Where else would you rather be?

It was the middle of winter on one of those dead-still days in Perth when the water looks like glass and you know that getting out on the water is the best thing you could possibly do. The temperature is around 10 degrees Celsius and the water temperature is cold.

You also know that your feet are going to feel like blocks of ice after about ten minutes of paddling and the possibility of falling into the water is always in the back of your mind. The encouragement of other like-minded crazies is all it takes to get you out of your warm house and onto the water.

You get out of your car and take in a deep breath, breathing out puffs of steam into the cold evening air, unload your board and all the paraphernalia that goes with it. Lights, leash, paddle, light. Strap on the leg rope and carry the board to the shore. That first push off from the beach where you try to keep your feet dry and sand-free in your diving booties while you juggle your paddle is always a bit risky. You get to your feet through a series of body movements, not unlike the yoga pose of the “Downward Dog” crossed with a squat that threatens to unbalance you and send you into the cold water.

When you finally stand you can breathe. Breathe in the cold air and feel that disembodied feeling of floating and balancing on water so still, you could almost close your eyes, but you daren’t for fear of falling in.

You raise your arms with your paddle aloft and the paddle slices the water. You feel the resistance and the way your board slips forward leaving a swirl of water in it’s wake. You lift your paddle and feather the blade preparing for a second stronger stroke and bend your knees in a squat.

A boat passes on your right sending waves your way. The temptation to kneel is overwhelming but you decide to see if you can ride it out. Bending your knees and keeping your paddle in the water to maintain your balance. The faster you go the easier it is to maintain your stance.

You are in front of the others and you gingerly turn to see where everyone is. The sun is setting and the sky is that muted pink colour, stunning. You can’t go on without trying to capture that sight. Down on your knees you balance your wet paddle between your knees and carefully unwrap your iPhone 8 from the plastic, waterproof cover. Wobble to balance so you can get the shot directly behind you, your head at an awkward angle and knees twisting. You don’t want to lose your phone in the water so you snap a quick series of pictures.

You wrap everything back up in layers of plastic and tuck your phone back in the waterproof pouch and carefully stand up straight. You know that whatever you have snapped doesn’t really capture that feel of the moment. When you get home you look at your photos and realise that you have actually taken a pretty nice pic. The colours are just the way you saw them and that symmetry of the three paddlers still catches your eye.