A cautious group of swimmers entered the water today mostly at ‘Halfway’/Fairy Bower. This group comprised mainly of over 55 year olds and included Engineers, Grandmothers, Psychologists and Teachers! Led by Ian the situation was assessed and we believed our ocean fix with all it’s benefits overrode the risks!
There has not been one day since the Bold and Beautiful Swim began in 2008 that a few swimmers haven’t swam. The promise of a swim 365 days of the year has been fulfilled over the past few days. Yesterday it was seen as being safe to swim from halfway and today a few went off from the beach too, carefully timing their entrance between sets of waves.
To remind us of the wonderful marine life we know is hiding somewhere beneath rocks and ledges I thought I’d include this short video of Old Wives, Shelly the Turtle, Duskies etcr set to Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a Wonderful World’. (What we can usually see at Cabbage Tree Bay!)
Jo comes back from an early swim and gives it a big thumbs up but warns us about a lot of gunge at Shelly.
We entered at the first steps as the other set have gone…
Roberto and Sam swam to Queenscliffe then Shelly and exited halfway. Roberto reported not seeing one fish, only seeing a toilet door!
Lots of ‘gunge’ on these faces at Shelly!
Our very own Julie Isbill is preparing to swim the English Channel at the end of this month. Julie and Michael started this special group and the spirit has always been one of friendliness, inclusivity, tolerance with a warm welcome to new swimmers. It’s also involved ‘pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone’ which Jules will be doing with her Channel swim. We wish her the very best.
Have to dash off to work now…
Bottom of the Blog
The next B&B monthly dinner will be on Tuesday 14th June at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. The guest speaker for the night will be Canadian-born, Australian authorCatherine DeVrye, whose talk is titled ‘Shift Happens’. You’ll laugh while you learn about turning obstacles into opportunities, as Catherine shares her journey from an orphanage in Canada to #1 best-selling author, Australian Executive Woman of the Year winner, and the 2010 Australian Keynote Speaker of the Year.
The cost of the dinner is only $25 a head and includes shared entrees, a selection of mains to choose (incl a vegetarian option), corkage (for byo wine only) and a little thank you for the staff. Glasses of beer or wine and desserts are also available at the special price of only $5 each. Numbers are limited, so bookings are essential. To avoid disappointment and secure your spot BOOK HERE NOW,
*B & B Trivia Night*
As you are aware B&B is a free for all activity, but there are ongoing
costs that need to be met. To help support B&B and keep it the wonderful,
inclusive, growing phenomena that it is we will be arranging a fund-raising
Trivia Night at The Steyne Hotel on Tuesday 12th July. Please keep this
date free so you can come along. In order to make this event a success, we
are asking for:
– volunteers to assist in the organisation of the event
– donation of goods and or services that can be used as auction items or
raffle prizes
If you can assist with either of these can you please contact John Kelly (
jmk@balancemanagement.net.au).
*Winter Badge*
It’s nearly that time again. Winter is coming … and so are the winter
badges. The winter swimming season runs from 1 June to 31 August, and to
qualify for your winter badge, you must:
– swim at least 20 times during this period
– swim in at least 7 different weeks
– log your swims
To qualify for the WWW badge (winter without wetsuit) you must complete all
of the above without wearing a wetsuit or any other form of bodily thermal
enhancement (don’t forget to check the “without wetsuit” button on the log
in screen). Why not give it a try? Any questions – email Ian (
ugoboyo@gmail.com)
18 comments
Veena
June 8, 2016 at 9:31 am
Lovely blog Lainey. Think I’m glad it’s only weekends for me-those shots at Shelly don’t make it look very enticing!
Elizabeth Ecks
June 8, 2016 at 9:57 am
Disappointed to see the blog being pointed/political. I dont think that is in the nature of the inclusive group. I just want to open for discussion the idea that the claim that ‘every single day since the group began someone has SWUM’ should be dropped. It may, in the future, lead to overly risk taking behaviour for the sake of a claim that is less important than anyones life.
As for the ‘gunge’ … Oh dear I think you may have been swimming in faecal matter given the quote below from the Friends of Cabbage Tree Bay which I reposted yesterday: ” Anyone thinking of going in to the water should consider the hazard caused from the sewer overflows which made their way in to Manly Lagoon or was released from the North Side Storage Tunnel making the water a very distinct brown colour” !!!! You are braver than me, if thats the word. Perhaps just pre-empting Catherines talk next week. What was the title again? Oh yeah. “Shift Happens” ha ha
Shelly
June 8, 2016 at 10:19 am
Lovely blog Lainey Loo who swam in the poo ! and got all grungey too !
Roberto only saw a dunny door on the ocean floor.
Great Blog Lainey
Love you all
Shelly
xoxoxo
Elizabeth X
June 8, 2016 at 10:24 am
I also want to note that the ‘disclaimer/warning/advice’ to not swim outside ones comfort level has disappeared from the bottom of the blog. Here it is as worded on 30 Dec ( I am not sure if that is the official version):
Really important with the big waves we’ve had recently! Staying safe
Remember that there are no badges for scaring yourself silly! While it is great to extend your boundaries, it is important to know your limits. Also, if you have a bit more experience, keep an eye out for new swimmers who might need company. Do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf. To read, or even download, click here.
Shelley K
June 8, 2016 at 10:44 am
Nice one Lainey, thanks. I think I challenged my immune system today more than my swimming abilities, but what’s a bit of faecal material between friends?
Bill McCaffeine
June 8, 2016 at 11:10 am
Great Blog in trying circumstances !
I am impressed by the Esplanade cleanup team for their efforts, I imagined a month before the place was swept clean.
I wish your ears and throats good health if you decide to swim
Michael Sh
June 8, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Great blog Lainey. Quite a few pink cappers at Manly Aquatic this morning. Good to see the desire for that wet 1.5k is maintained at alternative sites on days like these while you diehards front up to the worst the bay can throw at you.
LSA, aka HKTQ
June 8, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Great blog, great swim! They remind me of the good ol days when you’d know everyone in the small group…. Lots of fun with lovely, kind friends!
Lips
June 8, 2016 at 2:35 pm
Lovely blog Lainey!
Second last photo. Do i dare asking? Whats that stuff on LSA’s face?
Lesbubbs
June 8, 2016 at 3:17 pm
I think we need a bit of Russ Abbott
https://youtu.be/RBkzrg41Gxw
Lesbubbs
June 8, 2016 at 3:21 pm
Even better
https://youtu.be/kL4oocUKabU
Lips
June 8, 2016 at 3:35 pm
Agree Bubbles. My sentiments exactly.
LSA, aka HKTQ
June 8, 2016 at 3:48 pm
A taste of Manly! The water in Hong Kong will seem so clean and pure….
Shelley K
June 8, 2016 at 4:04 pm
That was deeply disturbing
Elizabeth X
June 8, 2016 at 4:43 pm
Oh dear Lesbubs! I agree with Shelley K.
Today is World Oceans Day. For those who might be interested there are a couple of short films about NSW Marine sanctuaries being shown at Hemingways at Manly tonight 6.30 for 7.00. Gold coin fundraiser. More details:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1325493037468097/?notif_t=plan_user_associated¬if_id=1465297185162492
Lisa B
June 8, 2016 at 5:49 pm
Great blog Lainey! Especially with another day of challenging conditions. Fabulous effort getting it out so quickly and then teaching all day!
Tracey
June 8, 2016 at 7:51 pm
Well done Lainey Loo. Love reading your blogs xxxx
Kerry
June 10, 2016 at 12:52 pm
Out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there. Rumi
Kerry’s deep thought for the day and for us swimmers maybe we could change field to bay…