It’s Tuesday – the wind howled all night long. I eventually put in earplugs so I could sleep! The wind did not subside all day.
This morning I went back to Turquoise Bay to snorkel. It was like a race course. I couldn’t swim against the current. After three laps through the course I decided to try something else.
I’d driven past Oyster Stacks several times. Today I investigated. It is almost impossible to get into the water because of the sharp rocks. Certainly not a sandy beach like the popular snorkel sites. The current was quite gentle.
As I got in the water a 1 ½ metre shark swam by. At first I thought it was a dolphin . . . It didn’t seem too interested in me but I certainly took a little more time getting in the water. Sticking my face in the water I was shocked – fish everywhere. Large schools of silvery fish, little florescent blue fish. Two turtles swam by as if I didn’t exist – close enough to touch. The corals were brilliant. There were huge purple starfish. It was a superb snorkel site. I’m going back – this time with my new camera! Yes, this afternoon I went to the park store and purchased an underwater camera.
Ready . . . set . . . go.
With anticipation I arrived at Oyster Stacks this morning. Taking my own health seriously I lathered with sunscreen – a little challenging on my own but I’m getting better at it. Everything set I splashed into the water to don the flippers.
Pop . . .
I’d noticed yesterday the rubber heel strap was cracked.
Now broken.
Not willing to give in I decided to give a go at one flipper. It worked pretty well except the current was much stronger this morning then yesterday – probably something to do with the waves crashing against the reef this morning. They were much larger, about a metre larger, then yesterday – hence more water flowing over the reef so more water needing to escape the reef gaps.
I didn’t desire to escape the reef and felt a little inadequate with just one fin.
Next was to put the afternoon plan into action. Go to town and restock the pantry. It’s been 8 days since last shopping in Tom Price.
Priorities: 1) Shower; 2) Find a heel strap; 3) Food and 4) Get petrol.
My first real shower since Saturday. How good it felt to wash my hair and taste the salt running off. No, not my first shower. I do have a portable shower that gets use each evening but it’s not the same as a real shower from a shower head.
Number 2 posed a problem. Apparently heel straps are popular items or nobody stocks them. There wasn’t one in town. Not one at four dive shops. Finally rummaging through the discount bin I found one lonely fin. Asking how much it was the sales person agreed to sell just the strap.
Now I’m ready for another try in the morning.
Hopefully I didn’t leave the buckle on the counter!
