Over the last few days, the jimbles have made their presence felt in no uncertain terms.  From all the welts, stories and screams, it seems they have absolutely outnumbered us! Today the signs have been a little more promising!

Oosty was explaining to Ros, in a very animated fashion, that while the jimbles were nasty over the weekend, today he hugged the rocks to Shelly and swam back a little further out from the rocks (but not in the middle of the bay) and he spotted none! 

Amanda, Georgina and Di were also hugely excited not to spot a jimble today on their return trip to Shelly! Either that or they were hailing a taxi?!?

Today felt warmer than yesterday – probably because it was – by 0.4 of a degree! Also there wasn’t the cold breeze we had yesterday! The beach looked so inviting it was hard not to dive straight in, but donning the rashie first is still sensible given the jimbles!

Ian & Simon didn’t spot any today either and were happily enjoying their post swim coffee, welt free! Simon is our Monday blogger and has been blogging fortnightly for years – ever since Julie Isbill left for WA! Fabulous dedication!  What a photo – two great men – dedication personified! One for the history books!!

Some of us swim for our exercise! Others….well….they do it the hard way!!

Jo was jimble free this morning too. We were reminiscing about something very funny that happened during one of the downpours at the end of last year. Let’s just say it involved her foot, an umbrella and a dry person nearby!

I don’t know who got more of a fright. The bird or the blogger!

Brian looks like he’s gelled his hair up for this photo but it’s the hat on the hook of course! He doesn’t have any hair.

Richard returned unscathed too today but you always have to be on jimble watch. Keep our head down and eyes open! (but don’t crash into anyone)

Danny and Peter were warming up nicely by the door and discussing covid appointments. Peter has the phone number if anyone needs it.

Charl has put his trust in his sister and dad to look after the gorgeous new fluffy addition to his family while he has a swim!

Last but not least, Candace has decided to move to the beach and has bought all her bags with her. Hope you’ve got a pillow and comfy mattress in amongst all that lot!

Happy hump day! Its all downhill from here!

Lucy

Winter Swimming

While we had hoped that the B&B could resume its normal activities by now, we are still bound by Covid 19 restrictions with which we would be unable to fully comply. So, for the near future, B&B’s operations will continue to be suspended. This does not mean you need to stop swimming. As an encouragement to swim, B&B will offer its usual badges over the winter swimming season. To qualify for a highly prized winter badge, you need to:

• swim from Manly to Shelly and return (or halfway swim) a minimum of 20 times between 1st June and 31st August.
• swim in at least 7 different weeks during the same period.
• log your swims.

If you manage to do all of your qualifying swims without a wetsuit (or other thermal enhancing equipment), you will also qualify for the coveted WWW badge (winter without wetsuit).

Since we no longer have restrictions on movement within the community, the Covid swim will no longer be a swim option and all swims must be at Manly. Should there be any restrictions imposed during the Winter period, The Covid Swim will return as an option.

New Swimmer sign-up – also caps/badges

On Saturday 22nd May, your B&B team members will be at the benches (100 m north of the surf club, weather permitting) from 8 am until 9 am with a sign-up sheet for anyone who wants to sign up and start logging their swims. Any new swimmers who have started swimming over the summer period are invited to sign up and get their free B&B latex cap.

We will also have the following items available on the day:

• summer badges for sale at $10 each
• silicone swimming caps ready for winter – $15 each (cash only please bring the correct money)
• latex caps (free) if you have lost/broken yours