One of life’s luxuries as an ocean swimmer is the thinking time we get while in the water. No black line to follow, no laps to count, no conversations to be had while you’re actually swimming. Sometimes I concentrate on my technique (reach..catch..high elbow..pull..finish stroke), sometimes I’m too busy racing and trying to catch the swimmer in front of me, but most of the time I just let my mind wander.
As it’s my first blog, I spent some of my thinking time today pondering the use of the word ‘maiden’ in relation to first time stuff. It strikes me that this may no longer be a politically correct expression, given the word’s dual use. Wanting to avoid provoking a futile debate, I quickly moved onto yesterday’s major news topic – the climate strike.
This week The Economist has devoted an entire issue to the topic of climate change and I think the cover is a ripper. The stripes represent the world’s average temperature every year since the 1850s. I also learned that in the 20th century the population doubled twice (almost) and GDP more than quadrupled. Neither had even doubled in previous centuries.
So I was thinking about that, and I also couldn’t get the song ‘Johnny run away’, by Tones and I, out of my head. Good song to swim to though!
Now onto today’s conditions which were, in a word, challenging. A solid NE swell combined with low tide made for a tough journey around the point, so many swimmers opted for a Shelly beach entrance.
The next few shots are also from the point capturing swimmers using the rip. I love that our rip is called “the escalator”. On days like these the escalator is definitely our friend for getting through the waves!
Visibility not too great today given the conditions, but I did come across a rather large blue groper near Shelly beach.
I have newfound respect for my fellow bloggers that manage to take quality action shots while treading water. I was trying here to capture the size of the waves as they were breaking near the point. But I think you’ll need to use your imagination a little…
I’m sure I’ll be sent to blogger purgatory for not taking a photo of the board or collecting any stats whatsoever! But the water felt warm-ish (17 point something, I reckon) and there were plenty of swimmers braving today’s less than perfect conditions!
Enjoy the weekend 🙂
Tim
Management notices:
Winter Badge Ceremony
You’ve done the hard yards and earned your Winter Badge(s), now come and collect your badges with all the pomp and ceremony the B&B can muster. Bring along $10 for each badge you have earned (correct money appreciated). The venue is the Royal Far West Centre (Wentworth Avenue, Manly) on Sunday 22nd September, straight after the regular swim! Everyone is welcome, family, friends and swimmers alike.
A $5 donation will be payable to the RFW at the gate for hosting this event, and …. RFW will provide a FREE breakfast (sausage sandwich and a coffee/tea). Bookings are essential to ensure there is enough food. Book here for Badge Ceremony.
All 2019 winter badge qualifiers will be presented with their well-earned badge(s), so whether you are getting one personally or you want to enjoy the celebrations of your fellow swimmers, a great morning is guaranteed, so come along, soak up the atmosphere and get inspired for the upcoming summer badges.
In conjunction with the badge ceremony, Royal Far West will be holding a raffle with great prizes, so don’t forget to bring along extra money for the raffle (credit card payment facilities will be available for the raffle).
Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) invites you to Restart a Heart Day in front of Manly Life Saving Club on Wednesday 16th October 2019 from 6:30am – 8:30am.
Test your CPR skills in our friendly competition using QCPR resuscitation manikins! On the 16th of October, SLSNSW is also offering a significant discount on selected Defibrillators, save up to $1,000.
To register your interest in purchasing a defibrillator contact Surf Life Saving NSW, 02 9471 8000 or training@surflifesaving.com.au, or buy Online Only on 16 October 2019(https://www.surflifesaving.com.au/shop).
The Monthly Dinner – 8th October 2019 – Guest Speaker
The Next B&B monthly dinner for the year will be held on Tuesday 8th October at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. Our guest on the night will be Local Manly physiotherapist, Jim Burke. Jim will speak about shoulder injuries in swimmers. He will cover a brief outline of the mechanics of the shoulder as well as common causes of injury and a few stretches and exercises that are great in helping prevent ‘swimmer’s shoulder’.
23 comments
Lesbubs
September 21, 2019 at 12:14 pm
Good try on the groper pic Tim ..don’t worry we’ve all been there 😂
But Congrats 💫🙌🏼 on yr first blog.. !!
..now the stress really begins.. worrying how many comments you’ll get! 😬
Elizabeth
September 21, 2019 at 12:33 pm
I really like that cover. Especially tough conditions. Well captured in the blog
Shelley K
September 21, 2019 at 12:38 pm
Congratulations on losing your blogging maidenhead and provoking some interesting reflection; although I’m not sure climate change will be a less controversial topic…believe it or not there are still swimmers amongst us who question the science! Ah well, weez are all doomed so may as well keep swimming in the toasty waters of our collective extinction soup. Thanks Tim!
Anne
September 21, 2019 at 12:42 pm
Great first blog Tim!
Lucy C
September 21, 2019 at 1:03 pm
Excellent first blog & photos Tim! Really like the idea behind photo on The Economist. What year did the red stripes start? Yes its super hard capturing the size of waves! You capture it well at the point though!!
Gemma
September 21, 2019 at 1:11 pm
Awesome blog, Tim! Congrats! And the fish photos were great – at least, comparing them to mine :). All you need to do next time is throw in some abuse of Rainer and you’ll be the perfect blogger!
Gemma
September 21, 2019 at 1:13 pm
Extinction soup – love your expressions, Shelley!
Gemma
September 21, 2019 at 1:13 pm
🤣
DWSS
September 21, 2019 at 1:38 pm
Excellent advice re Rainer.
Come and see me Tim.
Lips
September 21, 2019 at 1:40 pm
Agree with Lesbubs. Great first attempt at underwater photography. I’ve tried this for nearly 8 years, and the only thing I ever nailed was ‘legs at the point’.
Lips
September 21, 2019 at 1:43 pm
Please reach out to me for a comprehensive back catalogue of DWSS photos. I have some quality stuff in my war chest.
Lesbubs
September 21, 2019 at 1:48 pm
It was so rough this morning i got sand all in my cozzie and I didn’t even swim!!
Bernhard
September 21, 2019 at 2:07 pm
I like your blog, excellent work for a newbie blogger … but what I don’t like – in any blog – are statements on political, social, and or environmental issues. Notwithstanding the fact that I am a believer in man made climat change, we are a swim group first and foremost, sharing a common passion for ocean swimming. Our daily blog should reflect that. Blog tarts like Rainer & Co usually provide enough fodder for an entertaining blog (as the comments above clearly demonstrate). Looking forward to reading many more of your blogs.
Jenny Andrew
September 21, 2019 at 2:09 pm
Enjoyed your blog. Thanks Tim.
Lyndall IRON
September 21, 2019 at 2:49 pm
That’s what you were aiming for wasn’t it?
Shelley K
September 21, 2019 at 2:50 pm
Awww c’mon Bernhard… how dull and flat would our post-swim coffee chats be if we confined ourselves to comments on the weather and elbow positions? Anyone who wants to take on the important but onerous task of blogging should have free rein to write about whatever they like, IMO. I think Tim was just quoting The Economist, wasn’t he? A pretty august journal that. We are a respectful community in general and can cope with a bit of ideological argy-bargy amongst friends.
Michael S
September 21, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Welcome to the bloggerhood Tim. I agree with Shelley. If I can’t occasionally put a bit of me in a blog, someone else can write it. Nothing too controversial but we aren’t espousing BnB philosophies just the ruminations of a lone swimmer in this wonderful involved community.
Roger
September 21, 2019 at 4:05 pm
Love the shot of two swimmers’ arms grinding it out over that cauldron
Roger
September 21, 2019 at 4:15 pm
Just listened (and read about) Tones and I. Wow!
Jenny Callaghan
September 21, 2019 at 6:46 pm
Great blog maiden blogger!
harrison edwina
September 21, 2019 at 6:55 pm
You captured the waves well, can’t see the surf club at all from the point. Thanks for blogging, I didn’t see any fish at all!
Mary
September 21, 2019 at 7:42 pm
Congratulations Tim. A very thought provoking blog. Your topic is one we are immersed in – literally as well as figuratively. I’m sure we can bring the bonhomie we display as a group to such discussions.
suemara26@hotmail.com
September 22, 2019 at 10:13 am
Well Done on your first blog Tim. It takes commitment to put your hand up. The picture of the groper was great considering the conditions. 👍👍