It has to be seen to be believed--a 50 meter ocean-fed pool nestled among the natural rock formations at the foot of the south Bilgola headland. Philip swims 1-2k there everyday, and recently Isabella has been training hard there for the "Zones" swimming carnival. Having come 2nd in breaststroke for her age group at her school carnival, she will be representing Avalon at this next level of competition (tomorrow, actually). Meanwhile, Emmett's class has been going to the rock pool for the past 10 days, swimming lessons being an essential part of the year 2 curriculum. It's been a monumental struggle but PK and I have gone down there daily, sipping our cappuccinos by the sea, to watch Emmett and his mates swim. Once the kids leave, we might indulge in a bit of body surfing (no double entendre there, people). My coffee cohort at home goes to Tazza in Brooklyn Heights. Oh how I wish I could bring them here to Bilgola!
That's Philip in action among the waves.
And here's Emmett looking adorable.
Aussie larrakins being what they are, occasionally a wiseacre will catch a baby shark and let it loose in the pool. And, as you can see, the waves wash over the top constantly, so there might also be jellyfish, seaweed, fish, swimming birds, or other creatures taking a break from the pounding surf.
The rock pools are cleaned once a week--one day, about the time when we arrived in Australia, the pool cleaners opened the sluices to drain the pool and unwittingly sucked out a swimmer doing his laps. He was flushed right down the tubes and spat out into the ocean, covered with scrapes and cuts from the barnacles and shellfish lining the pipes. Lucky he was thin.
