We’ve had a bit of rough weather lately, haven’t we? Lots of wind (although that seems to have died down for now), big swells, and rough surf have been making the morning swim across Cabbage Tree Bay feel like an open water adventure. The conditions this morning were a lot calmer than the last couple of days, but we were still greeted with a few big rolling waves at the beach and a rather bumpy ride across the middle of the bay courtesy of the waves coming in off the Bower.
Above: Some waves at South Steyne to make the surfers happy…
On a bumpy day like this I’m often reminded of a passage from Book 5 of Homer’s Odyssey. In this passage our hero, Odysseus, has been caught in a storm at sea, thrown from his raft, and is desperately seeking the shore when he is tossed onto a jagged rock by a huge wave:
“Ah me, when Zeus has at length granted me to see the land beyond my hopes, and lo, I have prevailed to cleave my way and to cross this gulf, nowhere doth there appear a way to come forth from the grey sea. For without are sharp crags, and around them the wave roars foaming, and the rock runs up sheer, and the water is deep close in shore, so that in no wise is it possible to plant both feet firmly and escape ruin. Haply were I to seek to land, a great wave may seize me and dash me against the jagged rock, and so shall my striving be in vain. But if I swim on yet further in hope to find shelving beaches and harbors of the sea, I fear me lest the storm-wind may catch me up again, and bear me, groaning heavily, over the teeming deep; or lest some god may even send forth upon me some great monster from out the sea – and many such does glorious Amphitrite breed. For I know that the glorious Earth-shaker [Poseidon] is filled with wrath against me.”
While he pondered thus in mind and heart, a great wave bore him against the rugged shore. There would his skin have been stripped off and his bones broken, had not the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, put a thought in his mind. On he rushed and seized the rock with both hands, and clung to it, groaning, until the great wave went by. Thus then did he escape this wave, but in its backward flow it once more rushed upon him and smote him, and flung him far out in the sea. And just as, when a cuttlefish is dragged from its hole, many pebbles cling to its suckers, even so from his strong hands were bits of skin stripped off against the rocks; and the great wave covered him. Then verily would hapless Odysseus have perished beyond his fate, had not flashing-eyed Athena given him prudence. Making his way forth from the surge where it belched upon the shore, he swam outside, looking ever toward the land in hope to find shelving beaches and harbours of the sea.
Homer, Od. 5.408-440 [trans. A. T. Murray]
Above: Taking the plunge.
I hope you didn’t find it quite as hard to make landfall this morning as Odysseus did, but the feeling he describes of helplessness in the face of the might of the ocean will be familiar to many of our hardy swimmers!
Above: Waiting…
And did you spot the cameo by one of our Cabbage Tree Bay regulars in the passage above? (Hint: you’ll find it in the second paragraph.)
Above: Waves at the Bower break.
Recommended reading (bottom of the blog): As an unashamed Classics nerd, I live in hope that one day someone will ask me, ‘Alex, I would absolutely love to immerse myself in the world of ancient Greek and Roman literature – where should I start?’ Alas, it hasn’t happened yet, so I’m taking matters into my own hands and adding a ‘recommended reading’ section to the bottom of my monthly blog post. (N.B. You can find good translations of Classical texts by most of the major publishers (the Oxford World’s Classics editions are generally pretty good, as are most Penguin editions), or online through websites like the Perseus Digital Library, or theoi.com)
This month: The Odyssey. An epic poem by the Greek poet Homer in 24 books (in Classical literature, ‘books’ are equivalent to what we would call ‘chapters’) on the subject of Odysseus’ return home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy. The wily Odysseus is one of the Greek heroes in Homer’s other famous poem, The Iliad, which tells of the final year or so of the Trojan War. Odysseus fights at Troy for ten years, and then has a mammoth ten year journey to get home to Greece again. The Odyssey has everything you could possibly want: sea monsters, ship wrecks, giant cyclopes, witches, tragedy, comedy, and, most of all, adventure.
Valete omnes (‘toodles everyone’),
Alexandra
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Management Notices
Volunteers Needed
The upcoming Cole Classic is coming to Manly and the surf club wishes to apply as many Bronze Medallion qualified lifesavers as they can to water safety. Those interested and able to help out with the running of this years event – if you can donate any time to help with beach side activities such as bag control, registrations, lost children etc.
Can you please email our own Jim Stackpool who will coordinate with club?
email Jim – jjs@scat.com.au or talk to him during the swim.
Ask at the desk to point out Jim if you do not know him.
Shelly Beach Clean & Snorkel
Clear Tides is a non-profit organisation that was established in 2017 by Marine biology student, bold and beautiful swimmer and cabbage tree bay snorkel instructor – Jessica Brading. The mission of the organisation is to spread our love and respect for the ocean, environment and marine animals.
On Sunday 21st January, Clear Tides is holding their first ever event – SHELLY BEACH CLEAN AND SNORKEL!
Head on over to Shelly beach after your morning swim and help Jess and her team clean up our beloved bay and then head out for a snorkel after (or another swim if your game). If thats not enough incentive… theres free brunch!
Invite your friends and family – lets team up and support local organisations in maintaining our beautiful cabbage tree bay.
7 comments
Bill McCaffeine
17/01/2018 at 10:01 am
Statistically in Australia we have more chance of dying from a falling coconut than a shark attack. From your photograph you seem to be walking on the wild side …..
If I am wrong and there are no coconuts in the photograph, maybe mention to your doctor at the next checkup, no rush, that while your breasts are pert and firm there is a possibility that the excess hair growth could point to a testosterone / oestrogen imbalance.
Elizabeth
17/01/2018 at 1:43 pm
I love the waiting photos. They show the waves so nicely. Thanks for recommendations on reading
Michael S
17/01/2018 at 2:40 pm
Alex, I love your blogs A dose of Ancient Greek and Roman lit lights up my Wednesdays.
Lisa B
17/01/2018 at 3:56 pm
Alex! Fantastic blog! Educational and enlightening! I profess I have never read any Roman or Greek classics so thank you for that little taste. Apart from poor visibility it was a fun swim
Di Schaffer
17/01/2018 at 5:18 pm
Great blog Alexis loving the meander through the classics. Now to try some of the recommended reading …
edwina harrison
17/01/2018 at 6:07 pm
christ you’re funny and naughty sometimes.
Paul
17/01/2018 at 6:49 pm
Thanks for The Odyssey extract, Alex.
It pretty much sums up why, when the surf is big, I never get out at halfway.
As an atheist, if I were to choose one god to follow I’d definitely opt for Poseidon.