Day 22 - Botany Bay

Today was Chaggie's first day to explore the local area we are staying in! Before heading off into the big city, Jodi had suggested that we use today to see some of the local areas that are very historic and significant to Australian history, that of course being Botany Bay - where the famous Captain Cook first landed in Australia.

Jodi (who works with her brother Matt) had been given the day off by Matt who manages her hours so that she could drive us around and show us the area. We got up about 10.00 and after having a quick breakfast we set off to Botany Bay with Jodi. Sadly, the weather was shocking. Rain was not something we were hoping to see whilst here, although I suppose we are more than capable of dealing with it! We arrived at the Visitors Centre at Botany Bay, a place which Jodi haden't even seen herself yet, so it was a usful trip for her too! We learnt an awful lot about Captain Cook and his team who had discovered the East Coast of Australia (he wasn't the first to discover Aus, the flippin' Dutch got there first, well the West Coast at least). Such facts as, he only spent 8 Days in Australia before leaving.. never to return! Instead he chose to return to this part of the world, but to go to New Zealand! One of his men, Joseph Banks, initially got all the public aclaim for discovering the East Coast, after he was the first to tell the King of England about the discovery and put his own little twist on the story! I doubt Cook was amused. Ironically, it would be Banks who would take the most interest in Australia, however he never returned either! Although he was the man who recommended European settlement in Australia. So it was a pretty interesting place!

After seeing Botany Bay, we headed into the local town to meet up with Matt and go for lunch at a fast food diner, perfect. Afterwhich we headed back to the house, stopping off at the Whale watching point on the way back. We didn't see any. After getting back to the house, Chaggie spent a solid 2 hours in the pool, which wasn't exactly warm but fun all the same! After that, we chilled out before Matt returned from work and challenged us to backgarden cricket - in the front garden. Chaggie felt sorry for him as the English were beating Australia enough in the cricket recently, so we let him win. Honestly. After that we decided to get take away Pizza and watch 'The Day After Tomorrow' with Jodi also.

A good first full day in Sydney, with many thanks to Jodi for driving us about! We are off into Sydney tomorrow! Lets hope the weather is decent!

Chaggie x