The pool below the surf-lifesavers' clubhouse at Coogee Beach.
Last night, around nine, I was swimming here. Bright moonlight was shining on the bay. The light above the clubhouse was shining into the water of the pool. It was a warm night- great for swimming in cool, clear saltwater. Waves were breaking over the sides as I swam. I didn't want to leave. I kept swimming until I was shivering.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NTeDvZhFqANi3HYUhbtjILMSBJtP6CybsbkyWelWd4a0lxMMHWawFZxaZOyY-igjAwT2IDzOIQWVOUtBJpQNvRGCO1AXg3CKW8LNdkWB7QZupKaFg_aDJdsOM5UKwlACP8bVGpSV0Okf/s400/PICT0017.JPG)
This morning, it was a different story. The onshore winds had brought stingers to the beaches. There was a bloke in the water fishing them out, but the waves kept washing more in. It' wasn't going to be fun swimming here.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkFRk167aCfLequEx1pkUfPlQiAIMQJAESVdETUJTJktgo7b6O5yiG5AzxHeNrsU0i_iy99zQ8yj7fLUk-wHeWZLm2hXsiexvxNARJBmQYvxLBy6aquwclWSfA2Kqa-Y_AoQCRf_E7lrR/s400/PICT0003.JPG)
The stingers were mostly bluebottles (Portugese Man-Of-War). The south and central areas of the beach were littered with them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYM_tfodWxqqsulrbPlldtM-hjwB150JWjN7ddfcOmkGHwXyhml28xtPZFtqxF_KayrrfaMj9gpwFZy5DN6oOZnsjN-ePE2qxZHgAyBIAkZ_qbWiwBnGqQGB5QfQJP7SLtkQSXrEZfCNP/s400/PICT0007.JPG)
So I walked down to the south end of the beach, and along the headland, to swim at Giles Baths. The onshore winds were from the north-east, so this pool was in the lee of the point.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnaCODjY6-j8AQYPA2NBCeBF-EoA0KErEm70hr3NTnqRXfBRL18_TE_GSCh2_kL2tCumRjgOCSJnZcv3r74af-e92G1cjVRLfru6EWU0PLtiOnEViSP6LywS2rqQkd8W50-jb8pv2QddX/s400/PICT0012.JPG)
Free from stingers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGjwp_Wv2VywU21l-IpFMss0MhXQ0BM776gaGIZLD9ftWJee6hkiQuMNjrjtHI-KD22VSb1y9P5pY4s_H0r56dABpq9ESMThb0PiDTE0uJuXXxAw97oHk2WE5treNSz63IpsWYov9XqeZ/s400/PICT0011.JPG)
Clear, cool, wonderful water. A great swim.
Thanks Chris, this is very informative. Have you repeated the experience over the past few years since your blog post?
ReplyDelete