When at work and asked how I am going, my normal response is ‘not bad’. I’ve been called out on this a few times, being questioned where in the spectrum of possible moods that places me. The question is often loaded, with the assumption I am indicating I may be erring on the gloomy side. A bit like Eeyore but not quite as bad as Marvin, the manically depressed robot. For me however it just means I’m going OK, but seeing Lisa and I work hard on maintaining a good life to work balance, with the emphasis on life I know where I’d rather be:
And that is where I found myself today. Walking towards Castle Rock on yet another unusually warm day for autumn, with a blinding blue sky. Being by myself I plumped for this location to allow me to double dip, so to speak. The rock was inviting but the water was also looking pretty good. In fact last weekend would have been even better in the water, with a gentle breeze and slight swell for an extended period. But after my climb with Pontus, I was beat and didn’t have the energy on Saturday or Sunday to head to the water:
Or to do much at all, and that weary feeling extended into the early part of the week. Not that it stopped me going to work, which may sound in conflict with trying to maintain that life to work balance. I may be ‘not bad’ while at work, but I do have a strong work ethic and need to be pretty bad to take a sickie. Another thing Lisa and I have in common, and tell each off for as sometimes it is to our detriment. I’m not entirely sure I have shaken whatever is lurking in the background. My body felt heavy and lacked coordination, as I pulled myself up the routes:
I did however have fun on the four lines I hit. Although, on the last one where the rope is hanging in the above image it all started to feel a bit too hard. I fell off at the same spot on both laps, indicating it was time to change activity. Not having carried the snorkelling gear to the rock I walked back to the car. Scrambling over the rocks and beach rather than taking the track, where I found some groovy patterns carved into the sand by the water. After getting changed, I then walked approximately the same distance but in the opposite direction:
Aiming to find some new ground, plus being salmon season the fishers were out and something told me no one would be at Gull Rock. It is a bit over half way between Castle Rock and Meelup beach, and I guessed it may be a bit further than the fishers would want to carry their gear. Whether my thinking was on the money or not, there was not a fishing line in sight. And as is usually the case along this bit of coastline the water was clear and full of fish, and it also felt so good on the body. I’ve mentioned many of the fish in previous posts:
I did however enjoy seeing the Tarwhine (Rhabdosargus sarba), which is rarely seen at my local reef. Tarwhine is the most common name, but I prefer the Goldlined Seabream. It is a species that the fishers would be keen to hook. They would also be happy with the Australian Herring (Arripis georgianus) I saw. It was fun watching the fast predatory Herring chase and pick off bait fish, which were about in huge numbers. In addition to be rewarded by all the fish, the below Western Hollow Spine Urchin (Centrostephanus tenuispinus) is a first time sighting for me:
The spines are more slender and delicate looking than those of the Purple Urchin (Heliocidaris erythrogramma), which litters my local reef. Gull Rock is so named due to the boulders sitting proud of the water that provide a perfect perch away from people. Looking round the base of these on the more protected landward side I found scores of smaller fish. Below in the greatest numbers are adult sized Blackhead Puller (Chromis klunzingeri). This image also captures a small green wrasse, but have no idea what species it is and have never been able to get a clear image of this fish due to it being skittish and fast:
The juvenile Western Scalyfin (Parma occidentalis) was however the centrepiece. The brown body with three vertical white stripes and fluorescent blue dots across the face and in the upper dorsal fin, made it look very fancy. I had only been in the water for thirty minutes but was starting to get bashed about a bit. The small waves packed punches above their size making it interesting getting out on the slippery rocks. Feeling refreshed from the short but great dive I walked back to the car, placed neatly in the middle of today’s two playgrounds:
Sandbagged 