The sun was hiding and the water temperature was down a notch. Not a grumpy face in sight though – what is it with this weird and wonderful school of Pink-caps?
Today’s blogger (who is usually the first one to arrive, always), uncaracteristically turned up a few minutes late for today’s swim. Hence no pics of peeps obnoxiously blocking the pathway before the 7am departure, BUT the bonus is we have photo evidence of people exiting from their early swim and looking like they really enjoyed it. Like Roberto and Miles in the pic above, birthday girl Nicole and Brenton, Michael K and Alex P in the pics below. Who needs sunshine when these guys are around to flash a smile at ya?
The usual and normal blogging procedure dictates that the blogger takes around 5000 pictures of the same lovely swim and the same lovely people swimming it, then culls it down to roughly half. Well, today folks, you are getting ALL the photos snapped by me, a grand total of 13.
I won’t let you down in the blog tart department either. Look, here we have the King and Queen of the Blog Tarting Nation. Sadly, the burghers of this nation don’t seem to pay their King and Queen much respect.
Kieran thinks this blog tarting stinks, and showing off his big guns tries to entice the mob to join him in a raving rebellion. David is still looking for his guns. No, Dave, not there. Then again, Lori and Retha couldn’t be more impressed.
Nor could the other swimmers, today totalling 113 and one newbie.
And then the batteries went flat. Now who was the last person to use the communal blog camera? To be sure to be sure… Mr Monday Blogster, you’re in biiig trouble (again). No, not really. You made my blog job quick and easy actually, thanks very much.
Rumour has it that the batteries also went completely flat last Wednesday for one of our middle aged, female Swedish swimmers who shall remain nameless, but let’s call her Agnetha Fältskog or why not Anni-Frid Lyngstad for the sake of this blog. She is reported to have passed out on the cold floor of the Fairlight Butcher’s, taken by ambulance to Manly Hospital and checked for vital signs.
I happen to know her very well and she refuses to confirm or deny these reckless rumours. Suffice to say that the hospital tests proved she is indeed alive and very well thank you (she says to say), and that she is very grateful for the love and care shown to her by her nominated Next of Kin and fellow swimmer Lori PickPatientUpAtHospital Szambowski, as well as OverAndAboveCallOfDuty John and many others whose messages were much appreciated 🙂
And now to some housekeeping.
Summer badges
The Summer Badge Ceremony will be held at Whitewater Restaurant at 8 am, after our regular swim on Sunday 24th March, when the 6 km and 10 km badges will be awarded. All swimmers are welcome but bookings are essential. If you want breakfast, the cost for coffee and breakfast is $15, payable on the day. Please book by following the link Summer Badge Ceremony
Badges are $10 each. To assist with the smooth running of the event, you can please pay in advance if possible – see Ian, John K. or Lesley before or after the swim any day. You must pay on the day if you don’t pay beforehand.
For the diary . . .
Watch Channel 7 at 4.30pm Sunday as Wilf deck and us B&Bers are on TV!
Staying safeNEW water safety tips!!! Michael’s tips remain valid but this updated guide is courtesy of champion Ironman Craig ‘Riddo’ Riddington. He has put this RIP/ Surf swim education document together for the B&B and it’s a good read. To read and even download click here.
Stats
113 swimmers and 1 newbie – welcome!
Low tide 5.29am
High tide 11.33am
Sunrise 6.54am Sunset 7.12pm
Water temp 21.6
Air temp 20
So Long from Girl Friday Blogger A 🙂
31 comments
Mark
15/03/2013 at 12:27 pm
Top blog as usual.
Ian, I
Forgot to tick for my daughter jasmine this am.
We took the 0630 no stops to Shelly beach express with about 20 others. So plenty of witnesses.
Could the ticket pleased be stamped as the girls love checking the challenge and seeing their progress.
Cheers mark
Robbie Byrne
15/03/2013 at 12:52 pm
Sabotage, my main weapon against all the other bloggers. I told you I was evil on my first day!
I do not apologise or feel any remorse, in fact I declare a state of blog war.
Robbie Byrne
15/03/2013 at 12:56 pm
annnoyingly good blog by the way. damn you
Anna Alvsdotter
15/03/2013 at 12:58 pm
Aha! I know you’re weak right now, having just entered your month of NO alcohol. You’re Irish, remember?
Mr Byrne, you’re so on.
*busy de-charging the camera battery*
Anna Alvsdotter
15/03/2013 at 12:59 pm
Aha!!
Little Sarah Abbott aka Hong Kong Triad Queen
15/03/2013 at 1:04 pm
Lovely swim!
For the return, I had a race back with Swedish Sarah. To give me a chance, she had to swim back to S.Steyne and run to Half Way, while I only had to swim to Half Way. Dead heat! I blame my less-than-half pace on having Lips for company instead of Scott:-)
Little Sarah Abbott aka Hong Kong Triad Queen
15/03/2013 at 1:07 pm
Swedish Anni-Frid, very concerned….. let us all know if we can help in anyway. Big hugs and thank your friend, Swedish Anna, for her lovely blog:-)
Little Sarah Abbott aka Hong Kong Triad Queen
15/03/2013 at 1:18 pm
Little Tiger, Thank You!!!!
hope you found your goggles – at that point, Lips was setting a cracking pace, so sorry I couln’t stop!
fifi
15/03/2013 at 1:24 pm
I seem to have misplaced my GIANT goggles. They are View brand, large scale…anyone found them? I may have lost them wednesday. I only noticed this morning when I was running very uncharacteristically late. (Yes, that was me you all ran over on your way back 🙂
Nurse J
15/03/2013 at 1:44 pm
Hi Ian,
Nurse J here.
I also forgot to tick this morning.
Could you please do so for me.
Plenty of witnesses LSA and Lips plus DWSS and John S of Integrity police.
Thanks Nurse J
John S
15/03/2013 at 1:55 pm
The intelligent and communicative writing of the blog needs no imagery to convey the mood and feel of the undertaking.
Wonderful blog. Who would ever guess its the bloggers 5th language?
10/10
Slow Lips formerly known as Lips
15/03/2013 at 2:03 pm
Guys, for the last time.. LSA needs upfront payment for any additional ticks.
Mark – I believe concession prices are available for children under 12. Alternatively, please enquire about LSA’s family packages with ticks for the whole family at great savings.
Slow Lips formerly known as Lips
15/03/2013 at 2:04 pm
Oh stop it LSA, I was turtleing it today.. barely kept up with you back in your racing wetsuit!
Slow Ian
15/03/2013 at 2:23 pm
Will do.
Slow Ian
15/03/2013 at 2:25 pm
Alex P also lost his goggles today if anyonbe found some. Please let me know.
Slow Ian
15/03/2013 at 2:27 pm
Nice try Nurse J. The witnesses you cite are highly unreliable in my opinion. See me tomorrow and we can discuss (you will be there tomorrow won’t you?).
Little Tiger
15/03/2013 at 2:54 pm
Happy B’day Nicole P. Have fun today.
LSA, my pleasure in doing the ‘you know whats’. I found my goggles floating @ my feet. YAY!!
Little Sarah Abbott aka Hong Kong Triad Queen
15/03/2013 at 3:12 pm
The “You Know Whats’ look lovely on the on the “You Know Whats”!
One set of lost goggles found, two to go! Lost Goggles Day!
lesley
15/03/2013 at 3:13 pm
hehehehe
lesley
15/03/2013 at 3:17 pm
ooh love your sign off pic Anna! I actually thought Frida was you for a moment!! I can see the likeness now!!
You still got the most important photos in despite Robster’s sabbotage!
Nurse J reporting from the Middle East
15/03/2013 at 4:10 pm
Slow Ian, above comment….not mine.
Again, nice work whoever it was but its not going to get past Slow Ian.
Ian, see you tomorrow, I might be a bit late 🙂
Slow Ian
15/03/2013 at 4:52 pm
I don’t mind waiting
Michael [EX CI]
15/03/2013 at 5:07 pm
Great news everyone!! There is now a TWENTY KILOMETER BADGE! [AKA Rottnest channel] I know Sam Evans, Michael Teys and Robin Turner are committed. Who else??
Michael [EX CI]
15/03/2013 at 5:30 pm
Gee! Don’t all swamp me at once! The web page won’t cope.
Mary
15/03/2013 at 7:37 pm
Committed to which institution? We will send flowers and a delegation on visiting days.
Robin T
15/03/2013 at 8:58 pm
I like the sound of an 18km badge rather than a 20km – I might even qualify for one of them!
Sam and I are swimming up a storm with a lightning fast double this morning Michael so we are in training.
I can see a long year of swimming ahead of me to qualify for this 20km badge. If I’m going to put the hours in I hope there will be a T shirt as well.
Michael T will be an easy sell for the next Rottnest but I reckon Sam may resist the temptation to have as much fun as I did this year.
Little Sarah Abbott aka Hong Kong Triad Queen
15/03/2013 at 9:09 pm
The Rottnest institution – not sure how many will committing themselves to it:-) MC’s obviously desperate for recruits (and a new badge), so he’s having to start bribing now……
OK, MC, how about making it a 20k badge over a long weekend of swimming in Manly instead…..definitely without time, dress-code and other restrictions? In otherwords, B&B fun!!
Sam
15/03/2013 at 9:26 pm
I’m in…..the boat :-). Happy to support you all in your ventures 😆
Sam
15/03/2013 at 9:28 pm
Sarah this sounds more like it !!!!
Robin T
15/03/2013 at 9:39 pm
20 laps to Shelly from the Point?
Little Sarah Abbott aka Hong Kong Triad Queen
16/03/2013 at 10:28 am
Great idea! Super Slowies start a day early. That way we all celebrate at the end together:-)) And of course, Jules & MC have to join us!