SWIMMING IN PAIN

JAN 16

A terrible evening of trying to sleep with a lower back feeling like it is on fire. The pain shifted during the night from the middle of the lower back, to my left hip region. Causes- probably these hopeless beds, a long run on hard sand in bare feet, being thrown around in the surf, and that marathon 12 or 13 hours of driving in the car. Oh, and of course pre-existing back complaints.

Speaking of surf, Malua Bay today. We have been concentrating on these beaches south of Bateman’s Bay. The northern ones don’t seem to be as interesting- Long Beach, Moloney Beach, unless you’re prepared to travel a fair distance to somewhere like Jervis Bay. Malua Bay was very windy. However, I quite liked it. Smaller and less pretentious than Broulee. A rocky outcrop on the right. The water as clear as ever and those lovely complications in the water- the dips and breaks of the rolling waves.

 

EATING OUT AT BATEMAN'S BAY

JAN 15

              

About a kilometre and a half away is an Indian restaurant called Kholi’s. If you are ever out this way I would recommend it. Good service, no glitz, well presented food. Opposite is the Soldier’s Club which we couldn’t resist. It is everything that is tacky, but also in a contrasting way, fabulous as well.

 

A typical NSW club that people from Victoria travelled to in droves years ago before poker machines were introduced everywhere. You show your driver’s licence at the reception. The kids go off to a child minding room where they can play with toys and other kids, supervised. What a racket for some parents! Then you go upstairs to be hit by the razzle dazzle of millions of colourful and noisy gambling machines, tables everywhere filled with people in smart sandals and shorts, eating roasts and steaks and salads, and a long window opening up to the incredible vista of the sparkling bay across the road. J and I put a dollar coin into a machine for the hell of it and immediately five one dollar coins bounced back at us. So there you go, the ultimate paradox. Huge NSW clubs that are disgusting and compelling at the same time.

Outcome: stomach full of Indian food, pockets jingling and back killing me.

VARIATIONS ON SWIMMING, NSW

JAN 13

 

This morning we went for easier, and gentler. Broulee Beach is more calm and dull but much more kid friendly. It is, however, along the same coast as Tuross Head, and is therefore still very beautiful. The waves lapped in moderately all day. The sand was the same. It had ‘go for a run’ written all over it. To the east, the white sand stretched alongside the turquoise water for about four or five kilometres. I love running barefoot along sand. However, you do feel it in your calves afterwards.

Back at the Coach House Marina Resort, S and I had a lengthy swim in the pool. Lying on your back for ages, arms akimbo, feet together and softly paddling, is one of the best feelings. I closed my eyes and all I could see was this brilliant glowing orange behind my eyes. ‘I Believe I’ve Transcended’ said Van Morrison on his live Astral Weeks record.