Curl Curl, Northern Beaches - Sydney.

Got a decent two hour session in here at "Curly" despite being stung by Bluebottle jellyfish on my first paddle out !! (b*stards) - the poison gets into ya lymph glands and hurts like hell ...... gggrrrrrrrrrrrr :-) 

BIG "SALTY"

This 10ft plus Saltwater Croc is easily capable of jumping into our boat from here - we're about 3ft away from him and "Shayne" the mad-as-a-hatter "skipper" reckons we can get closer .......... shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! :-) 

"GONE FISHING" :-)

This little Silver Trevelly put up a decent fight..... not quite big enough to eat so I let him go. Great fun out in the boat - we fished for 3 hours including an hour or so in the Daintree River (full of big 10ft Saltwater Crocs) ...... you tend to keep you arms inside the boat up there!!!! :-)

"Supper" :-)

This bigger fella wasn't quite so lucky - after a good fight he was cooked up and served to the guests at the Lodge as a starter. Tasted great too. :-) 

GRUNTERS, WA.

This place was great - beautiful clear water and quality waves. The water is so clear that you can see the reef and fish clearly when paddling out. WA feels very remote - there are huge expanses of perfect beach and surf with hardly anyone out. The only negative point is that WA is 'sharky as' (!) - the fact that I was potential shark food only crossed my mind about twice every second or so. :-) 

Me surfing "Grunter's Reef", Margaret River, WA.

 

Margaret River Sunset .... Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice !

 

'A-Frame Perfection' at Margaret River, WA

How inviting does this look !!!?! "Nice little easy paddle out in the channel to the right of the lookout (?), position yourself around the back of the line-up and just wait for that next perfect ride(?)" ...... errr, yeah - maybe not! In reality this was a HUGE day. Sets up to 10ft were sweeping through the whole break - too far inside and you were guarenteed to get totally SMASHED by 2-3 waves. Better be able to hold your breath for a long time on this day ! :-) 

Margaret River, WA - 'Main Break'

March 2006 - The reefs around Margaret River were pumping during our first two days in MR. 8ft plus with huge sets - only 12-15 hardcore locals out. Checked out Yals, Huzzas, North Point but all maxed out and looking like certain death :-) ..... had to wait a couple of days for my first paddle out in WA (at GRUNTERS REEF) - nothing like rock and sharks to focus the mind! :-)