Mollymook

In Mollymook this weekend for a 30th birthday bash on the beach. Not wanting to miss a chance to explore a new area I got out of bed early, donned my running gear and headed for the beach. We were staying at the northern end of Mollymook beach, so I headed south, did the length of the main beach and then made my way

over the rock platform that started where the beach ended. I was entertaing the thought of running to Ulladulla if I could make it that far. As it happens I couldn't make it that far; the rock platfrom passed beneath a low cliff face, over some tumbledown rocks, onto another flat section and then eventually ended at a vertical cliff face by the side of an estuary or harbour of sorts. Nevermind; I turned around and headed back north, running a little closer to the waters edge, rock-hopping between shallow, clear rock pools and keeping an eye out for dolphins that I knew frequented the area but were not frequenting it this morning. The water looked very inviting and the seas were flat enough to have me believe I could easily jump off in my snorkelling gear, though the full scuba kit (that I had left at home) would have been pushing my luck a little.

I ran back to the north end of the beach and rock-hopped as far north as I could which was not that far at all. The northern end did not have the same flat platforms as the south, rather a tumbledon rock area that finished quite abruptly at Bannisters head. I turned back to the south and thought I'd run back onto the road and see if I could get around the headland that way. That
involved going past the house we were staying in. Out front Dan and Simmo where suited for a surf and as I had a quick chat with them Sal dragged herself out of bed, staggered out front and rang the coffee bell. The run was over, time to get some breakfast.

Breakfast was overlooking the water at the southern end of the beach (getting dizzy yet?) and was perfectly acceptable and thoroughly average. We'd driven and my freediving gear was in the back of the car...I looked at the rock platform and it still looked diveable...but there were a few larger sets coming through, so I thought better of it and convinced Sal that she'd love to have a wander out to the headland at the northern end while I took a swim out to Bannisters Reef...and we'd still mhave plenty of time to get back, showered and head for the party we were in town for.

The northern end was far more sheltered. I quickly suited up, Sal wandered off and I headed out to the point. The water was nice and clear and I had an unobstructed view down to the rippled sand a couple of metres beneath me. Unobstructed by fish, and that was the way thin gs stayed, pretty much, all the way to the reef. I swam out along the tumbledown rocks, dived down a couple of times and remained disappointed at the lack of life. I guess the reef takes a clattering, so the rocks were pretty barren, ergo no food, ergo very few fish. There were a few bits and pieces - a couple of small rays, a small school of small yellowtail...but nothing to get excited about. I spotted a boat on the outer edge of the reef and considered swimming over to it, but had a nagging thought that in such barren waters I looked more like food than anything else...so I started to head back. I dived down again to grab a fishing rod and reel that lay encrusted on the reef (so someone had thought there were fish here...) and then slowly made my way back to the beach that Sal had left.

I'd enjoyed myself, not been eaten, and wandered the 5minutes back to our rental house to shower and get ready for the BBQ.