Swim 35:00 [3] 1.0 km (35:00 / km)
I would normally be swimming in the Benalla lake at this time of year - but it is currently very dirty from the floods. The Benalla triathlon was last Monday and the e-coli count was too high in the lake so they held the swim leg in the outdoor pool and made it the last leg. Today was my first swim in this pool - as I am a bit of a chicken when it comes to getting into cold water. However the man at reception must have thought I needed some sun and directed me there in preference to the indoor pool. At 26 degrees, it was quite heavenly and I'll definitely be swimming there from now on. (Come to think of it, working from home has its advantages - I'll be able to go there at lunchtime). My time seems a bit slower than usual but I think that this was because I had to stop a number of times to demist.
Mega Gardener would be proud of me this morning - I really got stuck into the back yard and it's starting to look quite respectable - nicely mown green grass with blue and white agapanthas in full bloom. Yesterday I cleaned out my office in preparation for starting work. Even after throwing out dozens of defunct whiteboard markers and pens, I still have enough (all stolen I think) to keep the public service running for a while.
The stories on the news about irresponsible people playing in the Qld floods takes me back to my uni days when, as a canoeist, we would chase the floods. One memorable trip was to the Snowy River which, at Mackillops Bridge, was too dangerous to paddle and so we toured down the unchartered and flooded Deddick River instead. A farmer watching us gettting in told us we'd all be killed - but we went on regardless. 12 of us started the trip. We lost one on the way (they turned up later - apparently having given up and walking out without telling anyone), 2 went off to hospital mid-trip, several broke boats and walked out and 6 made it to the finish. I was one of the 6 - although I have to confess that I reached the finish line swimming, rather than paddling.
You'd think we would have been more sensible - after all, what sort of idiots would paddle the 'Dead Dick' river in flood?