It was another of those ‘whale kind of days’ today…Cold with grey skies and drizzle, exactly as it was last July when 43 of us swam with the whale. Lots of talk about whales today as we know they are around. It was ‘Lake Manly’ today with calm, flat water and great visibility…
Thanks for that guys! Kelly has recently discovered this amazing swim and sometimes travels all the way from Normanhurst. The gloomy start didn’t put her off…
 It is Fifi’s birthday today! Fifi stroked the flank of that beautiful Southern Right last year. We are hoping that some of our whale whispering may have worked and they will come out in her honour! I’m afraid my camera packed up today so I’ve only my iphone photos. Fiona has to swim early, as she has to dash off to work, teaching and inspiring our Art teachers of tomorrow. She inspires us with her amazing swim technique, confidence in huge surf and beautiful personality.
The 15 Drinks Express early lappers head off at 6.30am, glad that Drinks himself is back from holiday!
It’s Leonie from Holland’s, first swim. She’s been wanting to swim with us for a while and has finally taken up the challenge. Well done Leonie!Â
It might be a cloudy start to the morning  but if you swim with us, every morning is bright, isn’t it Inez? (Coming all the way from Concord to swim a Double with no wetsuit.) We ‘can too’ if we put our mind to it and push ourselves out of that comfort zone!
Vicky and a few others declare conditions just the way they like them, flat, smooth and perfect!
I was getting really excited that the water was so clear. Michelle spotted a little Port Jackson family, just off The Point, when my camera refused to work. Thankfully Stephen Coulter came to the rescue with some underwater shots.
And the most gorgeous 3 barred porcupine fish, or puffer fish as we usually call them! Look at those eyes, how gorgeous!
Me trying to keep my legs closed! (Too many ‘up the clacker’ shots lately!)
and the catfish is back.
Shannon took a photo of me looking quite distressed after scrambling out and running to get my iphone so I could get a blog happening today!
So worth getting out of bed for…
If you look closely you can see the wave of ripples you all make as you make your way back from Shelly…
At least we get a different perspective today as I take photos of you all swimming in. We see who are the speediest swimmers. Brad is followed by Jean Paul…
3rd and 4th are Scotty and Richard
With Bruce and Dave not far behind. Not that it’s a race or anything!
Look how elated everyone is as they finish their swim in the rain!
You are going to feel so proud of yourselves today when everyone is moaning about how cold it is and you swam in 16.9 degrees at 7am with such a great bunch of people!
Well done guys!
Annie enjoying a bottle of hot water like never before. She’s just come back from the jungles of South East Asia and it’s her first full swim since getting back. Welcome back Annie Yay!
You are all invited to Annie’s Homecoming/ Birthday drinks (mine and hers) at Moonshine Bar, The Steyne on Friday 16th August! Please come along!
Cosiness at Bluewater afterwards, warm heaters, delicous brekkie and lots of friendly chatter!
And suddenly…Hugh spots a whale breaching just out from the beach! We all rush out to take a look! We just miss it!
But there are whales out there…so maybe tomorrow…it might be the day! #nevermissaswim!
Elaine Kindred asked me to include this in the blog. Let’s get behind James and The Fred Hollows Foundation!
James Pittar is a blind marathon swimmer and he is swimming 12km from Long Reef to North Steyne via Shelly Beach. He would love for 100 swimmers to join him for the last 2km (From Shelly Beach to North Steyne Beach) and raise funds and awareness for The Fred Hollows Foundation. His condition caused him to go blind when he was in his 20’s but he knows how many people are out there in the world that are needlessly blind.
Further details can be found in the link below:
http://www.hollows.org.au/news-media/james-pittar-swim-sight
Manly Relay For Life 2013! This Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th September, 2013
Keirle Park, 277 Pittwater Road, Manly
2pm- 8.30am
BnB Swimmer Jenny Menzie’s has registered Bold and Beautiful as a team to make it easy for anyone who wants to join her.
Also the good news is her team is only to be there from 2pm – 5pm to wave our flag. Â
Anyone who has a query, please contact Jenny Menzies 0413 886 557 orjennym@nswcc.org.au and here is the link to our team –  Â
http://relay.cancercouncil.com.au/2013/manly_2013/Bold-and-Beautiful-Swim-Group/
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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. Do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf. To read, or even download, click here.
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The Stats
Regulars: Â 94 inc 15 earlies
Temp: 16.9 degrees
Sunrise: 6.40am
Sunset: 5.20pm
High Tide 9.03Low Tide 2.49pm
Signing off
Lainey Loo
26 comments
lesbubbs
08/08/2013 at 11:28 am
ooooo…errrrrrrr that’s a bit of a saucy pic of you and Annie!!!!!!!!
Julie Cameron-Doe
08/08/2013 at 11:35 am
It was a whale kind of day indeed: It was Chris’s turn to swim so I went for a run instead and was rewarded with my very own first sighting of a whale! Thought of the B&B as the conditions are so like last year’s whale day!
the Real DWSS
08/08/2013 at 11:57 am
It was great to finally make it to the point and then onward to Shelley and back and all in one swim!
I saw a fish, a stingaray, several rocks, some seaweed and a sea urchin!
Great blog thank Elaine!
Marije
08/08/2013 at 12:07 pm
I’m glad I swam even though the weather wasn’t very inviting. Saw sharks and a green eel :). Will be my last swim for a while as I’m off to Holland (water temp 15C) and Portugal (water temp 25C). See you all in a few weeks :).
John
08/08/2013 at 12:37 pm
Sighted a whale,fairly close off South Curl Curl,around 9.30 this morning. Ideal conditions for spotting them. Maybe we will be lucky during one of our swims.
Renae Fowler
08/08/2013 at 12:53 pm
Great blog Elaine, under tough conditions with your camera playing up. It was so lovely and calm out in the waters today and I did see a quick glimpse of the whale which was exciting….
DWSS
08/08/2013 at 12:55 pm
Hahaha Mr Real Imposter. Lesbubs doesn’t. Have an imposter, go and jump on Lesbubs persona!! Haha
DWSS
08/08/2013 at 1:03 pm
Great blog Lainey Loo. Always a pleasure to see your enthusiasm getting there early on your blog day to catch all the action.
Most people don’t know how much research you do to create such an interesting blog.
Scoop Lainey often starts at the boat shed in the early hours on weekends checking on banb participants, then has a chat to the marine life before sketching, studying blog comments, a quick chat to the triad queen before sitting down to type. Actually a 6 day effort, I’m very impressed Lainey and the results are there!!
Slow Ian
08/08/2013 at 1:25 pm
Hope you have a great time Marije. Send us some pics.
Slow Ian
08/08/2013 at 1:28 pm
That puffer fish looks an awful lot like Surly in Big Brother!
Marije
08/08/2013 at 2:04 pm
Thanks! Might take my pink cap and send a photo 🙂
ros
08/08/2013 at 2:15 pm
Poor Lainey, you do look so distressed running back from half-way! But you’ve turned out a winning blog regardless. What a champion effort!
LSA aka HKTQ
08/08/2013 at 2:50 pm
Have a great trip!
LSA aka HKTQ
08/08/2013 at 2:53 pm
Heroic effort and great post, Lainey!
Elaine de Jager
08/08/2013 at 2:53 pm
Thanks guys, always encouraging to read the blog comments. (Especially yours DWSS, yes it is a strain doing that Boatshed research but has to be done!) I got so many lovely photos (on the camera that didn’t work in the end) of all the hugs before the swim, especially for FIfi as it was her birthday. Really annoying but iphone and SC came to the rescue!
Marije/Mariah
08/08/2013 at 3:28 pm
Thank you Sarah!
Lindsay
08/08/2013 at 3:38 pm
Hope the camera’s fixed soon Lainey Loo, but a cracking blog none the less!
The Real Lesbubbs
08/08/2013 at 3:44 pm
I agree!! Oolaa laa
The Real Lesbubbs
08/08/2013 at 3:46 pm
Have a great time!
Elaine de Jager
08/08/2013 at 3:56 pm
Well done on swimming through Winter without a wettie Marije. Have a great time in Holland. Bring us some salty liquorice back!
Elaine de Jager
08/08/2013 at 3:57 pm
Thanks Lindsay 🙂
DWSS
08/08/2013 at 5:00 pm
Thanks Lainey,
Yes we are drawing to a close of the FiFi festival week!
I’m sure we can squeeze in one more birthday for our inspirational fem swimmer before the water warms up again.
Vanessa Maund
08/08/2013 at 6:21 pm
Great blog, real nice to see pictures from the ‘other side’. I will do some whale wishing this evening for tomorrow and the weekend!
fifi
08/08/2013 at 6:37 pm
Elaine!
Such a fab blog and thanks for your love;y comments! I had a brilliant swim today and now that Drinks is back order has returned to the Express despite that Andrew himself managed to forget the way and tried to take a shortcut via the rocks….
it must be whale day soon!
alyson
08/08/2013 at 7:29 pm
another fabulous blog – I think you must have captured nearly everyone! fabulous!
Inez
08/08/2013 at 8:51 pm
Awesome blogs as always on a Thursday, Elaine, no need for stressing, it’s not an exam, although I’d give you 573% if it was.