Watching Whales from Wylies

I've spent some glorious winter afternoons at Wylies Baths recently. After swimming my lengths with the fishes in the cool clear pool, I usually stand on the high decking with a cup of tea and my binoculars. I'm looking for whales, and, most days, I see lots. Humpback whales travel up the NSW coast from the Antarctic Ocean to the Coral Sea at this time of year. Usually, the spray from the blowholes tell you where the whales are, and, then, you can look through the binoculars to see them at the surface. Often you can see some tail slapping. One day, I was lucky enough to see one breach. On the odd day that I couldn't spot a whale, I watched dolphins in the bay, or gannets soaring above the sea and suddenly diving into the water to feed.

They're out there.

Christmas Day at Wylies Baths

Christmas Day morning was cool, dull and overcast after a scorching Christmas Eve. Still, we headed off for a swim. For the past few months I've been swimming at Dawn Fraser Baths in the harbour, but it was closed for the public holiday. Wylies Baths was open, so Wylies it was. The baths are usually very busy with parties on Xmas Day, but, perhaps because of the weather, not  many people were down there when we arrived, so there was plenty of room to swim. The ocean water temperature is always cooler than the harbour water temperature, but today it felt especially cool. Perhaps there's been an upwelling? In any case I didn't believe the 20 degrees Celsius written on the board. Still, it was a great way to start the day. Ten lengths of breaststroke, then a couple more just gliding up and down with the goggles off, watching the waves crashing against the rocks. It started to drizzle as we left, and, eventually, it was a day of thunderstorms and heavy rain.

The End Of The Summer Swimming Season

On Sunday, I had my last swim at Dawn Fraser Pool (or Balmain Baths) for six months. It is now closed for the winter. I managed to have a few days swimming just before it closed. The weather was kind enough to stay dry for several days in a row (unusual for this past summer), so I went on Thursday evening after work, on Saturday morning at sunrise and again on Sunday morning at sunrise. Monday was actually the final day, but, after a wild storm on Sunday night, the Parramatta River was polluted by stormwater yet again. I'll be back on, or shortly after, the October long weekend.

On Wednesday I headed back to Coogee and Wylies Baths. I'll be swimming here for the next six months. I actually like having the two different locations at the two different times of year for my regular swims. It provides a seasonal feel to both sets of baths.

I swam again at Wylies today, on a beautiful Autumn morning in the warm sun. The water was clear, sparkling and 21°C. I'm used to swimming a kilometre at Balmain, which is 20 lengths, but I have to remember that a length at Wylies is 50 yards rather than 50 metres, so I need to swim an extra 2 lengths. Not much of a problem in this wonderful saltwater.

Today I was amused to see that somebody had dug out an old sign that I'd completely forgotten about. It used to be displayed quite prominently when I was a regular swimmer and member here during the 1980s before the renovation/ restoration of the baths.

Sydney's Wet Summer

Sydney has had an incredibly wet summer so far, with more twice last summer's rainfall already having been recorded. The La Nina phenomenon seems to be the cause. Such heavy rainfall affects swimming in Sydney's waterways. Because of the city's built up areas, stormwater runs directly into the rivers, bays and the ocean, causing pollution incidents. Generally, the ocean beaches are declared safe one day after heavy falls, but the bays and rivers can take up to three days to clear. I usually swim in the Harbour every weekend during the summer months, so it has been frustrating this summer when there have been so many pollution days. I've ended up going over to Coogee Beach or Wylies Baths for my swims, but, even in the ocean, there's been a lot of flotsam. The beaches are also quite crowded at this time of year, and the seasonal north-easterly winds often bring seaweed and bluebottles (Portugese Man-Of-War).

Midweek, during a normal summer, I often go for a swim, after work, over to Balmain Baths. It's a bit of a hike, as I work in the south-western suburbs, and have to take a train 30 kilometres into the city centre, then a bus 3km out to Balmain. I could just go to one of the many chlorinated municipal pools, but I really enjoy swimming in saltwater. I have been missing out on this swim since the new year because of the stormwater pollution, so it was with relief that I read the Beachwatch reports on Thursday morning when they declared pollution to be unlikely. 

I set off on the train into the city at 3:30. Half way there, of course, the rain started. It was pretty heavy too. I thought it might clear, but it persisted. Another wet summer evening. I really don't mind swimming in the rain, but I hoped that there wouldn't be too much runoff into the baths.

By the time I got into the city and waited for the bus, there was a lot of water on the roads. Still, I caught the bus out to Balmain, determined to swim. On the way across the Glebe Island Bridge, the rain started to ease, and by the time we got to Balmain it had stopped. I walked across a very wet Elkerton Park, and down to the pool. It was an unusually low tide, and the seagrasses were exposed. The water was a bit on the murky side, but I managed to do my twenty lengths and avoid any sort of sickness.

Coming on to the Glebe Island Bridge. Still raining.

Looking from Glebe Island Bridge across to the Harbour Bridge. The rain is easing over the city.

At Balmain Baths. The rain has stopped.

A very low tide with the seagrasses visible.

A good standby for this wet summer has been Birrong Pool which is on the train line from work back home. As I said, I don't really enjoy chlorine pools, but it's been better than no swim at all. The ocean baths and beaches are just too far after work. It would mean taking a train into the city, then a bus out to the Eastern Suburbs, then a bus and train back to the Inner West where I live. Sometimes on a Friday afternoon I'll go, but never midweek.

Birrong Pool

I normally have a midweek swim here in the winter when Balmain Baths are closed.

The Last Weekend of Winter

Early today I set off for my final swim of winter in thick fog. As I arrived at Coogee, the sun had just begun to burn off the worst of it, but it was still a little misty out on the ocean.

The water is back to 17°C again after dipping down to 16°C last weekend. The water seems to have stayed warmer this winter. These temperatures are so mild, that we've even had some bluebottles (portuguese man of war) drifting in on the unseasonal onshore breezes.

The water was very clear. There were scores of small fishes swimming alongside and below me. I did 20 beautiful lengths avoiding the occasional  bluebottle.

A Wintry Day At Wylies Baths

Yesterday, it was blue skies and bright sunshine, and a perfect Winter's day in Sydney. The baths were gorgeous, and some people were even sunbathing on the wooden decks.

Today is a different story. The skies were grey, the breeze was cold, the rain drizzled down and the top temperature for the day was 15°C. 

According to the board, the seawater temperature was 17°C, but it seemed cooler than that. After I finished my 25 lengths, the hot shower felt like it was scorching my skin. I haven't had that feeling since the 14°C water in San Francisco last year.

Winter Swimming At Last (and only three weeks left)

The notice board at Wylies Baths tells the story. The seawater temperature has finally dropped down to a winter level. Last weekend it was 18°C; this weekend it's 16.5°C. I doubt that it will drop much below this temperature now. In a little over three weeks it will (officially) be Spring.

I swam my twenty lengths in clear, sparkling water. Though the temperature is a bit cooler than recent weeks, it's still mild enough to swim in just a pair of speedos and no swimcap.

There seem to be a lot more people swimming right through the winter these days. There also seem to be fewer people using wetsuits. 

Finally - A Little Calm

Swimming in the sea has been difficult these past couple of weeks, even at low tide. The swell has been very big (up to 4½ metres some days). Wylies Baths has been closed to swimmers on and off over the past few weeks. Last weekend I didn't get a swim at all. So, it was with relief that I read about the swell dropping during this past week. As the weekend approached the seas flattened out, and I was able to turn up at the pool for an early morning swim, even though it was just after high tide.

It was a glorious morning, but the air temperature was a wee bit on the cool side at 9°C. On the board it said that the sea temperature was 18°C, but I'm somewhat sceptical about that. The first length felt colder than I've been used to recently. Still, three years ago it was about 15° at this time of year, and it got down to 14° during early August. In any case, the water was clear, clean and refreshing. I swam 20 lengths through several small schools of tiny fish, then sat in the sun until I started shivering. A hot shower and a hot mug of tea soon fixed that.

About a fortnight ago, I was swimming here in rough conditions at low tide, when I noticed that one of the two posts that stick up out of the pool was missing. It had been buckled over and bent under the water by the force of the waves. The image below shows the two posts, which is how Wylies has looked for the 25 years that I've been going there. In that time they've been used to rope off a wading area for small children in the summer, but nobody seems to know what they were originally intended for nor how long they've been there.

Big Seas

Last week I had a pretty wild swim on high tide at Wylies Baths. Nothing too unusual about that. This week there has been a big swell off Sydney, so it was too dangerous to swim while the tide was high. But, even at low tide, it was a wild old time in the pool.

All of these photos were taken at low tide. Actually, two days ago it was probably even wilder. Even today, some big sets were crashing into the pool and washing up over the concrete platforms at the base of the cliffs.

Twenty lengths seemed like thirty today after struggling against the swell.

Strangely, though, the water temperature is back up to 18°C.

Cooler Water

It's beginning to feel like winter swimming at last. The water temperature at Wylies today was (according to the board) 17°C. I still don't feel the need to wear a swimcap, but that's because I only swim my 20 - 25 lengths.

The week has seen very strong (and cold) westerly winds. Today they were particularly strong, but, as the cliffs protect the baths from the cold westerlies and southerlies, it was warm in the sunshine. 

The offshore winds were, however, meant to flatten out the seas, but when I swam, just past high tide, I got a rather rough and choppy pool.

Winter Solstice

The water at Wylies Baths has stayed reasonably warm since Winter officially began about three weeks ago. I swam there on both Saturday and Sunday this past weekend, just a couple of days before the solstice. Both days were bright and sunny, but, due to a swell, I had to save the lap swimming until low tide at 4PM or thereabouts. By this time, the sun was low in the sky, the pool was in shadow and there was a bit of a chill in the air. 

On Saturday the water temperature was 19°C, and on Sunday it was 18°C, so still warm (although there was an occasional wetsuit to be seen). There's still no real need for a swim cap, but I will admit that I was glad of a hot shower and a mug of tea on Sunday.

I swam twenty sparkling lengths on Saturday (plus another couple without the goggles, just looking at the views), then another fifteen on Sunday. There were plenty of fishes swimming around the pool, but I didn't see the friendly octopus this weekend. The resident cormorant also failed to show up.

The Last Of The Winter Swimming

The First of September is the (official) start of Spring in Australia, so this weekend has been my last chance for an (official) Winter swim.

All last week there were strong (and cold) westerly winds blowing, flattening the ocean, and making swimming conditions perfect at any stage of the tides. Today, however, a southerly change has been moving up the coast, bringing a swell with it. I could only get to Wylies on high tide today, and the pool was too rough to swim in. So, it was a case of wandering down to the beach and swimming in the pool under the Surf Life Savers' Club. It's protected, to some extent, from a southerly swell, but, even then, it got a little rough at times. I swam for about 20 minutes in the 15 degrees water, and certainly missed the hot shower afterwards. Luckily, it was a perfect day, so a mug of hot tea in the warm sun soon restored me.

Colder Water

I didn't think the seawater temperature would get down to 15 degrees this winter, but it has (with one weekend to spare).

Today was a gorgeous Sydney winter's day, sunny and bright with barely a cloud in the sky. There was a strong, cool westerly blowing which flattened out last week's swell on the ocean.

The water was clear and sparkling (and cool). I swam twenty, lazy lengths in the sun. I still can't be bothered to wear a swimming cap. Later I sat up on the decking, drinking a mug of tea and watching the ocean.

Afterwards, I wandered along the cliff path, past the Ladies' Baths, and down to Coogee Beach.

Only Two Weeks Left

There are only two weeks left for (official) winter swimming. The water temperature has only just dropped to 16 degrees. I doubt that it'll now get down to 15. I've given up the idea of wearing a swimming cap this winter.

I swam my twenty lengths late in the day, just as the light was beginning to fade. I had to wait for low tide because the swell had been so big. In fact, conditions were so dangerous that Wylies was closed on high tide.

The Water's Getting Cooler

The water is finally cooling down. I went swimming at Wylies yesterday, and the temperature has just dipped below seventeen degrees. Today is the first of August, so there's only four weekends of Winter left. I wonder if it will make it down to 15 degrees this year?

Still no need for the swimcap. I swam twenty lengths with the occasional set of waves breaking into the pool.

Cold Days at Coogee

A dreadful week to begin the winter holidays. Usually, at this time of year, it's crisp and cool but also sunny and bright. Not this year - we've had days of grey skies, drizzly rain and cold, damp winds. I could almost be back in Lancashire. The air temperature has been well below average too.

I've managed to go for a swim at Wylies Baths every day of the holidays so far. It's been a different winter swimming experience from my usual one. Still, the seawater has stayed at seventeen to eighteen degrees most days (warmer than the air), so still no need for the swimcap.

Winter Solstice (or thereabouts) Swimming

I haven't posted on this site for weeks now. I've been swimming on Saturday and Sunday every weekend, but nothing remarkable seems to have happened. The weather is fine and sunny and very cold at the moment. The ocean temperature is still 18 degrees Celsius. I don't even need to wear a swim cap yet.

 I went swimming again last Sunday and took a couple of photos with my phone. The air temperature was only 14 degrees. A bit chilly walking up the steps from the pool to the showers.

First Swim Of Winter

A cool, overcast and drizzly day for my first winter swim. Winter officially starts on the first of June in Australia, so last weekend's dip was still in Autumn. Today's air temperature was just 13 degrees C, but the seawater is still 20 degrees. So, no need for a swim cap yet.

Wild Weekend at Wylies

Sorry about the alliteration overload, but I couldn't resist it. Last weekend saw huge swells along the Sydney coastline. On the Saturday, I had a look at Wylies at low tide to see if a swim was possible. The waves were still crashing into the pool, and the surge was still spilling over the concrete deck behind the pool. Nobody was in the water, and I decided that I wasn't going to lead the way in that regard.

On Sunday the swell had eased, but was still rough enough that warnings were being posted and all of  Sydney's ocean beaches were closed. At low tide, there were only a few waves breaking into Wylies Baths, so in I went.

Three Weeks Until Winter

A gorgeous day in late Autumn. The morning was about 11 degrees Celsius, but was due to warm up to 22. Wylies Baths is perfect on a day like today. It's out of the cold winds and in the warm sun most of the day.

Walking down to Wylies

I swam a lazy 15 lengths in amongst the fish

 

Still no need for a hot shower

When I first started this blog, I only really intended to use it to record my progress in my (admittedly daft) attempt to swim the Sydney coastline using tidal baths and ocean pools. However, I got a bit carried away, and wrote a sort of a swim diary over the course of a year. I enjoyed doing this, but also wanted to tidy up the entries concerning the swim trek and try to present them sequentially. To that end, I've started a website concerned only with that swim. It needs a good deal of revision, as it's pretty much copied and pasted straight from this blog. Also, 10 pools/ enclosures (at least) still remain.  The website is at: http://sites.google.com/site/thelazyswimmer/