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Published: April 2nd 2008
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So today i reckon i have biked around 25km, though i didnt work it out too precisely. I biked 12.5km south to scarborough, and then obviously back again! Why did i do this i hear you cry? well this week is the australian surf life saving championships, and today was masters day. Seeing as the weather was good i decided to take the oppurtunity to go and see some of the action. Having met the cleaners (after a little surprise!) I headed out with my usual gear at about 10:15. Biked straight to the beach and then went all the way along the coastal foot/bike path to scarborough.
The bike was amazing. To have the amazing ocean on one side, and then some impressive houses on the other was fantastic. I kept stopping to admire the view and take photos, some of which are included. At about half way is a place called Hillarys, where i had a quick look round the harbour, since i am catching a boat from there tomorrow...though i didnt actually find from where, oh well! Having seen there enclosed beach, i decided this would be a good stop on the way back for a swim!
Got to scarborough at about 11:15, having listened to the enemy (thanks sisters!), and was immmediatley confronted by vast numbers of flags, tents, surf boards and canoes...oh and obviously people! Locked up the bike and headed straight for the epicentre of it all, a kind of amphitheatre type area, where they were doing beach-flag racing. This is where the competitors line up on their bellys facing away from the flags. They then on the whistle have to jump up, turn, and race to the flags. There is always one less flag so people keep getting knocked out unitl their is a winner, saw some great tussles!! even funnier since today is masters today so were a lot of people 40/50+.
Having watched some of that, i wandered along the beach to where they were doing surf-boat racing. Basically 6men in a boat, and had to race i reckon a few hundred metres out, go around their buoy, and then back again. The speed with which they started was amazing, and it looked very tiring. Again very impressive when the races I saw had combined boat ages of 240. Watched quite a bit of this as the beach gave
a good view and the sun was out! I then went to my beloved subway. I am sorry but i was hungry, and to be honest, a coke and a sub for 2.50quid aint bad, especially as cokes alone here are like 1.50.
Headed back to the amphitheatre to eat it, and watched some of the medal ceremonies. Whilst doing so i realised quite how different i find the weather. Theres me wearing just my boardies, and yet many of the people around me have trousers on, or long sleeves, and in some cases hoodies. WHATS WRONG WITH THEM!! I mean it is 24c!! They then had a lunch break from events so i went for a walk and watched numerous people warming up etc, and then sat down and read my book for a bit. At 3am they had the relay events so i went to the main grand stand (oh yes!) to watch. The relays consisted of a surf-boat leg, a surfboard paddling leg, canoe leg, and a swimming leg. Each one involving a short run to tag the next person on the beach. Man those guys (and women) had some energy!! Watched 3heats of this (takes
a while) before deciding to head back.
Hopped on the bike and made my way back to Joondlup. SHOCK HORROR! yoda wouldnt work (ipod). so had to sing in my head!! Got back to Hillarys and stopped for a swim, and the water felt good, mainly as i was very hot, but also because it was dead still (being in the harbour) and amazingly clear (though adds nothing to the feeling i know!). Noticed quite a few english here. Having dried off, i then did the final leg back home. However, not without incident. One of the pedals started coming off, and eventually fell off....not ideal!! Got back just as Elke was takin Sandy to soccer (if i say football they get confused!). Chilled out with the boys before a tea of lasagne and ice cream...not together obviously. Then had a bit of a laugh and chat with sandy and josh before they went to bed. Did some sorting out, and then was the only person still up so came on here. Did some research on ipod, and it seemed to look like it may have finally died, could you imagine, i would be lost without music for al
my travels, but, on the SIXTH reset, it worked, yay yay yay! Just tried to ring mum but she is out, grr!
Tomorrow I am going to rotnest island, getting up at 6:45am to make the most of it and get 8am ferry (since costs 35quid or something!!).Please feel free to message me/e-mail/text, its all good!
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John
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Why.............
.......are you still the right way up on all these photos?