Friday. The day after tomorrow. Blue skies shining at me, how does that song go? Yesterday’s blog scared the hell out of me, our 615 gang shouted out horror stories of screaming swimmers, gallant Drinksy plowing through, pools of blood in the ocean. I got caught at work early, Gerry wanting to grow people like flowers. So 4pm escape for my daily swim. Half Way beach check, shit only about 3,000 blue floating bubbles in a cloud. Oh dear.
Now for my confession – I have never been stung before.
One wrapped around my finger the other day; I scratched my nose with it. What’s all the fuss about? So, I went for swim anyway, pushed off from Shelley. Viz amazing, glorious fish, warm, salty, relaxing. Until I swam into Blue Death, a blue bottle so fierce it had 3 heads, it roared at me, slung its whip out reached around my head, then neck, across my ear, cheek, and like some sort of Dominatrix (urban dictionary – a woman who uses their power and sexuality to turn men into slaves) wrapped around closing my lips and mouth. I get it now, I really do.
If you saw me this morning I was the one who looked like something out of The Joker, hot red scar across my cheek, pacing the shore stabbing blue bottles. Talked to Carter at the water’s edge reading the tea leaves, no seagulls means no blue bottles, right? Sceptical we are off to the other side.
Rustys and Chippo’s pitch report:
Addison Road, just read Pauline Forsters post about a huge bull shark as we arrive. Chippo suddenly has an ear ache (reminds me of my brother at 10 getting a stomach ache when we used to go yabby poaching, with dad telling stories of being chased by shotgun toting farmers). TFS blurry after a banker lunch that finished at sunset, DTs last days of freedom and the endless golf course, the Stealthy Wave Master staring lovingly at the pictures of the ripples from a reckless James Reyne from a bike commute (with Aussie branded bike shorts). So it’s just me at 6.15am (and a bull shark, thanks Pauline).
Water warm 22ish (where’s the chalky on this side), viz good, some camaraderie venturing into unknown waters, workers hustling to the ferry, quiet in the streets, a step away from nature, groomed flat and glorious. A stingray crossed with a cuttlefish. Highly recommended spot today.
We will be back to Cabbage Tree Bay tomorrow (or maybe Monday once those onshore winds die down). Cabbage Tree Bay always gives back. My lesson this week is to be more humble. More sympathetic to others. And that bondage …. is overrated.
Enjoy your day, thanks for a great swim today team.
Armada of Portuguese Man O’War
Cracking the Skyline
Long hard assessment
Only the brave
Jane and Sharon having a crack
1000 lashings before Fairy Bower. Carter the Survivor.
Brighter on the calmer side
Just to be safe
This year, if you’re taking part in the event, you can choose to fundraise for Royal Far West, our local charity, which is supported by Bold and the Beautiful throughout the year. By choosing Royal Far West, you’ll be helping to raise funds to help vulnerable country kids access the specialist developmental and mental healthcare services they urgently need.
If running is more your thing, you can also fundraise for Royal Far West in the 10km Sun Run from Manly to Dee Why on Saturday 6 February.
However you choose to fundraise, we’d love to have your support!
5 comments
Jac
February 5, 2021 at 11:27 am
Ouch! Don’t tell people about the dominatrix or next thing people will be turning up to the swim wearing leather and ball gags!
Shelley K
February 5, 2021 at 11:30 am
A potent mix of testosterone, adrenaline and just good ole fashion yarn-spinnin’. I enjoyed a calm swim to the bogroll and lived to tell the tale. Thanks Rusty.
Pauline (aka HRH)
February 5, 2021 at 1:04 pm
Loved the yarn Elizabeth, after a walk along the beach towards Queensie and seeing it littered with bluies and seeing early swimmers emerge covered with welts we made our way past a bluebottle infested Bower to arrive at a gloriously clear Shelly beach. Our last port of call should have been our first. We did get a nervous sting free swim in. Looking forward to next week.
Pauline (aka HRH)
February 5, 2021 at 2:17 pm
Oops sorry I think it’s Michael’s post today. Comments still stand. Love the yarn and the title. Thanks for a great end to the week.
Elizabeth Stewart
February 5, 2021 at 2:23 pm
Fabulous blog Rusty