Surfing The Pass @ Byron Bay

What fun! What fun! Took the family surfing at Byron (twice!) while visiting friends at Mullumbimby during the week, it was fantastic! The water was turquoise and warm, I had to shed my wetsuit top and go cossies and boardies. I love it when its like that. (Still managed to look like a surfing dag with hat n' all- but it was fun!)

All the way home I was trying to work out how I can arrange a girls surfing trip up there. I'm picturing a house at Wategoes beach ($$$!) and up at dawn to be the first (only?!) surfers out there for a time. That would be awesome! It is soooo good for long boards. You gotta do it girls.

The only problem is the amount of other surfers who also think its awesome. You get the grommets who are so madly paddling in a world of their own and don't look ahead and nearly paddle into you; you get the stand up paddle boards which are as wide as a bus and their owners think they own the wave (one dickhead consistently would paddle straight toward me as if I wasnt there - I just wiggled my little finger at him and all us girls nodded in agreement). Then there are the dive boats that are constantly taking tourists out to see the under water sights at Julian Rocks. And there are also groups of out of control canoeists who think they can surf the waves into shore. Two of these happy (but lethal) killers nearly took me out and were thrown out of the boat, but popped up (damn those life jackets!) with huge grins on their faces like killing random surfers was the best fun ever!!

But, on a positive note, there were plenty of girl surfers (yay!) carving their way up and down the Bay. These women were really stylin' up, even Byron Bill noted there were some damn good surfer gals out there (Gee thanks Bill!! hee hee).

Byron Bill was bought a beaded necklace and told to mellow out man! which he did nicely. At one stage we had Byron Bill, Big Bad Ben, Magic Morgan and Snazzy Shaz under the tree at the Beach Hotel sippin on cold beers while the other gals did some quick shoppin. The kids were getting their kicks on free cans of Monster over the road in the park. After a hard morning of surfing The Pass, it don't get much better.

Ned Boy, exhausted and sun burnt, but fully self actualised from surfing with Jack and Blake at Byron Bay, said it was the best day of his life. Thats him in the picture above. Nice.

SM

Surf anyone?

Whoda thought - a southerly swell, cardigans on (Yes, real surfers wear cardigans!) in the middle of December, and nice big waves rolling in at the Reef. Isn't that a Winter weather pattern? Shall we blame Climate Change...or just paddle on and enjoy the ride? Took a nice picture of Champagnekate - thats her below*.


The MOB met on this awesome morning to soak up some good company and a surf before Christmas. (We missed you if you weren't there - you know who you are!) Champagnekate scooped 'wave of the day' leaving the best till last - and making sure we all saw as we stood on the beach and cheered. "Wave of the day?" she queried when she got out, "Which one? They were all good." Ever the smart arse!

Shall we do it again today girls? See you there.

SM
*This not actually Champgnekate, but some guy down at The Bend near The 12 Apostles when we were there in October. The waves Champagnekate were on were that big, I just didn't have a camera..!

Benny and the Jets (Ben Kennedy of course!)

What a night we had at the Jets!! There's nothing like a night out with the MOB - they shamelessly create laughter that follows them around like the lingering looks from the gentlemen in the next box. (Was that our newest recruit caught adjusting her cleavage on camera before she got up close to them?!)

ABC radio Newcastle put on a splendid night for us (Thank you Theresa, Kip, and Aaron), my lovely Husband drove the bus, and the MOB had the standard quota of champagne - all in the name of fun of course!

A few memorable mysteries:

Who was the mild mannered MOB member caught raiding the fridge at the Jets corporate box? Who managed to cheerfully spill their drink over the railing, refreshing the spectators below in a champagne shower? Who nearly caused a corporate box punchup over a dropped passionfruit? Hmmm, two of these answers are the same person...

I would like some MOB feedback on this - any other interesting tidbits to contribute? Comment please.

On another note - Batgirl and I had a lovely surf in the slick smooth water this morning. It was the perfect Sunday, gorgeous conditions, no wind and surfers spread out all along Diamond Beach. When you sit on that tranquil ocean and the MOB friendly waves just keep rolling in, it really is special.

Meditative even.

SM

We won! We won!

Can you believe it? Actually, I can. How could they go past a fun loving bunch of women surfers - and all mothers too? We are winners! The corporate box and a Jets games is all well and good, but we are really winners because we are strong women who essentially know how to have fun.

Thats all surfing is - fun. Importantly, I think its also about doing what you want to do. What do you do in your spare time? When time is free and you are not obligated to anyone else, what do you do? You give to yourself. And what does the MOB do when its playtime? We go surfing: good for the body, the mind, and pure play is good for the soul.

Stay tuned for photos of a rocking good time! (...its a bus trip involving champagne!!) ;)
See you at 4pm my friends.

SM
PS. Don't forget to ask Champagnekate about the photos of her sisters wedding!

10 Unique Friends

As you know girls, I have entered us into the Newcastle Jets corporate box competition - mostly because I don't think we get nearly enough opportunities to have and laugh and drink champagne (especially when someone else is paying!)

Saw a humpback leap entirely out of the water today. You know how they normally breach and flop? Well, this one fully cleared the water - dolphin style. No small effort considering the average humpback weighs 30-40 tonnes. The things you see surfing...

SM

Love your life

Annie and I tested out the new waterproof camera this morning. After the fateful tangle-up debacle we had a play and came up with some neat snapshots. The poor camera was covered in wax by the time we finished - I could hardly see through the screen! Still, we had fun, the water was delightful...as was the company.

It took me all last week to recover from our 17 road trip, but what a time we had! Suffice to say the south eastern corner of the continent has been investigated and also, yes, the dirt in the desert around Broken Hill is orange - just like in all the pictures!

The great ocean road lived up to its name and there was plenty of swell the day we drove to Apollo Bay (I have some photos somewhere...they are on new video camera which has not yet made it to the computer...) There were clean, unoccupied right handers all the way along the coast but dang it, I had opted for children rather than board (@#$%!!?). Never mind, it was rather chilly anyway (it was bloody freezing!)


Its a long way to go but the southern coast featuring the 12 (7!) Apostles is awesome! Spectacular to see the real thing. This big, bold country certainly has some unique features. Go see them before they wash away.


We also saw the famous Bells Beach in all its wind blown, freezing glory. No one surfing, but despite the wind the waves had good shape and plenty of size. Such a vast and treacherous piece of ocean - I can see why it's considered the ultimate in surfing trophies.


The kids didn't really appreciate all the getting-in-and-getting-out of the car (don't know why) but I managed to wrangle a smile out of Middle Child for the photo of us in front of what once was London Bridge. Remember that back in the nineties? The connecting sandstone "bridge" fell down and left tourists stranded on the newly formed island?
















Anyway, back in the real world the washing still piles up, the bathroom still gets dirty and children still have an unreasonable desire to be fed. But the verdict is that we live in a damn good part of the world where a couple of surfing gals can get out in the water on a Thursday morn and have all the waves to themselves.

Feels good.

SM

crazy parents embark on 16 day road trip

Ambitious or stupid? that is the uestion (the letter after P in the alphabet isn't working...) we have been asking ourselves in the lead up to this BIG ROAD TRIP. so far Matthew Reilly has helped out with a wild escape, a graphic shooting, a priceless "firestone", and the beginning of an impressive adventure. Ned has loved this talking book, and the dvd player also helps (an enormous amount indeed!!!) - thanks acturv.

Just been for a walk down to coogee beach where eldest bet her father $5 that he would see someone he knows - she won of course. derr! also, children wanted me to announce to you all (!!) that we saw todd carney (he nodded at me but I didn't know who those tattooed biceps belonged to until my 10 year old informed me - hee hee I love being a dopey mum) and also braith anasta (ho hum... no offence braith). spose I should start to get excited about the footy cause we are off to the big semi final between dragons and tigers tonight...

back to more important matters, champagnekate and i had our first surf at blackhead point yesterday!!!! ck dragged me out there - I thought it was too big but she wouldn't take no for an answer. anyway, we ripped. Imagine the photo above but with a 6 foot green monster behind her. she howled, she hooted and she flew down the face and carved her way in to the beach. It was fun, i got a few too. I recomend it girls! can't wait to do it again.

No surf for me for a while. Not unless theres waves at apollo bay and we can hire boards. will cross fingers.

children are happy and Husband is watching footy. so far so good.
sm
(Only one shift button is working, hence some inappropriate lower case. :)