26/08/2015 – Bottoms Up to a Beautiful Swim!

Good Morning swimmers and ‘Wishtheyhadaswum’ swimmers on this wonderful Wednesday when the water felt warmer, the sky was dramatic and beautiful, you couldn’t wish for better company and a few waves made for a more exciting swim!

 

The Warringah Tri Club ladies off for a 6.28am  training swim!

 

Booty Campers were out in force. Most people were putting their most in to the work out except Ian who was doing lots of chatting and even wore his sailing shorts!

 

We like the sunshine but the sky put on a great show today. This is the 6.30am mob.

 

Back at the Surf Club Jane gets presented with a little pressie, a ‘flesse likker’, a Dutch invention to get the final last bit out of the mayonnaise or vegemite jar! (The Dutch are known for being a tight.)

 

‘What’s this? A portable colonic irrigation implement?’ pipes up Ian, lowering the pre-swim conversation yet again 😉

 

I just loved the contrasts with the ocean, waves, clouds and sunlight today so there are lots of photos!

 

Steve’s up at the crack of dawn again 😉

 

You really have to swim on dull or rainy days. It is always so worth it!

A few people were put off by the waves today but there were distinct ‘sets of waves’. Here are Marco and Nicky rushing to get out between the sets.

Look at the pattern of those clouds just over the horizon. I didn’t mind the water being unclear today because I loved looking up and seeing the amazing views above the water!

 

Jane and Anna have been swimming with this group almost since it began and they both light up the lives of everyone they meet! (Cheesy but true)

 

and so do JK and Rusty! I said, ‘Let’s have a photo, you are lit up in the sun.’ ‘Like angels’ quips Daniel Cleaver aka Rusty. (I wouldn’t quite go that far 😉

 

and off we go! (This photo looks so much better bigger.)

 

It certainly wasn’t clear today and a few people were complaining of seaweed in the face but I did spot a Dusky Whaler which hopefully you can make out in this pic!

 

 

 

 

Shots at Shelly above. Dr Patrick’s niece is back from her travels. Quite a few Irish swimmers today!

Jen appears out of the surf after rescuing the swimmer on the right’s goggles. She is a great gal and has been fighting hard to stay in Australia for the last 6 years as she is so in love with Manly and Oz. Is there anyone out there who will marry her please!!!

 

It was Kim’s first swim and she loved it!

 

 Preloaded Blog (incase I was called in to work!) Mostly of marine creatures I’ve encountered since my last blog 2 weeks ago.

 I’m hoping the link below works and takes you to the very short video of a Port Jackson I took last week. Not a patch on Mauricio’s amazing one that was in Simon’s blog on Monday though. Go back and see his if you haven’t already.

 click here

Talking of Mauricio, our gentle free diving Brasilian swimmer friend…Last March I took photos of him  releasing a Wobbegong who’s mouth was trapped with a piece of rope. He is very experienced and used to being close to marine creatures and was very careful. Wobbegongs can be dangerous so we shouldn’t try it ourselves! I just love this sequence of photos though and it’s great to have a happy story like this after the image of that dead Dusky is still in our minds…

 

Last Wednesday many of us came across a huge school of salmon as we headed back across the bay. There must have been tens of thousands of them. The photos aren’t that clear as they were so fast!

Mark from the Australian museum sent us this link to a video clip schools of salmon click here

 

 Jane tells me this is a female Herring Bone Kale. The male ones are blacky blue with a bright blue flash on their tail.

 Old Wives are back swimming over the white rocks again!

 

 

Groper, Port Jackson, Diamondfish and Yellowtail

Mike and Louise Stacey are setting off on their European trip today. They are joining a few other Pink Cappers and doing a swim tour between Greek Islands. Have a great time guys!

Love this group shot taken on Dr John’s girlfriend Sara’s last day last Thursday!

and two of our most ‘Life Embracing’ swimmers Sophie and Sarah! 

Lastly our very own JK with the poor ladies he makes swim nude every weekend (that is without wetsuit or flippers!)

 

Statistics

79 swimmers

1 newbie

17.5 degrees in / 13 degrees out

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NOTICES

 

Next B&B monthly dinner

Bluewater Restaurant – Tuesday 8th September at 6.30 pm

Our guest speaker will be Guy Dunstan, who held CEO and senior management positions with major media and investment banking corporations in twenty countries throughout the world.  That was before he experienced a severe episode of mental ill-health (severe melancholic depression + bi-polar disorder) and was forced to leave the workforce.  From that moment, his life spiraled out of control in a seemingly never-ending downward vortex that ultimately resulted in him losing his career, reputation, wealth, marriage, family and friends.  He was left broke, homeless and socially shunned.  With seemingly no other options available, Guy eventually re-entered the workforce as a manual labourer working the night shift at the Sydney Fruit Markets.  After 2 years in that role he now regards this period as the toughest, yet most challenging, meaningful, and rewarding of his career.

Guy is uniquely placed to offer insights into the complex and largely misunderstood subject of mental health: its prevalence and impact in the workplace.  Guy will deliver an insiders view of what it is really like to experience mental ill-health in the workplace, and, in particular how this experience can potentially impact the lives of individuals concerned, the groups they work in, and the organisation as a whole.

Guy is currently Senior Advisor to The Black Dogs Institute, Australia’s leading research institute in the area of Mental Health and Mood Disorders.

 
Dinner $25 a head

Includes shared entrees, a selection of mains to choose (incl a vegetarian option), corkage (for byo wine only) and a little thank-you for the staff.  Glasses of beer or wine and desserts are also available at the special price of only $5 each.

Numbers are limited, so bookings are essential:

  To avoid disappointment and secure your spot please BOOK HERE NOW,

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2015 Winter Badge Ceremony

You’ve done the hard yards and got your Winter Badge (or even harder yards for a WWW).   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).

Royal Far West Children’s Home – opposite the beach

Sunday 13th September – straight after the regular swim!

A $5 donation will be payable to the RFW at the gate for hosting this event, and … RFW will provide a FREE breakfast (bacon and egg sandwich and a coffee/tea). Bookings are essential to ensure there is enough food.  Click to book …

Click here for BADGES
All 2015 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.  Come along, soak up the atmosphere and get inspired for your upcoming summer badge challenges …

signing off

Lainey (after City 2 Surf)