Get an eyeball full of why we like gazing out over the Macleay Valley, the Riverside Tavern hidden in the trees riparianly below, from behind Royle Castle, out towards Mt Yarrahappineengthaing.

And then some.

The first shot in Tacoma Jim's Foreign Legion series.

Lord Ron of Riverside was assisted in the presentation, playing barrel girl to town brief, Roger Wilkins.

This is the water that we identify with South West Rocks. Words can't describe it justly. You just have to experience it for yourself. A mystery punter rounds booey number 8.

We're very proud of the high elbow, the limp wrist -- there is a time and a place for a limp wrist, and ocean swimming is one of them -- and the Fully Sicks from View. And the head's down, relatively. Now, about that fitness, weight and speed ...

Briefing. Catherine Boorer was driven to South West Rocks for the swim by her dad (foreground, back to Brownie Starflash) from their home in East Maitland. They left at 5:30am. After the swim, they drove back again. He deserves an award.

The start t Hervey Bay. Is that a wettie we see there? On the lower Queensland north coast? What must that character have been thinking!

And into Hervey Bay they plunge. Killer and his cobbers were there, from Murwillumbah. They'd heard Mimi McPherson was offering good money for new whales in Hervey Bay.

As the clouds swirled above us, and the wind started to howl at the start at Arakoon, we said to Lord Ron of Riverside, Gaol Break Swim organiser, "Gee, Your Lordship, (we) hope this weather clears". And he said, drawing on the depth of his local knowledge in six years of living at South West Rocks, "Oh, it won't clear now."

On the beach at Arakoon, waiting for the start.

Over in Perth, Dr Smith, Dr Smith snapped the Scarborough Winter Swimmers, last winter, having fun on the beach.

By Fish Rock.

Tacoma Jim's view of us, by Fish Rock, from Smoky Cape Lighthouse. We're the little boat at rear.

Our view, from Fish Rock, of Tacoma Jim on the promenade at Smoky Cape Lighthouse.

Lord Ron of Riverside, organiser of the Gaol Break Swim, has pioneered a number of innovations in ocean swimming, one of which was the handicap system that's used in the Hahn Super Dry Fine Ocean Swimmers Series. He is an engineer. Another innovation is his starting line technology, which he's patented.

The Fearful 50s wave wave. They're a tough lot, if alarmed.

A Forster gal.

John Townend (right) travelled down from Brissie for the South West Rocks swim, and won the event on handicap. He's a very good swimmer. Warning: he's travelling south for Forster and Byron Bay, too, collecting Dean Hancock on the way from Boambee.

Storm over Mt Yayyahappiningthaing. Someone shows he has selected the Macleay Valley for special treatment.

Was Glistening Dave at South West Rocks? Not this year, but we think of him always.

Looking south from Smoky Cape, late afternoon, brisk sou'-easter.

At night, Smoky Cape lighthouse turns on a show. No pic, particularly those taken at night from a distance, can do justice to the extraordinary complexity of the crystal lens that beams its light around the mid-North Coast. You can stay in the B&B and serviced units here that used to be the lighthouse keeper's digs. Our friends, Jephanie, did for this year's Gaol Break Swim, and they invited us up for drinkies.

Our travel packages to Hawaii this August-September cater to the discerning, more mature ocean swimmer. Indeed, to anyone who wants to stay comfortably at swim HQ, have their transfers covered, and enjoy life in one of the world's most fun destinations. Maui Channel and Waikiki Roughwater ... Click here for info ...