Matthew and I took a 2 hour surf lesson today. The waves were constant, the wind was extreme and the temperature was not as warm as you would think that Australia would be.
The wet suits helped a lot. I would put up pictures of me in my wet suit – but let’s just say that it is form fitting and leave it at that. Matthew was very excited to try out surfing and to learn how to stand up. He was very successful. The first hour was spent on getting ready and learning the basic safety things. We got in the water pretty fast after covering safety and basics. The challenge was that the wind was so strong and the current was pushing us sideways and with the wind being so strong the waves just kept coming and coming right after each other, which sounds good, but it means that to get back out to catch another wave you are constantly fighting the current and the waves and the wind.
Surfing is awesome, but really tiring.
I did not get up once, I was told before I left Canada that I would not get up on the first day, and it didn’t. I did ride some waves pretty far on my knees and on my stomach, I just need to take the final step of popping up on the board. Matthew got very cold, but the second half of the lesson was much better for him, because he is so small, he can ride the waves much closer to shore, they are smaller but still allow him to get going and stand up.
We are all set to go again on Sunday afternoon with one of the camp staff that we have met here at Anglesea YMCA Recreation Camp. So that will be a great way to wrap up our week here before we go into Melbourne on. Monday and pick up our campervan for the next months journey all over eastern Australia.
