A Week of Beaches
Since the beginning of Covid-19 the one thing we can all keep doing as part of a healthy routine is a daily walk. Mentally this is my me time when I can let go of any frustrations and well I guess we all have a few of those right now!
Ray (my one year old kelpie) loves the beach, especially the seagulls, the sticks and all of the amazing smells. During our self isolation every bugger imaginable has decided to use the beach near me so I may as well share the love!
Daily Walks – Day One
Puppy paces the back seat wondering where we will end up today. It’s only a twenty minute drive to Dromana but that’s 15 minutes longer than our usual coastal haunt and he soon realises stretching out and lying down. The hills on the Peninsula are a beautiful green hue today with houses dotted here and there, verandas and balcony’s taking in the beautiful scenery.
Arriving at Safety Beach, (know as Shark Beach but renamed for obvious reasons) the sand is golden white, compacted and easy to walk on. The beach road and path is adjacent so I decide to keep puppy on the lead even though others are letting their fur babies stretch their legs. The path is packed with coffee drinking walkers, after I’ve passed a couple of dog walkers I am the only one on this beautiful stretch of Peninsula sand. The gulls are having fun in the sea breeze and as the sun belts out occasionally from behind the clouds the water shimmers its crystalline turquoise. I guess we walk about 3/4 k’s and then back to the car. I decide to take the beach road back to Mount Eliza as far as it will go, Mornington.
On the way back I couldn’t resist Mount Martha’s South Beach, it looked equally desolate with a huge sprawl of empty golden sand edged by beach boxes, I knew puppy would enjoy this. The beach boxes were in immaculate condition and the clear water looked inviting as the sun came out again.
Daily Walks – Day Two
I had my man in tow today and so we ventured a bit further afield, ending up at Flinders Beach which is leash free in winter. Puppy loved this! He waded through the mud out to the seagulls whilst we kept to the sandy shore and black rocks.
Winding back through the Peninsula we ended up in Mornington and let puppy have a snooze in the car whilst we had a lovely lunch at The Royal Hotel. Of course covid friendly, tables set 2 meters apart and the waiter bringing our drinks and setting them on a seperate table for us. The beach has always been a huge part of my life since growing up in Southend on Sea, England and so have pubs, what’s not to love?
Daily Walks – Day Three
It was my intention to show my bloke another new beach and so we ventured to Mount Martha today. Walking down a long steep hill we hit the sea wall and a small sandy cove with lots of off leash dogs, perfect! As we wandered along we soon realised that following the beach around the corner the sand stretched on forever! It actually joins up to Mount Martha South Beach which I had visited on day one. I have no idea where the off leash starts and finishes however it is the most beautiful place to wander and both puppy and I found new friends to chat to. Ray played chase with a similar size black dog roaming under beach huts and the owner showed me her very own beach hut!
Daily Walks – Day Four
On my own with pup today I ventured to Mornington, there were steep steps leading down to an off leash beach but I actually decided to give puppy a sniffy walk instead along the path at the top of the cliffs. As long as there are new smells along the way he can normally be quite satisfied with an on lead walk and it was nice to say hello to the many walkers and joggers whilst looking out to sea.
Daily Walks – Day Five
We returned to our usual haunt today, Moondah Beach in Mount Eliza. I seem to have got later and later this week and didn’t get on the beach until at least 10am. By which time most people had gone for their coffee in the village. We did however bump into Coda a very lively mastiff a similar age to Ray. The owner let Coda off her lead and her and Ray danced around whilst the owner and I tried to avoid being bowled over by these excited balls of energy. A few big runs and I picked up Rays stick saying goodbye, returning to our walk along the shoreline.
Daily Walks – Day Six
It was a rainy day today and so pup and I ventured no further than around the block. Mount Eliza has enough steep hills to wear us both out and enough views of Western Port (from our side) and Port Phillip Bay just up and over the hill.
Later in the day I feel guilty that Ray hasn’t had a big run and take him to the beach end of Sunnyside road. Apparently this is a nudist beach in summer, not in 10 degrees though! It’s a small cove but enough seagulls and rocks to keep Ray amused for half an hour. I find a couple of washed up tennis balls for us to play with then the sun goes in and as I look up to the car park I can’t help wonder if they are only here to enjoy the view.
Daily Beach Walks – Day Seven
Again we return to Moondah Beach today the car seems to cross the highway automatically and take us there. No one to play with today, we have the whole beach to ourselves. Puppy plays fetch with a stick and I enjoy the sound of the crashing waves looking forward to summer when I can wear my shorts and wade in the water with Ray. I feel so lucky to live somewhere that’s so connected to nature.
I hope you’re enjoying your daily walks! If you’d like to read about my Skinny Dipping adventure just click here! Also embedded within this post is more info on the places visited just click on the highlighted words.
Since writing this post we have entered stage four lockdown in Melbourne and Moondah Beach will be my only sanctuary, I guess I’m still a lucky duck!