—–
Overseas Bureau: “Jane was about to jump in and swim with Nessie … and hasn’t been seen since.”
—-
Booty Buckets: One is missing …
Here it is …
—–
Alan watching others as they check out the huge surf on horizon. Snow in Blackheath, and gale force winds creating 6-metre waves off Sydney’s coast.
—-
Waved in: Six a.m. batch forging a beach-head …
—-
They made it: Tommy, Jess, Dom and Pete …
——
Oops – Not again. Have you left your pants at home? Or your winter jacket? I have. (Too many times.) In the end, I had to string up a list … and make a commitment to always packing the night before.
——
Next faction: 6.15ers Robby and Nan: “We’re going in … the others are walking.”
The Wet Spot:
Lemmings Away: There are several songlines out there … when navigating amongst the threshing traffic
——
Balmoral Beach Clubbers: Dapper-suited Keiran Kelly … “We meet every Wednesday for a 6.45 a.m. swim. The club’s been coming for about 20 years. I think the Pink Caps are a wonderful innovation. You are about community – and fitness.”
—-
Bonjour Gaetan: He has assisted the Pink Cap Channel swims twice. “We had to carry our passports on the boat,” he says. “In case we had to go ashore.”
—–
Meanwhile, Falling sea walls were held back by the booty crew …
—
And the wind cried ‘Where’s Mary?’: Sofia and Ian study the far off wave action. The horizon looked like corrugated iron, and the wind was ripping huge plumes off big rollers … and spraying it skyward. “I haven’t seen it that big out there before,” says Ian.
—–
Half-Sixers: Locked and loaded …
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Monster sponge:
—-
Rooster tails as the 6.30 pack power home …
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Seven a.m. mob kick it off …
Baitball anyone …?
—-
Queenscliff Henry joined two months ago, and has done ten swims – but he’s just ripped off three days in a row – at his own pace.
“I like to start out early. I’m not fast, and I don’t like holding everyone up.”
——-
Mr Bojangles: Storchy’s left wrist. “They’re not significant … I find them out on my street every few days. They eventually break. This blue one though, is a Turkish Eye. It wards off evil spirits.”
—–
Capped off:
—–
About 200 mm of rain fell last month, but it came in the last ten-odd days. Pro rata it was on par with the August record for Sydney (482 mm, August 1998). August dam levels jumped 7% – which is a lot. So – if you’ve swum thru last week’s turbid waters – congraulations on being of hardy constitution!
Spring has sprung,
Sun’s still low;
Shelly’s over there,
“Okay … let’s go.”
All Sewn Up: The battle for winter badges is over, and 21st September is hand-out day … straight after that Sunday’s swim. Don’t forget to register if you are coming, please. (See website)
20 comments
lesbubbles
03/09/2014 at 10:57 am
hehehehe love the supplementary badges for wetsuit wearers! Such a funny and different blog Doggy Digger! Like the quotes from everyone too! Just when I think i’ve seen it all new blogging ideas comes along!
Sorry I wasn’t there today everyone! I just wasn’t in the mood for icy winds! 🙂
Rob
03/09/2014 at 11:20 am
great blog! hardy souls one and all
Mary
03/09/2014 at 11:56 am
Great blog.
As for ‘Where’s Mary?’, nicely tucked up under the doona. Such nasty wind kind of put me off. Although I should know you never regret a swim. . .
Lips
03/09/2014 at 12:22 pm
Haha! Great blog!
Enjoyed today’s swim and the extra legroom at shelly without Lesbubbles and Mary and all the other sleeper-inners..
lesbubbles
03/09/2014 at 12:23 pm
AND even more important – never regret NOT swimming 😉
The Submarine
03/09/2014 at 12:36 pm
Great blog … love the Jimi Hendrix reference. I’m having a flashback!
the real NickD
03/09/2014 at 1:09 pm
I missed you bubbles.
Great blog DD, eclectic.
Love Storchies bracelets.
the real NickD
03/09/2014 at 1:10 pm
Who’s Jimi Hendrix?
Bernhard
03/09/2014 at 1:12 pm
Wise decision. It really felt very cold, but then warm and cosy under the heaters at Bluewater Café, with a big turn out of B&Bs, not surprisingly given the arctic outside temperatures
JeffwithaJ
03/09/2014 at 1:21 pm
Enjoyed reading your entertaining blog. I was a sleeper inner but still got my back in the blog being zipped up. All hail today’s intrepid swimmers!
Lainey aka E-laine
03/09/2014 at 1:26 pm
Very entertaining, unique blog Roger. Today must have been the coldest it’s ever felt before and after the swim and at Shelly in my 3 years of swimming through Winter. Lots of ‘Wetsuit Sandwiches’ though! (You’d have liked them Lesbutt) I would have worn a wetsuit but I left it behind on Monday but as I had my name in it it was picked up by Alison at 10pm! Lucky me. Thank you.
Love your map Roger. You should add Tim’s names for the rocks like Scotty’s Passage etc and where the fish hang out. If anyone hasn’t peed in a wetsuit they should try it. Best feeling ever!
Lainey aka E-laine
03/09/2014 at 1:27 pm
You should be regretting not swimming Lesbubbles!
ros
03/09/2014 at 1:55 pm
I love the songlines map!
Roger
03/09/2014 at 2:32 pm
Hi Lainey,
Ian said I should come try Booty Camp, but this morning I saw how Storchy can yell – and got for my life!
Jo
03/09/2014 at 2:38 pm
Very entertaining blog! Love the map!
Mary
03/09/2014 at 3:16 pm
That is a wise decision Roger!! Storchy is a direct descendant of Robert the Bruce – the orignial Braveheart. The ancestral trait he inherited is his ability to be heard above the cries of battle and the thundering sea. It has been reported to Manly Council Rangers that the cries of the Storchheart can be heard resounding clipped box hedges as far away as Balgowlah Heights. If you do go to Booty Camp, wear ear protection.
The Submarine
03/09/2014 at 5:26 pm
They say that if you remember the Sixties, you weren’t there. Nick, you obviously were.
Anna McBold
03/09/2014 at 6:52 pm
Brilliant blog!
Lainey
04/09/2014 at 6:12 am
Love it Mary!
Lainey
04/09/2014 at 6:14 am
We love the yelling Roger! It’s part of the fun and makes us the centre of attention on Manly Beach!