triplog

So here’s me sh*tting myself as I realise there’s something big and dark on the same wave as me…

… nice one, dropped in on by dolphins .

Anyways, believe it or not that was my first wave at Jakes. For the last 2 days it’s been pretty big and messy, but today was perfect - offshore all day. It wasn’t really lining up like I’ve seen in the magazines, I think the direction was a bit wrong and the tide a bit full - but insane fun anyway.

Sorry mum, he’s not ours … this post is just a bit of a general catchup, but it’s always more fun with a photo here.

Jane and I are back in WA (and have been for the last few weeks) - but things have been hectic as we get ready to continue the interrupted round-Oz mission. After we flew back from Sydney, Jane headed south and back to work, while I stayed behind in Perth for a week and a half as I really needed to finish up a few projects that required a permanent internet connection as opposed to the patchy drive-in-to-town-and-get-access sort of thing I have down south. Anyway, all good and work mostly completed, so I came back down south last weekend.

The plan at the moment is to continue the trip when we get back to WA in early June, after heading to Hawaii for Eva’s wedding and then hanging in Sydney for more family stuff. So we’re sorting through a years’ worth of accumulated stuff (where’s it all come from?), and slowly getting the troopy and trailer back into traveling shape.

In other news, this is the best season for surf down here, and I’ve definitely been missing out while stuck in Perth working. Did manage a 2-surf day on Sunday tho (first one in a long time) - both surfs out at Boranup. The morning was bigger and more grinding, then it dropped off to be a fun beachy session in the afternoon.

Oh my god - we’re in the Cocos Islands until next Monday. This place is absolutely incredible…

We flew in yesterday afternoon (the time difference here is 2.5 hours behind Perth, so 4.5 behind Sydney). We’re staying on West Island, which is the administrative hub of the Cocos and the home of the ex-pat community. Imagine a tropical paradise, and chances are you’re picturing this place - palm trees, coconuts, reef on the outside and lagoon in the middle, crystal clear warm water, surf, amazing diving and snorkeling. Oh, and it’s hot and humid. Perfect.

So far we’ve managed to go snorkeling - heaps of incredible fish, and we even saw a small reef shark go cruising past (apparently there’s some big tigers around here, hoping not to see one of those)… and Jane’s new camera works a treat in the water (thanks Justin!).

This arvo we got a (long, long) surf in at the main break here - not much size today, but heaps of fun - it’s a walling left reefie that sweeps down a subtle point/bend in the island. And so warm.

Anyways, our phones are both devoid of a connection, but I should be able to get email. Here’s last night’s sunset as seen from the surf shack:

We spent Christmas day on the block - Jane’s mum Lesley and her friend Penny came down from Perth, as did Jane’s bro Angus and his better half Roni. The weather down here really turned it on - the hottest day so far, clear blue skies and all. It was really hot (maybe high 30s here - Perth was sweltering with 40+), with a slight offshore but unfortunately no swell - but I did manage to squeeze in my first surf/grovel in just boardies in a very long time; I think the last time I managed that was the summer of ‘05, since last summer on the east coast saw really cold (below-winter-cold) water conditions, and then we’ve sat through a southern winter in full rubber. Look at me, I’m rambling here… back to Christmas Day.

Anyway, it was a hot day, we scored a small surf at South Beach, we ate a tonne of prawns (well, 3kg) for lunch, and every now and then ran across the road to cool off in the dam… here’s a pic of Jane and Ango in the middle of a synchronised swimming routine:

Christmas dinner was the full roast turkey, ham and vegie affair - as is compulsory at these events, Jane and I over-ate. Jane did a brilliant job on her first-ever turkey (see the pic below) but I stuck to the stuffing balls and vegies. I even managed to squeeze dessert in, which is more than I can say for Jane (to be fair, I’m pretty much a dessert-glutton, so I was always going to have that bit of extra room to spare).

Bored bored bored… and done no trace of exercise today. Felt like heading down for a quick onshore grovel at Conto based on the strength of the www.seabreeze.com.au forecast - Conto is a bit sheltered from the southerlies, and 10 knots west-south-west is not enough to stop an onshore grovel being fun. So then I checked the live update - 20 knots with 25 knot westerly gusts is pushing the bounds of an onshore grovel… looks like I’ll crack a beer instead.

On the other hand, this weekend is looking the goods - if you’d believe a forecast.

Update: Just as I wrote that last bit about cracking a beer, Jane and Spence walked in the door with a brand new carton - it must be fate.