Oceans are for swimming

I have long had the ambition to swim in as many of the worlds oceans as possible. So far collecting shells from beaches visited has been more successful.
The reason being is that my European travel has always been 'off season - cheaper' so swimming has not been a serious option.

From weekends and holidays on the Gold Coast swimming at favourite beaches such as Kurrawa, Tugan and Balinga - even Surfer's Paradise in the 50's, to the exotic beaches of the Caribbean the salt water and sand is part of me.

I can say that we DO have the most amazing beaches. I have always favoured rolling surf for swimming but as I get older the lovely bays and quiet beaches appeal

My sons loved the beach as children and many happy hours have been spent on or near the water.

Main Beach 1969

First time on a surf board

1969

I wish I had taken more photo's....

Lake Macquarie 1974

Getting ready for a sail on Lake Macquarie

A couple of wonderful holidays were spent with Sister J at Fishing Point Lake Macquarie, swimming, snorkelling and having a great opportunity to learn to sail.
We always seemed to gravitate to the southern beaches but later on I discovered Noosa and the Sunshine Coast beaches.
I regularly spend time with friend C for a few days or a week if we can manage it at either Caloundra or Dickie Beach during the summer.

Sunshine Coast early 80's

Kalbarri 1983

The beaches in Western Australia are just lovely and I was lucky to live close to the beach for the 8 years that I lived there. Unfortunately when the beach is at your front door you don't take photo's. So I have none of my favourite spots of Scarborough, Trigg and City Beach. Leroy beloved dog and I spent every afternoon in the summer at City Beach 'dog beach' - not one photo.

North of Geraldton

Closer to home in the last decade I have holidayed a few times with friends on Moreton Island. This place is a real treat.

A great holiday

Sister J and brother-in-law B and I spent a week or so during February for a few years enjoying Manly Beach in Sydney and especially the pool and Shelly Beach

Manly Beach

I was extremely lucky to accompany 'Miss World Australia' as chaperone to the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean in 1998. This was my first experience of swimming in water that was not around Australia. The water was warmer and not the rules and regulations of Australian beaches. The resort on the Island of Mahe was right on the beach with sun lounges right in front of the restaurant/bar. the first time I experienced the joy of going straight from the water to the deck of the restaurant to drink beer and eat french fries - a wonderful experience.

Great snorkelling off Mahe

Beach culture is so different in other parts of the world. Just down along the beach was a pizza place with the sand of the beach as the floor. On the Island of La Digue there is a French restaurant again with sand as the floor. I thought that the main beach on La Digue was the most beautiful I had ever seen but later a trip to the  Whitsundays proved  definitely equal to this.
I spent 2 holidays with sister J and family in North Queensland. In Cairns I travelled to the reef and had the opportunity to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef.

Agincourt Reef

In 1995 I travelled to Vanuatu for a girls weekend. This was again a different beach experience but most enjoyable.

Vanuatu

When sister J had a catamaran on Lamb Island we spent lovely family excursions sailing on Moreton Bay

Lamb Island 2007

My trip to Bali in 2008 with sister J and Brother -in-law B was a fabulous success where we had the opportunity to swim in the Baduang Strait which is of course part of the Indian ocean.

Nusa Lambongon

March 2009 saw me travelling to the Caribbean for a wedding on La Dix in the British Virgin Islands.  Again lovely warm water but of course with so many islands no surf. On the Island of St Thomas I visited a beach that had shops on the sand, a bar, pumping music and little stands selling food, ice-cream and t shirts etc. Such a party vibe it was wonderful.

La Dix

Friend C and I travelled to Gerringong on the NSW south coast in 2012. Even though it was cold we actually went into the water I just couldn't let the opportunity pass. Especially as they have sea baths that I just love.

The edge of old school sea baths

In 2009 we had a big family holiday in Yamba in NSW. This little town has a beach for every taste and I ventured to try every one.

Yamba's main beach

last year I revised the South west Coast of WA. I hadn't been there since the 80's. I wanted to swim in the southern ocean and thought that this would be my best opportunity. Friend C and I swam almost every day on as many beaches as we could, even though it was cold and we could only stay in for 10 minutes or so.

Indian ocean at Margaret River

Southern Ocean at Walpole

My latest sojourn to swim was last week on Norfolk Island. This is in the Pacific but actually termed the southern Fijian Sea. We swam at Emily Bay - cold but just too good to miss.

Beautiful Emily Bay

This summer I want to go back to Caloundra or Dickie Beach and also have planned a trip to the Northern NSW beaches.