2021 April – Brighton to Christies Beach

Day 2. When we left The Etsy on Saturday morning, we had no idea how far the day’s adventures would take us. We guessed that 20 or so kms would land us somewhere between O’Sullivan’s Beach and Noarlunga.

We headed south along the Esplanade in what was now a familiar mix of people and dogs, rocks and sand.

As on the previous day, we did quite a bit of renovation watching. Bit by bit the old seafront houses are being replaced by almost identical glass-fronted boxes. Should have taken a photo, but I’m sure you get the idea.

After a few kms the houses petered out, the countryside changed and we started joined the Marion Coastal Reserve Trail. The beaches turned to rocky foreshore and the flat terrain to a series of steep ascents and descents.

We had hoped for a more comfortable day but the mercury went up to 34C and our course took us inland. We needed supplies and google spotted a shopping centre at Hallett Cove that didn’t look too far away. That added 30 minutes in the wrong direction, but the cool interior, clean bathrooms and sushi bar seemed like a fair exchange.

By 1pm we were rested, rehydrated and ready for the road. Adelaide’s desalination plant is located on the coast just south of Hallett Cove and the almost sheer cliff rules out skirting the outside. So began the most horrible part of the day. Four hours trekking over a massive bald, brown, deserted, industrial hill while the mercury rose to 34c.

At various times in the preceeding days my reading glasses had fallen out of their place on my pack. I had brought two pairs but was down to one as the arm had come off my good ones. Somewhere along this stage I discover that my glasses were gone, most probably falling out at the preceding stop, 500m back up the hill. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t go back. Nothing about this leg could withstand repeating.

So it was with great delight that we stumbled down the last hill to Christies Beach Hotel, sweating, scarlet faced and ready to replace fluids and electrolytes. Two large light beers please.