Thank you Bold & Beautiful swimmers! Today I reached 1000 kms on The Pacific Challenge… According to the stats, since 21st June 2011… I’ve swam 621 times to Shelly and back, 9 Bolderdashes, 3 six km swims and 1 ten km swim. I couldn’t have done it without all you amazing people, the fish and my trusty flipper! Wow, I can hardly believe it… but if I can swim that far anyone can!
A magnificent sunrise as seen from the back of Shelly Beach at 5.45am!
Even Channel 9 came especially to interview me!
Drinks Express as popular as the 7am swim year or two ago!
Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant were down here today…
Huw (a different Huw ;-)) comes in from his 6am swim.
Had to get in between these 2 gorgeous British swimmers, Iain and Dr John.
I’d love to say Chris and Cath Cordwell met at the B&B when I helped get them together at the 2011 Christmas party and now they have a gorgeous B&B baby…but sadly that’s not true 🙁 (They knew each other before they started swimming!)
My absolute favourite corner of the world at 6.40am…
Remember your Bold & Beautiful calendars guys, $15 from Ian.
Henrietta and Jane
Annie surprised me with a little pressie for my special swim this morning. (The real pressie is having her and Bella back swimming with us xx) A breeze must have got under Annie’s top because she really doesn’t look like a Teletubbie!
I’m sorry Declan but these ladies are a fickle lot at the B&B. They’ve stopped talking about you and are now all talking about Jackson. (Only 21 but ‘single and ready to mingle’!)
It’s 7am and my Tedley and Steve get together for a shot.
My lovely ‘Bestie’ Heather who made the special 1000 km sash for me this morning!
There were a few waves going in this morning which made for an exciting swim but the water was over 21 degrees at 21.4 degrees and really felt warmer!Aren’t we glad to have these ladies back inbetween Tedley!
Ian aka ‘Shelly’, one of our brilliant bloggers at The Point. (Sorry about the blob on your face Shelly!)
The Channel 9 cameras were actually at Manly Beach on the look out for these 2 guys, Tayls and Woody. They are being headhunted as stars for ‘The Mature Bachelor’, a new upcoming series. ( I’ll have a few stories on them when they get famous 😉 )!!
It was a wild, ‘rock and rolly’ kind of swim this morning but exciting and more of a challenge but we got to Shelly. Little Sarah (LSA) had been swimming since 6am back and forth. She has inspired me so much to get out of my comfort zone and swim more and attempt the longer swims. Thanks LSA!
Great photo bomb Spaniard!
I even get to do the ‘Let’s Go’!
Derek, always the gentleman, tries to shield me from the paparazzi as I have a wardrobe malfunction!
LSA helps too!
Derek along with so many others is one of the reasons we keep trecking from Avalon to swim with this incredible group. Many of you have become like family to us… Derek’s kindness and thoughtfulness when Ted and I struggled with Ted’s cancer diagnosis last year will always be remembered. He is one exceptional human being. (We think Ted is almost cancer free now btw)
As I bobbed back through the swell I was surprised to see this little group waiting to do a Double!
Stephen C catches a wave in!
What a beautiful surprise greeted me when I eventually swam in… a sash, crown, bunch of flowers and swimmers making an arch for me to walk through!
And a kiss from???
Thank you all SO very much! We are amazingly lucky to have found this group which has helped us cope with the good and bad times, given us so much support and joy and ensured we have the best start to the day! Thank you to Jules and Michael who started it off and everyone working behind the scenes too!
A good turn out today and as Stephen mentioned on Facebook a few were bribed to come here with my Nutty Seedy Cookies!
One of our favourite B&B characters!
It’s Eva’s birthday on Sunday. Skiff Club drinks, everyone invited!
Can’t finish a blog without including a gorgeous dog…Leia, the dog rescued and brought over from the UK at huge expense. With our wonderful Saturday blogger Zab…
On sale NOW!!
The B&B Calendar is the perfect item for the ‘hard to buy for’ person in your life. You can pick one up at the swim from Ian (cash only), or online – Click here – with an option to have it posted or collected from Ian.
Summer Swims
It is that time again! 007, or Mr November 2015, has announced the proposed date for the first summer 10K swim challenge is Saturday 13 December 2014. Watch this space for updates.
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.
Stats:
105 swimmers
3 newbies
21.4 degrees
Signing off…eternally grateful…
Princess Nutty and Seedy Lainey Loo
36 comments
Bootycampbuffman
26/11/2014 at 12:26 pm
Fantastic achievement Lainey Loo …. 1000Ks
Gayle & I were glad to be there to see you so Royally treated as you should be ! you have now joined a very select group (of which we are only halfway)
you FIGJAM F… I’m Good Just ask me !
LSA aka HKTQ
26/11/2014 at 12:56 pm
Fun morning! Fun blog! Enjoy the rest of the day, Lainey xx
Jackson, don’t be put off:-))
LSA aka HKTQ
26/11/2014 at 1:02 pm
…and Jackson is the Swimmer of the Day today as well as being the greatest mover in the last 7 days:-) Certainly the fastest mover on the LL-Pete A Match-making chart:)
Poor Jackson, I arrived about 5.45 and pounced on him…. “Elaine wants to know if you’re single, how old……” and went in for my swim with Eva. Shaun then arrives and starts asking the same qus…..followed by Elaine who asks the same ones all over again with a few dozen more:-))
Better start setting off a little earlier on your bolder-triple Shelly swims, Jackson….safer in the water!
fifi
26/11/2014 at 1:07 pm
yep, 6am’s best kept secret is out. I’ve tried to shield him as best I could….
LSA aka HKTQ
26/11/2014 at 1:11 pm
Yeh, yeh, Fi – we know that line: “Just swim with me and I’ll shield you from all those other girlls!”:-))
Elizabeth
26/11/2014 at 1:18 pm
I am SO excited that you have done 1000km Elaine . Congratulations!!
ros ex
26/11/2014 at 1:22 pm
Love the dog photo. Who owns gorgeous Leia?
Zab
26/11/2014 at 1:44 pm
Fabo blog for a fabo B&Ber on a momentous day. Well done Lainey Loo on your momentous achievement
PS Ros – Leia is a short haired saluki and is the most beautiful soft natured creature. She is owned by Sky who saved her and brought her out from England for a better life in Oz
margot
26/11/2014 at 1:52 pm
Lovely blog today, Lainey Loo! What an achievement! Good on you! Nice underwater shots, too. The water looks particularly clear today as well.
John.St.xx
26/11/2014 at 2:26 pm
Sky meet Ros ex.
Ros ex meet Sky.
Lainey Loo
26/11/2014 at 2:39 pm
Thanks for explaining FIGJAM! i had no idea what it meant until someone suggested it!
Lindsay
26/11/2014 at 2:51 pm
Great blog and congratulations on your 1000kms!
Lainey Loo
26/11/2014 at 2:52 pm
Haha yes Fifi was the one who was singing his praises to me!
Lainey Loo
26/11/2014 at 2:53 pm
Thanks Elizabeth. I find you inspiring doing all those competitive ocean swims with big surf even though you’re nervous of the big waves.
Lainey Loo
26/11/2014 at 2:55 pm
Sky rescued Leia from a pound in England Ros and then spent $7000 bringing her to Australia. Good on you Sky.
Tayls
26/11/2014 at 3:32 pm
Gorgeous Lainey…You’ve glorified the wonderful bunch of people that are
our B & B friends but its people like you who make our mornings so bloody wonderful. Cheers to you girl..xx
Shelly
26/11/2014 at 4:57 pm
Everything is better in the land of OZ !
BTW where was Sky ?
Cya
Shelly
Elizabeth
26/11/2014 at 5:33 pm
Seeing Jenn Lyle in the group in the photo, it does not surprise me she is doing a double; I am surprised she is only doing a double.
Lips
26/11/2014 at 5:53 pm
Congrats Lainey!!
Pacific Jules
26/11/2014 at 5:58 pm
Woo hoo !! Massive congratulations Lainey Loo. 1000km yeh, what a champion.
I’m so pleased everyone made such a fuss of you, you definitely deserve it. You’re one of life’s true gems x
DWSS
26/11/2014 at 6:07 pm
Yes Sarah that is correct but I only asked him one question then a warning that he is on Lainey’s target match making list!
Along the lines – “Your in big trouble Jackson”. haha
DWSS
26/11/2014 at 6:12 pm
Well said Jules
Zab
26/11/2014 at 6:19 pm
Margot
Are you swimming on Saturday?
DWSS
26/11/2014 at 6:20 pm
Congratulations Lainey Loo. What a champion.
We are a lucky country to have your company.
Oh – and Ted
LSA aka HKTQ
26/11/2014 at 6:59 pm
True, true!
LSA aka HKTQ
26/11/2014 at 7:03 pm
Probably having a Girl Flu dip – she’s waiting for a card like the one we gave Nick!
Lainey Loo
26/11/2014 at 8:09 pm
Still can’t thank you enough for founding this group and working hard to make it the friendly, inclusive, supportive group it is. Love ya Jules x
Alyson
26/11/2014 at 9:12 pm
Ooh the blog I was waiting all day to get home to read! Congratulations Lainey! You have a heart the size of the worlds ocean and a smile to fill it! Well done on two big achievements… Swimming 1000km AND getting a kiss of Dr John!! 😉
Veen
26/11/2014 at 9:12 pm
Huge congrats Lainey-hope you win tonight as well! Xx
Lainey
26/11/2014 at 9:20 pm
Thanks Aly, my best swimming buddy ever! We began with Can Too in 2010 and swam together for 2 lovely years and then along came Lukas! You’ll be back again regularly before long x
Neil Richardson
27/11/2014 at 9:07 am
Lainey, may I add my congratulations from afar. 1000 km is no mean distance to swim! Well done. As you have shown many of us, you don’t have to be a super-fast swimmer to do long distances. Long may you continue to enjoy your swimming – that’s what REALLY matters.
Alyson
27/11/2014 at 11:02 am
see u on the weekend !!
Sky
27/11/2014 at 11:32 am
Still waiting Sarah! 😉
Sky
27/11/2014 at 11:34 am
All mine Ros! …..although always available to be dog-sat while I take my girl-flu dip!
Lainey aka E-laine
27/11/2014 at 5:51 pm
Thank you Neil. It sounds like you would have swum way beyond 1000 kms in the last year judging by your Facebook posts. Yes I’m a Team Zedder!
Neil Richardson
28/11/2014 at 9:58 am
i am struggling to keep my membership of the ‘”million metre club” this year,I lost a lot of swimming due to a throat infection in late summer.. I’m on 929 km for 2014 at the moment, that includes both pool and open water swims. Whether I get to 1000k depends on how long I can keep doing open water swims as the temperature drops!