After a very lazy Easter Sunday, we decided that we just had to get out of the house on Easter Monday. Unlike the States where everyone returns to work the day after Easter, Australians have the day off. After a morning run, I came back home did some laundry and we all got packed up to head over to Bondi Beach. For $2.50 each we could ride any public transportation ALL DAY. And did we ever! It was of a morning of “just in time’s”. First it was the bus into the city, then the train to City Hall, then the transfer train to Bondi Junction. Then after a short wait we caught a ride on the bus out to the Bondi Beach and we started our walk.

I had done the walk a few times before with friends, but never with the kids, so we weren’t sure how it would go. They started off without a complaint and we all were just enjoying the view and the conversation.

As we rounded the corner to Tamarama Beach we noticed people gathered on the cliff watching what we thought was a surfing or surf life-saving competition. As we walked closer to the beach we saw that it was an ocean swim. To be precise, the TamaCloey (Tamarama to Clovelly) 2.5K Cliff Side Odyssey. Even on a nice day, this swim would be a huge challenge.  But the swells were pretty big and the sky was gray. Not that I would ever sign up for such a thing, but the conditions would have been enough to turn me off.

Even wading into the water was a challenge.

We kept on walking and stopped at Bronte Beach for a terrific cafe lunch. While at lunch we were reading the flyer and papi commented on the fact that the race passed an area called Shark Point. Australian names are not very creative, so I’m thinking there is a reason for the name of said spot.

After our yummy lunch at Jenny’s, we were off again. Nuno got a little ride on his daddy’s shoulders as we walked up the hill to get to Clovelly. This is actually the suburb that we had originally planned to move to when we came to Australia. As we stood there taking in the view I tried to see the swimmers, but they were just specs to me. What I did see, was a race course that I was not at all ever interested in racing!

As we approached Clovelly we noticed some helicopters, then swimmers racing by on foot in their Speedos and they weren’t wet so we knew this wasn’t a bi-athalon. Immediately we suspected a problem. A shark problem. It was confirmed that there had been a shark sighting, so the remaining heats of racers that had not gone in the water would not be allowed to race. The helicopters kept hovering overhead as the racers already in the water swam the distance. It was nerve racking enough for me & I didn’t even know anyone in the race.

As we stood there watching the swimmers come into Clovelly, we noticed how difficult it was for them to get into Clovelly Beach. Wave after wave crashed and none of the swimmers were able to get unto the beach. The current was pushing them back out. It took some serious persistence, but they did all eventually make it through.

Yes, the helicopters were overhead. But was there a panic? No. News crews? No. If anything, the swimmers who did not swim just seemed bummed that they weren’t allowed to get into the race. Americans hear ‘shark sighting’ and think reason for a pool. Australian hear ‘shark sighting’ and think are you sure? What kind? You know they rarely kill anyone? Anyone keen for a surf?

All in all it was a ripper day. The kids were AMAZING and no one was killed by a shark. What more could you ask for?