Cabarita Swimming Centre

Checked out of the hotel with a few hours to spare before heading to the airport.

I've made the all-important stop at the Tommy Bahama outlet in Drummoyne but still have two hours free. I'm clean, everything's dry, and I definitely don't want to squeeze in another swim… plus I have no towel.

So, Cabarita Swimming Centre it is!

The pool sits on a small point that juts out into the Parramatta River as it winds towards the harbour. On one side is Cabarita Beach, on the other the marina that leads down into Hen and Chicken Bay. The drive in passes through a nice suburb lined with impressive houses, and the sports centre and cold course have a bit of a country club feel.

I arrive into Cabarita Park, blindly following Apple Maps to the car park it thinks is closest to the entrance — it's paid parking. On the way out I realise there's a specific pool car park that's probably free! I park up and fish around in my luggage for my swim kit.

At reception it's windy — incredibly strong gusts — and when the sun goes in, freezing cold. I pay the entry fee and step through the glass doors to a spectacular view: a bright blue 50m eight-lane pool in the foreground and the marina behind. The backstroke flags are whipping about in the wind, and the bay has whitecaps from the gusts.

I change and head down the steps to the right-hand end of the pool where there's a bit of shelter.

It's quiet — just two people running laps and a couple of scuba divers. I pick a centre lane and jump in, immediately surprised by the salt water. The pool looks so clear I'd expected chlorine!

Not sure what the plan is — 1200m minimum then see how it goes.

The first 100m, my legs feel like they're being attacked by a swarm of bees. Bizarre. I wonder if they're sunburnt from this morning's swim and walk, but the worst spot is up the right leg of my jammers, burning so much I have to make a mid-lap grab to adjust them — which annoyingly drops a lap on the watch. Stop at 200m, make up the missing lap, then carry on with 200m sets.

The wind really picks up now — this is definitely the strongest I've ever swum in. Heading down the pool, the spray off your arms and kick flies past you; back the other way, it feels like swimming uphill! It's so windy, even the scuba divers have called it a day! This is definitely a memorable swim.

I work through 200s to 100s, thinking about stretching it to 3200m, but decide 2200m is plenty — that's 5400m for the day and leaves time for a quick float-on-the-back meditation to enjoy the pool and the wind.

Jump out and make the freezing cold walk back to the changing rooms. Quick shower to rinse off the salt — definitely don't want to sit on a plane for 15 hours itching. Then air dry with some T-shirt assistance before heading back to the car. Must remember to fill up with fuel before returning the hire car!