candalagen creek

Blue reflected in the water. Corrugated ripples. Wind ruffling like tissue paper. Wag-tails twining around branches. Clicking birds up high.  Janu repeats almost everything either Adrian or I say. It’s almost like we’re not speaking to each other, and have asked him to relay everything. ‘tell your father that I’m going for a pee!’.   Sometimes I think he repeats the positive stuff, and shoves deep down inside anything negative. Uh oh. Is it so easy to tell the difference?

Scoop sand, grinding under fingernails.  Feel the sun land heavy on your back. Angle the red and white umbrella over Janu. Paddling down candalagen creek in a tiny inflatable boat – disappearing with Janu down the current. Adrian takes over, and disappears alone down the tidal flow, not to be seen for ages.

My favourite thing is treading water or standing out the back with the bodysurfers. It’s like we’re at a concert, except there is no band. Just eagle eyes watching the swell. Camaraderie. Tumbling white water. Timing.  Judging the leap, hard swim – lift-off! The waves takes you, body like a board, rocking over the white water. Alive! Mermaid! Strong. Breathless, foam, big lungs. Speed. Sand. Numb fingers from being in the water so long. All the way to the sand.  Huge kid smile on my face.  Hard not to laugh out loud at how glorious it is, sprawled on the sand, all the little kids wondering where you came from.