01/03/15 – A few shades of grey

My skin was warm and sticky, and my throat was dry … I peeled the pillow case off my face and removed the tie.

I slid my feet into the soft rubbers straps of my Havianas and crept into the lounge. My thighs trembled at what met me …

The room had a heady scent of bodies and juices … There was broken glass, a unicorn horn.

The microphone was still on. Soiled.

My knees trembled as I recalled the nights events  … I caught my reflection in the stainless steel blender. I was biting my lip. I could still taste Brevilles sweet nectar.

Lionel Richie’s words swirled around my head … All. night. long.

The clock said 6.42am. I had to go. Now.

My breath quickened. I could feel my chest rise and fall steeply as I anticipated what lay ahead.

A single bead of sweat erupted and trickled, slowly, stinging, between my ample brows.

A shaping session is long over due.

The clock said 20 degrees, but it felt like 20.3. The air was steamy and thick with gossip and speculation … Where had she slept? Why wasn’t she swimming?

Denial was futile. The blog would be “dry”. Period.

I watched as they slipped between the volumous crescendo of wave after wave, lapping hungrily at their thighs … There were groans and murmurs as their bodies arched back and forth against the stinging lashes.

They had been warned. But for some the pain is the pay off.

They were here to swim.

Hard.

6 Kilometre swim report – Ian Forster 

I had the prestigious opportunity today to lead 20 intrepid swimmers on the 6 Kilometre swim.  Apparently John Bond (illustrious leader of long swims and temperature measurer extraordinaire) did not feel well this morning and believed that he was only up to a double.

 

The sixers collected at the point and then John Bond joins us saying that he felt up to it and no, I could still lead.  Nervous I was, having the master overlook my every move.  But this was not so bad, occasionally John nonchalantly approached me with suggestions and nuances that so improved the swim for all.  We did the formalities and off we went.

 

The conditions were trying with large seas, heavy weather and a few sea monsters.

 

But despite the enormous obstacles, the 20 of us made it to freshwater (as you can see serious conditions and most of us are exhausted and afraid):

 

 

The return to Manly SLC was uneventful.  Heroes all though.  Looking forward to the 10 kilometre swim next weekend…

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