Forget about travelling overseas when you can have the swim of your life right here in Manly! Visibility was the best it’s been for ages today and we swam with cuttlefish, porcupine fish, old wifes and a turtle! Wow, wow, wow! It’s nearly Winter for gawds sake and it’s getting up to 24 degrees today and sun, sun, sun! How lucky are we?!!
We really had it all today…A perfect sunrise, a calm and peaceful ocean as well as clear, warm water! No wonder record numbers of Bold and Beautiful swimmers are coming down to swim early before work. I caught a group of around 10 swimming at 6.20am as the first glows of orange rose from the ocean…
And then a group of around twenty at 6.30am.
Miles and Todd come in from an early swim to Queenscliffe. Miles got dressed in the dark this morning and came out in his undies!
Seb Therry (100 Things) has just completed number 86 on his list, an Ironman event. Well done Seb and Jules Mackin (where were you today Jules?) Laura, Little Sarah and Rainer are Ironmen too in my book, swimming (or paddling, Laura is 7!) long distances without wetsuits in the dark. Seb and Rainer are comparing wetsuit scars!
The water has dropped to 20 degrees this morning but after Lesley’s reminder on yesterday’s blog about the benefits of cold water swimming we are embracing it! (And 20 is still warm really.) Attracta, on the left is the one to follow if you want to spot the interesting fish!
Geoff is loving it!
I am busy marvelling at the clear water and taking fish pics but manage to get to Shelly in time for some blog tarts!
On the way back I see the amazing cuttlefish that Lesley saw yesterday. I was calling for everyone to come and see it but they were too far ahead.
Then I dove down to photograph this beautiful dusky…
And cute porcupine fish…
I was feeling rather smug that I had found all of this marine life when I saw a group of people ahead and heard Sparkles go, ‘Wow!’ As I got closer I realised they had come across a gorgeous turtle! Stephen Coulter got some great photos and a video!
I just can’t get over how amazing it is to be swimming along, through schools of yellowtail and mados and never know what other wondrous marine creature you may see. Really, don’t bother going on holiday folks, you are only going to get envious when you look at the blog and see what we are swimming with!Even the gropers were bluer than ever today with the great visibility.
This is the spot where you can usually find loads of marine life, over the white rocks near the tall palm tree.
Back outside the Clubhouse we are all ecstatic about the swim. I say it was the best swim of my life. (Maybe 2nd best after the whale swim!) There is another good reason to swim on Thursdays ladeez, Andrew Drinky has the day off and…according to Young Jane gives the best hugs eva!(Just don’t go throwing your arms around the wrong Andy, as Izzy did!)
Just a reminder not to get too close or touch the amazing marine life in Cabbage Tree Bay. These photos were taken from a ‘respectful distance’ and were then zoomed in on when edited.
Also, please don’t put your bags outside the Club house while they are renovating, a bit further along the wall is fine.
Note from Sasha at Bluewater Cafe to please ‘like’ Bluewater on Facebook and put a review on TripAdvisor or eatability. They are very good to us.
Don’t forget drinks at Murrays next Wednesday night from 6.30pm. All drinks at happy hour prices!
Now, I’m finishing the blog quickly so I can get out in the ocean again. Hope I spot the turtle! See you tomorrow!
120 ticked swimmers
Signing off Lainey Loo xx
22 comments
Pacific Jules
09/05/2013 at 11:55 am
Superb blog Lainey Loo 🙂
What stunning conditions. You’re getting damn good at the underwater photography now Elaine !! Your shots will be up on the Aus Muz website too soon I’m sure.
I love winter swimming in Manly, it’s just the best time of year with calm clear seas and all the extra aquatic delights. Damn ! Wish I was there with u all xx
Little Sarah aka LSA aka HKTQ
09/05/2013 at 12:59 pm
We wish you were here too, Jules!!!
Jon & I are going to go back this afternoon for a dip and look for the lovely turtle and cuttle fish, so if anyone would like to join us – 3.30 at the surf club!
Fabulous pics, Lainey:-) Just amazing!
Laura, so glad you look like a proper Iron Lady as the rest of us look like clowns:-)
Lucy
09/05/2013 at 1:11 pm
Great blog Lainey but I’m not happy!!
A turtle on a day I didn’t swim – boo!!
The only way this could get worse will be if someone makes a bloody turtle badge…
Lips
09/05/2013 at 1:42 pm
Wow wow wow!!! Incredible pictures Elaine!
LSA – look what we missed whilst racing at breakneck speed to Shelly this morning! Time to slow down and smell the roses. Or turtles in this case.
Forecast is for another stunning morning, so let’s start 10 minutes early and chase marine life! (keeping respectful distance of course)
Lesbutt / Simon – have you two made up?
Little Sarah aka LSA aka HKTQ
09/05/2013 at 1:50 pm
6.49. Got it!
Ros(-e)
09/05/2013 at 1:57 pm
Lainey, you’ve captured this morning’s wonders so well! And who is that gorgeous bloke you’re cuddling in the sign-off pic … Ted is sure to be jealous of that hunky dude.
This morning was definitely a 5 star event. The visibility was the best I’ve seen since I started swimming with y’all in January.
"Snorkles"
09/05/2013 at 2:13 pm
TURTLE!!!!!!!!!!
Thats all!
I heard the turtle was actually Elaine in a turtle onesie?
Jeff Parsons
09/05/2013 at 3:14 pm
It was great to relive the wonders of this morning’s swim through the photos in your blog Lainey. Thank you for the good work that you do each Thursday! Nerida and I are off to Thailand next Tuesday and, as always when I am away, I will feel like I am missing out on something special each time I read the daily blog. Manly is stunning.
Jeff (not Geoff)
Vicki Harbutt
09/05/2013 at 3:30 pm
I can feel a turtle badge coming on…..
Dolphin Whisperer
09/05/2013 at 3:38 pm
Great blog Lainey
It was very special this morning.
Congratulations to my friend John for his first swim from Shelly to half way today.
We saw big Bluey, two Duskies, two schools of fish, Mr Cuttlefish, and a large motley coloured Ray.
THANK YOU MANLY.
Lesbutt
09/05/2013 at 4:09 pm
hehe
Lesbutt
09/05/2013 at 4:11 pm
OMG!! Vicki commented on the blog! :-O
Lesbutt
09/05/2013 at 4:13 pm
Elaine – how do you do it!?? Getting “oh great one” Jules commenting FIRST on your blog!
damn not a peep on mine yesterday…
(and below Vicki Harbutt!!)
Lesbutt
09/05/2013 at 4:15 pm
We have the 5000th new swimmer due to arrive over next few days – we have 1 newbies to go to get there! It’ll be this weekend FOR SURE!!
We (Stephen) also figured out that that is 1000 newbies that haven’t met Jules! 🙁
Lesbutt
09/05/2013 at 4:17 pm
I meant 10 – TEN newbies to go – we are at 4990!
Manly
09/05/2013 at 4:35 pm
You’re welcome!
Lainey Loo aka Elaine
09/05/2013 at 5:27 pm
Thank you Jules and everyone for your lovely comments! Went for an 11.30 am swim but not so much around. Can’t wait for tomorrow!
Little Sarah aka LSA aka HKTQ
09/05/2013 at 5:31 pm
Well done, Jeff – you’ve found the blog comments and commented. You’re now a “core” B&Ber! You can still comment from Thailand and as I mentioned, you never know when you might “pop up” in the blog!
Just back from some lovely snorkelling, but no turtle. Turns out Jon and some of the other earlies this morning also saw a turtle just off the point, so let’s hope the rest of us see one tomorrow!
Little Sarah aka LSA aka HKTQ
09/05/2013 at 5:34 pm
LOST KEYS?
Did anyone lose a bunch of keys just outside the surf club (where we leave bags) this morning? If so, one of the group handed them in to the kiosk where we buy take away coffees.
We left a note at the place where the keys were found and I saw the note was still there just now.
Mariah
09/05/2013 at 6:45 pm
Such a nice swim this morning! Lets hope the turtle stays around for a while.
Simon
09/05/2013 at 7:56 pm
Said in reply to lips
hehe
Simon
09/05/2013 at 7:57 pm
Said in reply to lips
hehe