This year, for a change the date of Easter for western churches coincides with the date for the Eastern Orthodox churches so for me it will be a chance to overeat chocolate eggs and crack coloured boiled eggs. So good. For others, it is a chance to go camping with family or friends or waterskiing or, for those very robust among us, visit the Easter Show! For 420 of us including 19 newbies, it was a chance to get to Manly for a swim.
For a special sub group it is the first race of the triple crown, a tightly fought and highly coveted award for the fastest swim across from Shelly. These people count in microseconds so it is always a close thing. Some of the contenders
who will win??!!
Others come along for a swim in the beautiful conditions.
Here is one swimmer who is so popular, he brought his own entourage of swim connoisseurs
These guys had to agree to be photographed at the start because their ritual is a Bolderdash for Easter and what great conditions they were
Marco has been swimming in his mum for 9 months and this lucky little guy is now out and enjoying the scene. He was sleeping but opened his eyes for the blog shot. Seasoned BB 
Ian Justus and chocolate. An excellent trio
Elaine and Suzanne getting ready. Suzanne came along from Avalon for a swim with friends even though the beach there is pretty ok
Top of the ramp peopled by top people. Heading out for the 7 am
mixing with early swimmers
Here is Daria who came all the way from Russia to swim and swam yesterday. 
Who can blame her when the conditions are better here?
Wonderful swimmers with Dave
Wonderful swimmers with Shaun
What a trying time it was for the Triple Crown competitors today. After taking a full minute or two to get there, they then had to wait a LONG time for me to get there for the photo. John Kelly was holding them and the other 420 back as best he could but it was a tense time (as opposed to a tents time which is what the people who went camping were experiencing). How owuld this long wait impact the race? a cool down mid raise, in effect.
Shaun swam without a cap.
The doublers getting ready to set off
A quick Let’s Go and we were off.
some back to South Steyne. Some to win the first round of the triple Crown. Some to do a double. Each doing their own thing in amongst others.
I then saw Ian on his way to a double
And the others on the horizon
The post swim ritual for some
The triple Crown winner is not in the photo – it was the Kid but these swimmers did well and are motivated to try to win round 2
Paul followed his swim with a swim. Great idea
Ravi from the northern beaches was followed by his own crew. 
This week Telcos in Australia are starting to harvest metadata. It will reveal that the Bold and Beautiful was originally called the Bold and Beautiful and Ridiculous. Room for everyone but the last part got deleted. We (the ridiculous) are still welcome to swim anyway.
This week I have been trying to finish Atomic Weight of Love. Hard work because a bit soppy. Have a great Easter. Orthodox celebrations are all held late at night so hard for the swimmer.
Drive carefully
13 comments
Paul
14/04/2017 at 11:50 am
I found a pair of goggles in the surf this morning. Blue and green pair of Zoggs. If you’re looking for them, I will pass them on to Ian tomorrow.
Suzie P
14/04/2017 at 2:13 pm
A happy lovely blog!! Xx
Shelley K
14/04/2017 at 2:23 pm
Oooh! I want one of those stripey, fringey, coloured popover thingies as displayed in the penultimate pic! Do we have a local agent?
What a happy confluence of excellent swimming and standing-around conditions today, both of which activities I partook of at length. Thanks for capturing all the metadata of our own daily ritual Elizabeth Stewart.
Happy to be Un-Orthdox…
Shelly
14/04/2017 at 2:44 pm
Good work Elizabeth, Lovely lot of piccies !
Thanks for blogging.
Love you all
Shelly
xoxoxo
Edwina Harrison
14/04/2017 at 2:50 pm
I want one too, let me know if you find out.
ian the slowest
14/04/2017 at 2:58 pm
Elizabeth, an interesting blog with lots of variety as usual.
– A terrific photo of the lone trans-oceanic swimmer, could have been anywhere outside the coastal shipping lanes somewhere between Gabo Island, Newcastle and nth tip of NZ.
Shelley,
there were thousands of little piscine stripey creatures (not Old Wives but probably Mado fish) along the rocks this morning and their striped garb looked good too
Cheryl
14/04/2017 at 3:00 pm
Ooooh…..if those popover thingies are Turkish-towelly too count me in if you find them!!!
Great blog today, lovely to see so many photos!!!
JK
15/04/2017 at 10:36 am
Typical of the kid, just wins and disappears. Respect
Pete Anthony
20/04/2017 at 2:37 pm
Thanks Suzie…just like you expected!
Pete Anthony
20/04/2017 at 2:37 pm
Thanks mate
Pete Anthony
20/04/2017 at 2:40 pm
Not sure why I’m signed in as Elizabeth….unless the Alzheimers is kicking in early…. unless the Alzheimers is kicking in early….
unless the Alzheimers is kicking in early….
unless the Alzheimers is kicking in early….
Elizabeth Stewart
20/04/2017 at 2:44 pm
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This is very unusual.
Mary
30/06/2017 at 5:49 pm
You really enjoyed your Easter holiday. I wish i knew how to swim too.