Hotter’n Georgia asphalt (as we used to say in Dixie) out there today. (Or, if you like “Hotter than an Aborigine’s armpit” – thanks, Australia!) And no wind! Metservice – I’m sorry I ever doubted your story of an impending heatwave. According to my husband, today was the hottest day in Wellington since our house was built, in 1928 – a fact that I have no reason to doubt (i.e. I’m not going to bother checking it.) Finished work in time to head out for a swim. Had to buy a beach cricket set first – the girls are planning a fun time at Waikanae with friends, and without us, this coming weekend – which we bought at the airport retail park, very handy to Lyall Bay beach. Had a quick swim there, and then another swim at Island Bay beach on the way home, for old times sake and by way of comparison (took the scenic route to avoid the middle of town that was heaving with traffic). So, how do the two swimming spots compare?
Lyall Bay Beach
Long sandy beach, with the added interest of an international airport at one end. The airport half of the beach is dog friendly, and today the beach was teaming with dogs of all shapes and sizes, and owners almost as numerous and varied. Everyone seemed to be in a happy mood, there were families with small children playing in the sand (and a shout out to the one particular family who were very good about my old dog choosing to empty her bowels right next to their little patch of paradise) and surfers waiting patiently for the next big wave, out in the water. The sand slopes down gradually under the water, not crazy steep, but not annoyingly flat for miles like Waikanae Beach. The water was pretty cold which is normal for the South coast, but also lovely and clear. I had the dogs with me, and ended up having two conversations with owners of various ‘oodles on the way down to the water. We all decided that the doggy snobs don’t know what they’re missing, insisting on purebreds when they could have something cute, friendly, and well behaved, that doesn’t shed. Once I hit the water, I had to be a little wary so that I wouldn’t be clonked on the head by a random surfboard, but otherwise it was a very pleasant swimming experience. As I headed back in, I noticed a little disturbance around the dogs, and began to feel a little nervous. Nothing to be worried about, as it turned out – one of the schnoodles has a habit of standing up on her hind legs in the water, so she can keep an eye on me over the waves. It looks very comical and had attracted some attention from passers by. We packed up then and made our way west.
Island Bay Beach
A sentimental favorite as we lived just around the corner from here when the girls were very small, and used to spend hours at the beach, searching through rock pools, or jumping off the storm water drain into the water. It was very busy today as well. Dogs aren’t allowed, and I would make the snap judgement that there was a much smaller variety of people there – mostly middle class families with small children. I left the dogs in the air conditioned car with the poor hayfever suffering daughter, and went for a swim by myself. Had to wade through quite a bit of seaweed and what looked like mashed up jellyfish before I reached any water that seemed swimmable – but when I finally reached it, it was glorious. After a gentle slope down, it suddenly got very deep out where the iconic boats are moored (parked). This was where my other daughter and her friend saved a swimmer before Christmas, do you remember? I only had one close call, an inflatable canoe filled with young boys, squeeling with delight and paddling away very quickly from an older man who was waving at them angrily from the beach. They had life jackets on so I’m sure they were fine. I love swimming in the sea, but there’s something truly special about diving through deep clear water – its the nearest I ever get to flying (apart from, you know, flying in a plane). For that reason alone, I’m afraid island Bay edges out the other beach, no matter how much I enjoy seeing all the dogs and the rank and file enjoying the more egalitarian delights of Lyall Bay.
*not really scientific or even statistically significant I’m afraid.