What the heck is the belayer doing over there?

My guess? Trying to come back in after reeling in rope. Or maybe the leader boinked....
Not that it's wise, but you can see by all the tension more or less what's happenin' there.

Maybe an elephant is being herded past the belayer who is now on the river wall.

Really dig the swami, Bob! That must have been the primo model you have on there - two inch multi wrap. A few "takes" on that rig and you have a weeks worth of ab work outs.

The belayer is belayin' off the metal pipe that sticks out of the concrete slab. That's so he can play hacky sac and imbibe in other frivolities.
At least that the way it was done.