Cry me an ocean: the season is over

After the swim at Byron Bay last week, I felt bereft. The NSW ocean swimming season '09/10 has come and gone in a huge fantastic wave. And now it's come crashing down.

I think Davo and I swam at some beach somewhere almost every weekend over summer. Of course, we're not as mad as some eejits, who clock up a swim for every week of the season, no matter how far they have to travel. Some of them must spend a fortune and organise their lives around ocean swims.

I'm not that gone - yet.

It's autumn in Sydney, and though that doesn't mean much today because it's bloody hot out there in the sun, towards August the weather cools down and the winter blues kick in with gusto.

To help ease the misery, there's a swim in June on the northern beaches at Mona Vale (MV). Last year's inaugural MV Cold Water Classic was a wipe-out, literally, for me. The weather was dreadful (very UK) and the ocean was a dark churning presence. I got dumped on the way in and lost my goggles, so I got my first DNF (did not finish).

When you think about it, June's not that far off. Life is rushing away from me at the speed of light.

Happy Mother's Day to all the gorgeous mums around the world. And cheers to those who dip their toes in the deep blue sea.

When the ocean swims season ends Byron Bay beckons

Memories of Byron Bay light the corners of my mind... Corny, but when you've done a life-affirming swim in paradise it stays with you and carries you through the Sydney autumn and winter to the next ocean swims season.

As I walk through the bum-end of the CBD to work, past the smokers crowded like sewer rats on the grimy pavement and with the stench from the garbage truck emptying bins along Pitt Street assaulting my nostrils, I dream of Byron.

Ahhhhhhh... that's better. For a bit.

By July, I'm back to my grumpy, intolerant self. It's not pretty.

To ease the pain, I visit the best website in the world for ocean-swimming nuts http://www.oceanswims.com/, which I've mentioned on many occasions.

Last time I was there (geez, I think it might have been yesterday) I scrolled through the photo gallery that features the 2009 Byron Bay Winter Whales Ocean Classic.

And guess what I found? Pics of me and my friend Mrs Snorkel.

What most amazes me, apart from my god-awful stroke and saggy bottom, is the water. Pure, clear and clean. Look at the legs floating out of Mrs Snorkel's frame! Beautiful, surreal.

Mrs Snorkel and me ambling in the sea.