Botany Bay

We borrowed my brother's car again and headed for Botany Bay. This was where Captain Cook and his 'Endeavor' crew changed Australian history in 1770. The first encounter with the indigenous people wasn't a good one and Cooks men had to fire musket to warn them off.

Having successfully sent them packing Cook then raised the British flag, which represented the taking of possession of land for the King of England. For eight days his men were sent out foraging while the naturalist Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander explored the natural landscape and collected a vast amount of botanical specimens. Botany Bay was named to celebrate the place where the impressive botanical collection was made.

The three flags represented here are the Aboriginal flag, the New South Wales State flag, and Australian National flag

Cooks landing place

Ian just had to see what the inscription said on the plinth. Unfortunately, it was unreadable.

Having seen all that there was to see it was back to the car and a stop at one of the beaches. Along this part of the coast, shark nets were very much in evidence. We still haven't been for a swim in the sea but I reckon this must be one of the safest bathing spots around. Very surprised that it wasn't packed out with bathers.

Sydney airport was just across the bay and we spent some time chilling out and watching the landing and taking off of the planes.

Returning to Thornleigh we had the first real thunderstorm of our visit. None of the namby-pamby few flashes and rumbles of thunder stuff. No, nearly two hours of spectacular light shows and impressive claps of thunder. One frightened the life out of us all including Neddie the dog. Right overhead, a flash followed immediately by a bang and we thought the end had come!. By the time we went to bed all but the rain was left. It certainly made for a better nights sleep. Cleared the air nicely.

And seen at Botany Bay,