Easter Friday: Starless and Bible Black

It’s so black this morning.  Still a hundred metres down the road, the first thing I hear echoing down a dark Whistler Street is Andrew Drinkwater’s unmistakable laugh.  How sunless is it this morning?  To quote Rob Hawkins: “It’s dark dark.”

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But still, the newbies come … finding their way to Ian and Anne at the palm tree.  Portraits taken with flash.

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Spots of light break the darkness.  Even the Six AMers are waiting for 6.30, and a crowded mob head off down the black ramp.  It gets hectic.  To quote Robbie the former Irishman:  “I got a few whacks out there in the dark.  Couldn’t see a thing.”

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Oh crap.  Here he comes again.

Sterling brings the Easter Crown to beach, as the Three-day challenge kicks off at seven a.m.

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First light fades in circa 6.50, and the now-large Easter Friday crowd will soon head in.  Photo courtesy Bloggin’ Brian.

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I see bobbing lights heading north to Queenscliff …

“There were nine of us,” Gaetan says later (Robert on right).  “We had three headlamps … one was white.”  Hats off to this group; going up there in the black.

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After the swim, it starts drizzling …

Mary’s gorgeous photo last month demonstrates how rain kisses the sea.

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Chests inflated, the A-Team gather near pram and palm to deconstruct their race.  I’m not surprised to hear Brad is the winner.  (I once heard that F1 drivers lose half a second per lap, once they have a baby.)

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Still drizzling.  The A-Teamers head for damp-aluminium bums, and animated bench-racing, but Ted ‘n’ Ed say: “Let’s go to havana.”

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Upstairs Havana.  I’ve never been here before.  It’s so cosy!  We learn about Ros and her saling accident in November, when she broke three fingers after jamming her hand in a winch.  The little finger was nearly cut off.  Racing Rainer gets discussed, and I hear that he said Shaun swims like a dugong.  I get up to leave, saying I have to get home and Up-blog.  “Don’t mention the A-Team,” one says.

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This is my last photo from today.  Oh crap.  I don’t believe it – there’s that bloody Sterling again.

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EASTER CROWN

Day One Results

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First  Brad         10 Points

2nd  Ghost        9

3rd  Spaniard   8

4th  Scotty         7

5th  James         6  (Bishop’s bro)

6th  Alex             5

7th  Sterling      4

8th  Tim             3  (The Bishop)

9th  Todd           2

10th  Vinnie       1

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Stats

Swimmers         220

Newbies             21

Temp                  22.1