110 swimmers enjoyed another magnificent swim this morning across Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve… Last week, Mary’s swim blog got mentioned in the newspaper for using the word ‘perfect’ so many times, describing our swim. Today the word is special…special sunrise, special aquatic conditions, special marine life and of course special people!
Oops sorry wrong photo! That was taken yesterday on an English beach as the Pommies approach their Summer. As we approach our Australian Winter (in 2 weeks time) it looks like this below. As a humble Brummy, (person born in Birmingham,UK), I thank all you Australians for having me. I love Austalia and doing these swims makes me even happier to be here!
(Sorry about the blog tarts who got in the way of the beach photo 😉
Sorry to be repetitive in this blog but yes it was another ahh…mazing sunrise!
It’s a great time of year to be doing an early swim.
I came across a special person at The Sunrise Lookout spot UPSIDE DOWN!
As swimmers start to arrive it’s nice to see Little Sarah doing her bit for the community. She has brought her ‘special’ friend along for a swim.
More special people arrive…Robster is sharing his ‘Bucket List’ with Seb (100 Things), one is to do a full Ironman and another to go to Nepal and be a Doctor’s assistant…
Look at that beach and it’s only 7am! Nick has seen something he likes. (Lesbutt won the competition Nick, we aren’t playing anymore!)
We enter the water and it’s feeling quite warm being 5 degrees more than air temp. Henchy Jon looks like a movie star without his beanie and glasses!
Anne E comes back from her early lap. Look at the early morning light, isn’t it beautiful? And in second photo Bella jumps in with Toni and Renae.
And in to that warm(ish), flat, calm ocean we go. At 20.4 degrees today.
It’s another swim with loads of fish, great visibility and excited shrieks as swimmers stop and shout ‘turtle’, ‘dusky’ or ‘old wives’ along the way!
Yes, there was a turtle again today but most of us didn’t see it. Elaine K’s friend did. Elaine was gutted she didn’t see it!
On the way back from Shelly I am followed by a bunch of blog tarts. I tell them, ‘You can only be in a photo if there are fish in it too!’ They try, they really do.
I spot a bright yellow, stripy fish I’ve never see before. Did anyone else see it?
Then we see the porcupine fish hiding between the rocks.
Stephen sees the biggest cuttlefish he’s seen before.
Mauricio filmed an amazing video of duskies close up, butterfly fish and others. Watch it here. Thank you M, you are incredible!
Would like to include a couple of photos of mine from Tuesday’s swim. Below we have our ever friendly swimmer, ‘Sparkles’. She is practising for her forthcoming ballet appearance at The Opera House entitled, ‘Dancing with Wobbegongs.’ The talent we have here within our B&B group!
She is keeping a ‘respectful distance’ from this beautiful wobbegong that swam gracefully beneath us on the way back around The Point on Tuesday. Remember to keep at least 5 metres away folks!
Talking of ‘Special People’, one of our swimmers Dr Ray Hodgson, is coming along to the next Bluewater Dinner on Tuesday 4th June to tell us about the amazing work he does in Nepal. He gives women their dignity back after suffering prolapse after child birth. He performs a simple operation which they wouldn’t otherwise get access to. He organises trips for 2 week stints and is always looking out for volunteers to go and help. This might be of interest to some of you kind and caring souls who want to make a difference and do something really worthwhile. Please come along and tell all of your friends who may be interested too. We really need to get good numbers to take over Bluewater Cafe that night so please come!
The dinner is a great chance to catch up with your B&B friends and see them spruced up too, so please book in now. We also should support the fantastic Bluewater Cafe who give us such a good deal in the mornings, $10 for brekkie including coffee/tea. Everyone is welcome so please come after the swim if you haven’t already and squeeze in on the tables down the back!
Bluewater Cafe are hosting a Biggest Morning Tea next Thursday, all proceeds to Cancer Research. Please get a table together with friends. From 9am.
A lot of us have really missed swimming with Alyson …Well she is doing well after a difficult birth with Lukas weighing in at 12 pounds! Here he is with his pink cap and B&B bib and lovely Martin and Aly!
Shannon Quartly’s Dad thoroughly enjoyed his B&B swims whilst over from Canada on holidays. He sent this photo of himself about to swim in a freezing Lake Samasat, Vancouver! Watch your wedgie Glynn!
Oh and good luck to everyone in the Sydney Half Marathon on Sunday. I’ll be running with my friend 😉
Thank you all for joining me this Thursday on such a special swim!
Lainey Loo aka Elaine xx
Swim Stats
110 regular swimmers, around 18 early lappers, 1 newbie
Air Temp 15 degrees Water Temp 20.04
Sunrise 6.40am
Sunset 5.01pm
Low Tide 6.31am
High Tide 12.36pm
39 comments
Bill McPherson
16/05/2013 at 1:36 pm
Martin and Alyson’s baby Lukas was 12 pounds !
I’m like OMG !
Well done Alyson !!!
Little Sarah aka LSA aka HKTQ
16/05/2013 at 1:57 pm
Great Special Blog, Lainey:-))
So glad to see Lukas in his cap and bib – lovely pic, Alyson. Will dedicate my boldercrawl to you tomorrow!
Boldercrawl tomorrow: meet 6.05, in the water at 6.15. Sofie’s choice!
Lips would like to specially encourage anyone with a water camera to come along. He says he’ll only get out of bed if I have the paparazzi out there:)
And yes, the sunrise looks even better upside down, thx Lainey:-))
Little Sarah aka LSA aka HKTQ
16/05/2013 at 2:04 pm
LOST & FOUND B&B PROPERTY:
– if you find anything which may belong to the group, hand it into Ian. If you don’t see him, hand it to Lesley or anyone going along to Bluewater to give him.
– if you’re the last to leave one of the indoor changing rooms or the outdoor changing spot, look around and pick up anything left behind. Consider it a special little community service!
– if you’ve lost anything, ask Ian or ask someone to ask him or ask on the blog. You may be lucky. He keeps a bag in his car of recent lost items.
[This morning Simon lost his high-def waterproof watch somewhere between Shelly & S.Steyne. By the time he left Bluewater brekkie, he was reunited with it, thanks to a ‘Special Friend’ having spotted it on the ocean bed, dived down for it and handed it in to Ian!]
Robbie Byrne
16/05/2013 at 2:29 pm
LAUREN GIANINO’s last swim tomorrow and she will be our celebrity “LETS GO!” person I hear.
The swim’s have been AMAZING lately and the visibility is awesome, so no excuse not to get down at 7am. I hear there will be a whale in the bay also…….allegedly 😛
Slow Ian
16/05/2013 at 2:42 pm
Yep. Special thanks to Karen Battersby who found Simon’s watch in the surf and handed it in. This is one of the many advantages of swimming in a group. I have an assortment of goggles that have been handed in over the past month, if you have lost any.
Slow Ian
16/05/2013 at 2:44 pm
Speaking of celebrity Let’s Go, where was Rusty this morning for his big chance. Maybe he celebrated too much after being Aus-trazised?
Elaine de Jager
16/05/2013 at 2:55 pm
I’ll bring my camera but if I wear my wettie where will I keep it? Does anyone have any ideas?
Alyson
16/05/2013 at 2:57 pm
Thanks Bill, yep a healthy 5.5kg (12.03lbs) and 59cm long. All healthy and in proportion, but quite a surprise! 🙂
Alyson
16/05/2013 at 2:59 pm
Awesome photo of the cuttlefish!!
Renae Fowler
16/05/2013 at 3:05 pm
Great blog this morning Elaine. Loving all of the group under water photos. Just a thought. It would be good to get everyone together making the bold and beautiful letter shapes out of their body and post it up. That would make an interesting shot.
john S
16/05/2013 at 3:28 pm
you don’t need a wettie…..
Elaine de Jager
16/05/2013 at 3:28 pm
Thanks Aly, that was the one bit of the blog that had nothing to do with me!
Little Sarah aka LSA aka HKTQ
16/05/2013 at 3:32 pm
Lauren, I hear you’ll be coming for a celebrity brekkie at Bluewater afterwards as well!
john S
16/05/2013 at 3:34 pm
Lovely blog E-Laine, great underwater shots of fishys and peoples, especially the one of Sparkles,
Look at her muscle definition, she could crack a walnut with those steel tongs!!!
Robbie Byrne
16/05/2013 at 3:37 pm
If there is anyone in the group who is looking for some motivation to get both their “Cold & Beautiful” and “Winter without Wetsuit” badges this winter, a few of us were thinking of doing the “WWW” badge in aid of charity. Im looking for 10 brave souls who would not normally swim without wetsuits during winter to make it a bit more of a challenge. So far I have 4 definites (Myself, Iain Liddel, Nigel Fletcher and Seb Terry) and a couple of maybe’s…
Email me at robert.byrne00@gmail.com if you are interested!!
Little Sarah aka LSA aka HKTQ
16/05/2013 at 3:49 pm
Storchy could carry it for you and swim by your side!
Kazza
16/05/2013 at 3:55 pm
Nice blog Elaine, how lovely the English summer looks!! As a Fellow pozzie I truly appreciate the SPECIAL place we live. Just magical.
Joel from Saltmotion was photographing us today and we made his daily photos as well http://www.saltmotion.com/2013/05/16/sunshine-and-plan-b.html
Congratulations Martin & Alyson also!! Well done you!!
See you tomorrow
Lips
16/05/2013 at 4:46 pm
LSA, I’m not getting out of bed for a 6:15 swim if there are no cameras. Please confirm media coverage by 8pm today. I can see there are still unresolved issues between Elaine and John S at this stage.
Lips
16/05/2013 at 4:47 pm
Great blog Elaine! Stunning photos, especially the diving blog tarts. Please remember to keep a respectful 5m distance when taking photos of diving blog tarts. They need to get up to the surface regularly for breathing. Thank you.
Lips
16/05/2013 at 4:48 pm
Congrats Stephen and Nick who’s Pink Bits won first prize at the Skiff Club last night!
(was waiting all day to say that!)
Little Sarah aka LSA aka HKTQ
16/05/2013 at 5:20 pm
Yeh, but how much help did their Pink Bits get from Stephen’s i-phone under the table?
Lindsay & Richard
16/05/2013 at 5:25 pm
Ooooh that UK photo is making me feel homesick, although I wouldn’t swim without a wetsuit there!
Congrats again to Alyson and ahat a lovely picture of Lucas. Baby Stephanie is looking forward to meeting him at B and B soon!
Lindsay & Richard
16/05/2013 at 5:26 pm
Mmmm that was meant to say “what a lovely picture”….
Little Sarah aka LSA aka HKTQ
16/05/2013 at 5:32 pm
I’m sure Lainey & Storchy will get over any teething problems and form a great new team.
Meanwhile, perhaps Nick can assure you personally that he’s been kidnapped and will also be there!
Just nurse your little jelly sting, delicate shoulder from surfing on the beach, boatshed neck scar and you’ll be fine. Turtle pace along and if you need to drop out along the way, don’t worry, the paparazzi will have it all on film:-) 6.05 first pics and press briefing!
Robbie Byrne
16/05/2013 at 6:04 pm
I laughed out loud
Lainey Loo aka E-laine
16/05/2013 at 6:32 pm
The way I swim Storchy, slow and unsteady, I need one for being in the water for over an hour but if you want to bring down your yak fat for me I won’t wear one. 🙂
Lainey Loo aka E-laine
16/05/2013 at 6:34 pm
I am definitely coming with camera. Hope Storchy brings his yak fat. Will Nuttelex work if he doesn’t?
Lainey Loo aka E-laine
16/05/2013 at 6:37 pm
Yes I was hoping to see Rusty as my blog had a “glad we left England’ theme!
Lainey Loo aka E-laine
16/05/2013 at 6:39 pm
Save it for my blog day on a cold, cloudy day! We could do it on the sand and attempt it in the water. You can have the letter ‘O’ Renae 🙂
Lainey Loo aka E-laine
16/05/2013 at 6:41 pm
Thanks Kazza and nice to see you commenting on the blog! We bloggers love it when people comment and it makes us feel our work is appreciated. It took me a few hours today, partly due to my technological inadequacies!
Jane
16/05/2013 at 6:53 pm
I’ve lost some goggles – I’ll inspect your collection tomorrow, Ian.
Jane
16/05/2013 at 6:58 pm
Lovely blog Lainey-Loo! What a cuttlefish pic! If you mean the blurry little black and yellow fish it’s a Stripey – Microcanthus strigatus.
john S
16/05/2013 at 7:04 pm
I’ll bring the Yak Fat, you bring the camera!
john S
16/05/2013 at 7:06 pm
Yak fat is good for that too!
leswee
16/05/2013 at 8:53 pm
worse blog eva
lesbutt
16/05/2013 at 8:55 pm
we I mean HE got home at 5am 😀
lesbutt
16/05/2013 at 9:05 pm
😀
Elaine de Jager
16/05/2013 at 9:19 pm
Just cos there weren’t any flattering photos of you Lesbutt! You did get an inferred compliment 🙂
Rusty
16/05/2013 at 9:40 pm
Sorry I wasn’t there today. Lesbutt dragged me down The Boatshed and tried to get her wicked way with me. The head was just too sore today ;(