A weekend of waiting for weather to arrive

On Friday all the talk was of Tropical Cyclone Bianca to arrive in the SW on Sunday.

Saturday brought intense humidity and extreme heat. Just perfect conditions for working outside to clear away random crap in preparation for the cyclone.  I was utterly drained at the end of the day.

I spent the entire time wondering if Sunday's (10km qualifier for first-time Rotto solos) swim would be happening.  When a later arrival for the cyclone was forecast, I was all 'right, it will be on'!  Cue a quick supply run - carbo gels, gatorade, seasickness tablets.  And much worrying about how much energy I'd already expended that day.  I needn't have worried - at about 4.30pm the organisers cancelled the race. 

So, of course, on Sunday morning there was no sign of a cyclone, except for the still extreme heat and humidity. Even worse, the ocean looked just fine.

When the pool opened at 8am there were lots of disgruntled solo swimmers muttering about the race cancellation.  Instead, our squad swam a long 12km session that was alternately fun and evil.  Especially the 1000m at the 11km mark swimming with a t-shirt on to create lots of extra drag.

I forgot to put sunscreen on my ankles, and so my fancy-pants swim suit left a reverse sock mark on my legs.

By lunchtime on Sunday the only real signs of the cyclone started to arrive.  The swell picked up and then late in the afternoon, an impressive bank of cloud rolled in from the West and it looked like mid-winter at Cottesloe beach.