilometres and has been used in past days for quarantine and military facilities. It's funny, but Paul introduced me to North Head on our first ride (he said that everyone from Manly had to know where North Head was) and for some reason I just "forgot" about it until sometime in May or June when it occurred to me that I should learn to tackle the hill required to reach North Head. The most beautiful views of the city are found here and particularly stunning pictures may be captured along the four lookouts along the Fairlight track, a 1 kilometre track within the larger 5k loop of North Head.

For those interested in Hollywood icons, Nicole Kidman was recently married in Manly and more specifically at a chapel found on that very hill leading up to North Head. I happened to run by on the day of her wedding shortly before she was due to arrive and the large crowd gave me (as well as all other cyclists and joggers passing by the heavily police-patrolled street) a cheer. I really hope that does not qualify as my "fifteen minutes of fame".


One recent day I took some lunch for a long walk up to my absolute favourite lookout on the Fairlight. This cliffside shows off the beautiful sandstone that makes up the headland. As I was sitting on the rock enjoying my lunch, I noticed the plaque on the bench in front of me (you will see it next to my coffee cup). The inscription reads as follows:

"This marks the area

where Adele will hopefully make Ralph

the happiest and luckiest man

in the world.

Dear Adele:

I love you more than yesterday

and less than tomorrow.

September 2001"

I think this definitely qualifies as "romantic"!