Warning: This is my first blog. If you don’t like it, too bad for you. Complaints please to JK. With his persuasive skills, he managed to talk me into blogging, and my resistance proved to weak. He must see me as easy target, because this is not the first time. Last winter, around mid-July when water temperatures were lowest, he talked me into swimming without wetsuit for the rest of the winter (I have been swimming with rubber til then). He teased kept teasing me about my wetsuit in the men’s change rooms, in front of everybody else, which eventually broke my resistance. Next morning I came without wetsuit, freezing nearly half to death, but I managed to get through the rest of winter in www style. JK, that’s enough now, you won’t talk me into anything else, please look for new prey next time.
But now to the serious matter, a brief recount of events this morning.
6am: Early indications of a beautiful day at Manly, but with quite some surf and challenging swimming conditions
which did not deter the 6am crew to enter the water with a big smile
The booty campers do not bother about the surf, they seem to be in a world of their own
6.30am: The Dinks express headed for the water in big numbers, and judging by the crowd one could have taken them for the regular swimmers
6.45am: What is this? Are they teaming up for a new group, or are they just running late for the 6.30 swimmers and desperate to catch up with them?
At the same time in front of the surf Club, some disbelief about the new blogger with the camera
and arrival of management
7am: Finally, let the fun begin
no need to introduce this guy
looks indeed like everyone enjoyed getting into the water
and after a bumpy swim to Shelley, the jolly mood continued
But the fun cannot last forever, back to Manly, to enjoy coffee (or for the less fortunate, off to work)
That’s it for the swim, sorry guys, no fish photos today, water way to murky (and a good excuse for me not having to dive hunting for under water photos on my inaugural blog).
8.30am: Debrief of todays swim – always easier after a nice breakfast at Bluewater
And don’t forget: He will be the man of the day tomorrow. Please show up in force to congratulate
That’s it, enjoy your day and the upcoming weekend (SunRun, Cole Classic, 6k swim, to chose from).
Benrhard
Stats Swimmers: many (waiting for stat’s from management
Newbies: ??
Water temp: 21.1
B&B i-Log The B&B i-Log is the best way to capture your swims!! Log your swim ANYTIME of day using this really efficient and easy way to ensure your swim is recorded in the daily attendance and on the Pacific Challenge.. To get started, send an email to Ian Forster ugoboyo@gmail.com (This is not a link so please copy and paste into your email). He will check that your email address is activated on the attendance register then send you info on how to get started.
Summer Swims
The next 10km swim is scheduled for Saturday 14 February, 2015.
The 6km and 10km swims both start with the normal swim at 7am.
Staying safe Are you prepared for the return of the surf? Remember that there are no badges for scaring yourself silly! While it is great to extend your boundaries, it is important to know your limits. Do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf. To read, or even download, click here.
B&B Karaoke Night
The Novotel Manly Pacific is generously hosting a fundraising Karaoke Night for B&B swimmers and their friends/families to entertain each other and enjoy the night away. Dress as a rock star – there will be prizes for best dressed. Details are:
DATE: Tuesday 10th February
TIME: 6.30 pm
VENUE: Novatel Manly Pacific (above Daniel San bar)
DRESS: Rock Star
COST: $25
Don’t worry if you think you can’t sing, just come along and support/heckle your fellow swimmers who think they can. This event will be loads of fun, with plenty of laughs. The entry cost includes finger food and your first drink FREE. All proceeds will go to the running of the B&B.
27 comments
Gaetan
30/01/2015 at 10:48 am
Fantastic 1st blog Benrhard! 🙂
3 of us went to QC then stopped by the Bombora on the way back, it was awesome ! 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8UufYWEH2o
Lips
30/01/2015 at 11:05 am
Wow. Impressive footage Gaetan!
Lips
30/01/2015 at 11:07 am
Brilliant first blog Bernhard! I knew you’d do well.
Fun, rollercoaster swim. Good to see the Bondi Vet back in the bay.
That engagement ring is Lesley’s. It’s some sort of open proposal to all male swimmers. If anyone’s interested, just put it on your finger and send her a ‘yes’ via text message. Copy Elaine so she can take credit.
Roger Harvey
30/01/2015 at 11:38 am
What a glorious early morning of watching passionate ocean water barreling across the horizon.
Good on you, “Benrhard”! (Perhaps this could be your new tough guy monicker for endurance swimming – ‘Ben-Hard’)
Fantastic footage Gaetan … must have been so cool out there.
Wow – Lesley is Cinderella 🙂
I hope the whipped cream is back at benches in morning.
Lesbubbles
30/01/2015 at 11:39 am
I think it’s Bernard’s English .. What he meant was a gold WEDDING ring..
My open-engagement ring is silver!! Ok!
Lesbubbles
30/01/2015 at 11:43 am
Yay Bernard! Great to see you are blogging now !
And unlike the other German blogger you managed to get it out on time!
Don’t forget all the harassing I gave you too re your wetsuit BUT I was very disturbed to read that John Kelly harassed you whilst he was naked in the change room.. that is an image in my mind I will have trouble deleting!!
Shelly
30/01/2015 at 12:02 pm
“I will have trouble deleting!!”
We hope ! not saving for later !
Shelly
30/01/2015 at 12:17 pm
Love your Blog Bernhard ! looking forward to the inner you coming out in future blogs !
Love you all
Shelly
Rusty
30/01/2015 at 12:21 pm
Great first blog Bernhard. You have captured the swim and what it means to everyone very well. keep up the good work and I look forward to the next installment!
David
30/01/2015 at 12:41 pm
8 / 10
Plus best wishes for your sub 50 minute 10 km tommorrow
Bernhard
30/01/2015 at 1:15 pm
I don’t have photographic evidence of that image, but I think I could still paint a picture of it, if needed
Bernhard
30/01/2015 at 1:23 pm
thanks Shelly, but how is that supposed to work with my inner you? Can you image any more adverse combination than being German and a trained accountant for that purpose? I’d love to get some personal advice from you offline.
Management
30/01/2015 at 1:47 pm
Don’t get your hopes up Bernhard, Shelly is the “inner you” of someone much less attractive.
Shelly
30/01/2015 at 1:55 pm
Tinder or RSVP are my dating sites if you want to hook up BernHARD.
Jane
30/01/2015 at 1:55 pm
Great Blog Ben Hard.
Jill
30/01/2015 at 2:20 pm
Great blog you captured the swim perfectly!
Lainey aka E-laine
30/01/2015 at 2:27 pm
Fantastic blog BernHard but you did forget to remind people about Wilf’s birthday tomorrow and cake stall after the swim. Zab is presently icing a birthday cake, we have been baking all morning and are hoping other swimmers will come down with something to sell. All money raised is going to Dr Ray’s amazing charity, stitching up ladies bits in Nepal and giving them their dignity and life back.
Miguel Maestre, El Toro Loco aka The Bondi Vet has also promised to make a cake so it should be awesome!
Love your recount of JK’s harassment, photography and comments BernHARD. You are brilliant!
fifi
30/01/2015 at 2:43 pm
Fab Blog Bernhard!
Jeffwitha J
30/01/2015 at 2:58 pm
Hey Bernhard, really enjoyed your blog, great work! JK teases me about my wetsuit in the middle of summer but I don’t change, no way, I just burst into tears.
Kathy
30/01/2015 at 3:00 pm
Well done Bernhardt – excellent blog.
I found what looks like an old wedding ring outside the surf club.. If you know who owns it, please contact Alan or Kathy Thomson
Bernhard
30/01/2015 at 3:02 pm
I’ve put a comment at the end of the blog about the birthday though, but forgot the cake. To make sure everybody gets the message, can I suggest we ring fence the area around the surf club tomorrow morning, to ensure nobody can escape the birthday cake after the swim, and those coming without money will be forced to clean the dishes after the cake.
Elizabeth
30/01/2015 at 4:01 pm
A fabulous blog Bernhard.
Tayls
30/01/2015 at 4:24 pm
Bernie…you are the man. Now you really need to man up cos Izzy has anointed me chief fairy in her up coming play & she’s given me the task of recruiting 3 more fairies. You’re one of them.
Will be much easier than doing the blog !! which BTW was brilliantly done my friend.
HRH (akaPauline)
30/01/2015 at 5:38 pm
Well done BH great glimps of the day. Great blog. JK can be very persuasive but I would steer clear of Tayls and Issy…looking forward to blog no 2. Thanks for the reminder re Karaoke..
ros ex
30/01/2015 at 8:03 pm
Bernhard: A great blog, written with flair and pizzazz.
I’m rather shocked at the stories emerging of JK’s strong-arm tactics.
LSA aka HKTQ
30/01/2015 at 9:23 pm
Yeh, Bernhard – great hidden talent. Look forward to your regular feature:)
Inge
31/01/2015 at 10:37 am
Benrhard (?) or Bernhard – that was a very good blog..it comes so easy to you – not hard at all!