first day of summer

While today marks the official first day of summer for the antipodean continent, here in the tropics, it is remarkably similar to the first day of winter, only a bit hotter and more humid.  For those of you unpacking mittens and stoking fires in the northern hemisphere chill, I send you a big dose of sunshine. 

Thanks to John Tinggi for the photo of us enjoying a morning cuppa on the beach.

the walk to work

A fortuitous mid November swell has the boys frothing.  Banking on a long session in the office, Aquaman has employed the full sunsafe superhero costume; the sun is intense, even early in the morning.  As often occurs, John Tinngi's arrival has co-incided with the waves - perhaps his prescence draws the groundswell - and this morning I accompanied the two water boys on their commute to work. I branched off at the kiss-and-ride zone, returning home to sweat it out until the lagoon opens for my afternoon paddle session.

laird hamilton need not fear

Had another session at the right-hander, trying to take a wave on my SUP.  Conditions were perfect, glassy, light onshore, no-one else out.  I managed a flailing effort, with the grace of a starved seagull flapping around a chip.  Lost my sunnies...found them again...laughed, spluttered, laughed some more. Bathers ended up in most unflattering places, leg got yanked two foot longer by the wild board, and duck-diving took on a whole new dimension with a paddle in one hand.  The most fun I've had with my clothes on all week.  Next stop, the North Shore.

posing for a cause

You can take the girl out of the office, but you can't take the marketing out of the girl.  Doing my best Elle impersonation to promo the new range of Keep Cups on sale at Samudra.  Many disposable cups and lids incorporate plastic, polythene and even toxic dyes and are therefore not recyclable.  500 million of them end up in landfill every year and can take decades to break down.  Keep Cups are a reusable, designed and manufactured in Australia from recyclable plastic with a  low embodied energy, and will last for ages if your mates don’t souvenir them.  If you're heading out to Dunsborough, call in to Samudra and grab one.

 

photographed by my talented aqua assistant, tmc

 

ladies in waiting

Our stand up boards live under the bedroom floor, waiting to be unleashed on the lagoon when wind and tide conditions align. Stand-up paddling is great rehabilitation after my knee operation and a most pleasant bonding experience with my hubby.  All hail the SUP (don't tell the boys I said that). 

stand up and be counted

Sal & Jen in stand-up style

 

I have found my calling in this watery world - stand up paddleboarding (SUP).  I was about to hang up the surfboard and stick to swimming, for want of a pain free neck and shoulder girdle, then Bingin Mick lent me his stand up and I had an epiphany. 

This morning, a few of us decide to do a circuit across the lagoon, out the channel to the ocean side of the reef, behind the wave and back to shore.  A distance of around 4 km.  Going out is joy, breeze at our back, fish milling below, all is well.  Then the off shore picks up and we are fighting our way to keep on course. 

I am on a wave-riding SUP with drop rails; the wind chop is swamping my board and my body is acting as a sail.  As my shoulder fatigues, I'm on a quick course toward Africa.  Help!  Thankfully, the hotel boat is in the area with some guests spearfishing, so I wave my paddle in desperation and bum a lift to shore.

My new passion is untarnished, but I think I'll stay inside the lagoon unless the winds are on-shore.