One Woman’s Quest to Walk the Cronulla Esplanade Without Running Into an Ex

Skye Waverley | Social Reporter | Sutherland Shire Gazette

17 June 2025

CRONULLA - In a journey both physically scenic and emotionally harrowing, local woman Jess Palmer, 36, set out this morning to complete a full walk along Cronulla’s Esplanade without encountering a single ex-boyfriend, flirty situationship, or man-child with a podcast.

The odds were stacked against her.

“I knew it was ambitious,” said Jess, sporting oversized sunnies and noise-cancelling AirPods. “But I thought, it’s a Tuesday. Surely the divorced DJ, the Byron phase guy, and the one who ghosted me after borrowing my Nutribullet would all be at work, or in therapy.”

But just 400 metres in - right near Bobby’s - she locked eyes with "Man Bun Guy" from her 2019 rebound era. Minutes later, while speed-walking past the tidal rock pool, she narrowly avoided a jogger wearing the exact same cap as her emotionally unavailable ex from Caringbah South.

“It’s like the Esplanade is a dating app that forgot I already swiped left,” she said, breathless but determined.

By Shelley Beach, the emotional toll had peaked. Jess was forced to fake a phone call and pretend she was late for Pilates (she wasn’t) after spotting a man who once invited her over to align their chakras and binge The Block.

Local psychologist Dr Dan Waplington from Loftus TAFE praised Jess’s bravery. “Attempting a coastal walk without encountering at least three romantic ghosts of Shire Past is nearly impossible. We call it Cronulla’s Emotional Gauntlet.”

Jess did finish her walk - just not emotionally intact. “But I didn’t cry until I got back to the car,” she smiled. “Progress.”

A GoFundMe has since been launched to help her relocate to Kirrawee Brick Pit for a ‘fresh start’.