Yesterday afternoon rolled in with torrential rain, cracking thunder, and lightning that lit up the sky through the night. By morning, though, the ocean had transformed into something completely different — still, flat, and calm, as if it had been quietly waiting for us.
A few desperados (a phrase Drinks used one day that made me giggle) turned up at the shoreline today, braving the after-storm stillness, and I couldn’t help but think that no matter the conditions, there’s always something worth coming down for. The ocean has a way of shifting moods so beautifully, and even in its quietest state, it offers its own kind of magic. And at its heart, that something is always the connection to community.
At 6.30 the Drinks Express headed out, their strokes steady and strong against the flat blue. I stood at the point and watched them glide across the water — a daily ritual, a reminder that the ocean always has something to give, no matter the night that came before.
Later, I went in for a splash with Ian and Leslie. By then, the swell had already begun to stir, a sign of what’s to come. The forecast says four metres by the end of the day — hard to imagine when standing in the morning calm, but that’s the ocean: never still for long.
I’m grateful to Guy for taking the temperature in such wild conditions — the small things really do keep the rhythm of mornings alive. And I really missed the familiar warmth of the team at Manly Point Café today. I hope everything and everyone is okay.
Thank you to the ocean for its beauty, and thank you to this wonderful community that makes every morning brighter. Can’t wait to see you all tomorrow — rain, shine, or swell! 🌊✨
