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Rottnest Swim

Friday 20^th  Bl**dy Hot!!!

Mooched into town went to Quinlan's, a student run cafe for ..guess...an ice coffee and lunch!  It was yummy and cheap as chips. Sat in the shade in the park watching the world go by. Liz Dino, Gina (WOOFA) & Mia came in the evening. A few beers in Creatures before having fish & chips at 'Young Joe's' back to the house for a beer in the air con.

Oh! We're back in Little Creatures!

Saturday 21 Feb

It's the Rottenest Channel Swim 19km open sea swim - You have to remember that all the time we have been here there have been shark attacks up and down the coast, shark sightings on a regular basis, beaches cleared because of 4m sharks just (20yds!) off the coast. You get the drift. So today 2.300 people fling themselves into the sea to swim 19km in open water. The fittest  will only be in the water for just over 4 hours, others will be in for over 10 hours (not a pretty sight!).

Up at 6.15 at Cottesloe by 6.45 met Jason Kim and Lily and watched the idiots ...sorry ...honed swimmers, tease the sharks. I'm not sure having 'Spank' on your budgie smugglers is a deterrent! The starter at one point called the swimmers down to the 'shark line' before correcting himself to say the start line!

The population on Rottenest will increase by 10,000 people today. The pub on the Island will get through 180 kegs of beer!

The shark spotter helicopter was flying alarmingly low all the time. As the sun came up a cruise ship sailed past into Freo it was a wonderful sight ...hundreds  of little boats and canoeists and tons of shark bait.

We heard later in the day that at the time of the start, Ocean Beach, which is just up from the start was cleared because of a shark sighting.

The winner 'only saw one white pointer shark' during his swim and it was 'a fair way' (10m!) below him so he kept swimming. I'm not sure that what would be released from my bottom at this point in time, and whether it would make the shark go away or come closer!

 In the end all the swimmers got to land safely. We celebrated this fact by a visit to Creatures Loft, and dinner at Bella Roma. Home in time to watch Jaws on the TV. Don't you just love their sense of humour!

This years event has been in doubt because of the number of sharks around.	It's 6.45am and the place is packed.
	The shark spotting helicopter is low and ever-present
The crowd has turned out early	Laurie want's one!
the paddlers wait for their swimmers	the first wave are off
a big safety presence
the prospect of up to to 10 hours in the water
	swimmers were called to the 'shark line' at one point
	now that's a big support boat!
	The swim was officially started by WA Premier Colin Barnett
you can perhaps see why Kairen likes the event