sunday sunny sunday

In most un-Easter fashion Sunday dawned dry and lovely. Unfortunately I missed the actual sunrise, which was a pisser because I'd hoped to get some pics. Ah well.

I should explain...I am a selfish bastard, but mostly when allowed to be. So typically I ask Sal if she wants to do something or other and if she says no I then pounce upon the opportunity to do stuff myself. So, with Sal attaching AJ to the boob I took my opportunity to walk off to the rock platform in the small bay that DJ and Jo's house looks over. Camera in hand, I left the remaining parents to their kid duties while I went exploring. The walk was through a couple of residential streets, down a grass path and into a famers field that did have some sort of private property sign I could ignore.

As well as general exploring and taking pics I was looking at water clarity as DJ and I had been planning on going for a snorkel. The original plan was to go for a surf, but I left my board at home because...well, I don't really know why. Things did not look good at the water's edge. Run off from a field of cows is not what I'd choose to swim through. Out front of the rock platform things looked far better but the waves a bit lumpier. What a choice...flat cowshit or lumpy blue water. It wasn't looking like we'd get that snorkel. I called Sal and waved at her from the rock platform - I told you DJ and Jo's house overlooked the ocean - did a little more exploring and headed back for breakfast.

Back home Jo rustled up breakfast, I told DJ what the water looked like and he suggested we head for the next bay north. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to let DJ have some family-free time, and it has been far too long since I've been in the water and for-fucking-ever since DJ and I have been in the water together. We confirmed our free-passes and headed out.

The bay looked lovely and clear and there were obvious entry and exit points and spear fisherman on their way back. Rumour was that we may see wobbegongs and large black rays. It was looking good. DJ was wetsuited, I was in a rash vest and board shorts, so I figured I'd be setting the time limit. Which, as it turned out, was a a pain in the arse. The water was a little chilly but ridiculously clear. And blue. Not a hint of green. As the sun shone through it made dappled patterns on the rocks. There were schools of small stuff, a large blue grouper, a large porcupine fish, garfish. It was fucking awesome.

Without the bouyancy of a wetsuit, or a snorkel that would allow me to swim without lifting my head over and again, I struggled a little. Every so often we'd hit a cold patch of water. Then we got to the point where the water was noticably colder. Rather than risk struggling back and suffering the indignity of having to have DJ rescue me, I turned the swim and we headed back. DJ had dived under a few times - looking as comfortable as ever. We bimbled about in the shallower, warmer, more protected part of the bay and then clambered out over the rocks. It was while DJ was getting out that he pulled off one of the funniest things I've ever seen. He managed to step in a deep whole. He went from ankle deep in water to chest deep immediately. You had to be there; damn it was funny.

Then we clambered out, went back to DJ's place, said our goodbyes and Sal, AJ and I headed home.