Nice having you all back reading the blog. Comments on my first blog haven’t been as bad as I feared, even JK told me he liked it. Here my second edition, hope you enjoy and appreciate my improving photographic skills. Last time, to be honest, I struggled quite a bit, hunting for the fish photos while at the same time trying to manage the choppy water, ensuring not to lose the camera, and keeping up with swimming. I didn’t fare too well. I lost my goggles in the first big wave, didn’t get any fish photo, and my knees kissed the rocks at the point, leaving them with a bloody souvenir for about a week. But I do see the bigger picture. The loss of my goggles and my bleeding knees are insignificant compared to the privilege of being part of the B&B blog team.
After a couple of days with perfectly smooth and flat water, the surf was back today, adding some fun entering the water
And yes, we are in summer as the air temperature at 6.15am suggests (and promising another balmy day)
Whilst yesterday’s blog was more about highlighting the exploits of the A-Team, today’s blog is dedicated to a small group of very committed swimmers – the 7am doublers (swimming another Shelley return after the regular swim at 7am).
Some of the core members of this lovely group
John, usually the team leader and pace maker (however he bailed out today, it was “not flat enough”)
Dorset and Allan (very loyal and long standing team members)
same for Chris
Richard
Claire
Vivian
Caroline
Jason and Alana, our deputy team leader
and our newest recruit, this young charming lady (consistency in double swims still a bit missing, but working on it)
Today’s double group in action. I told the chap with the yellow cap that he needs to get a pink cap, otherwise he will get expelled from the group
Why do we all enjoy the double crossing to Shelley? Well, there are some very tangible benefits, just to name a few:
– having the change room for yourself when you come out of the water, no more queuing with the regular folk (I can’t really speak for the ladies here, but I assume, it’s the same as for us males)
– not having to queue for coffee after the regular swim
That’s my queue this morning because I did only the regular swim
– getting a darker tan on your back when the sun is fully out after 7.45am (not sure whether this is a benefit, but it’s a fact at least)
– having a more enjoyable swim on the 3rd and 4th leg because you don’t get the whitewash in your face as there is no pack of swimmers around you (this is more a benefit for us average and slow swimmers)
– doing a bit more for your fitness and endurance
Come and enjoy with us doublers next time around. If you think it’s a bit hard and you might be too slow, let me assure you, I will give you excellent company at the end of the doublers pack, and won’t feel that lonely anymore.
We also had a birthday boy today, happy birthday Scotty
I hope Lainey and Mike won’t spoil your birthday today, even though they somehow managed to spoil your birthday photo.
That’s it, enjoy your day
Bernhard
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B&B go RED for REDFEB 2015
To highlight our fundraising for Heart Research Australia, B&B will be going RED on Valentine’s Day – Saturday 14th February when we will be swapping our pink caps for RED ones. So come along on Valentines Day and get your special edition RED CAP. This year, the Manly Beach Health Club has joined us and is sponsoring the red caps. See details of their special offer at the bottom of the blog.
Last year in February we swam over 8700 km and raised $2,200. Our aim this year will be to beat that figure and raise $3,000. To view our B&B team page CLICK HERE. You can donate funds on the team page, or even better, you can create your own page where all your friends can donate towards the cause.
Please do also bring along a gold coin to donate to Heart Research Australia.
The Stats
Regulars: 180
Newbies: 3
Water Temp: 24.7
30 comments
Lesbubbles
13/02/2015 at 10:22 am
I love this German-precision-blogging! On time and efficient!
Good fun Bernhard! I didn’t realise the doublers had such a different experience .. I only doubled once ages ago and I remember it being a lot more peaceful than the frantic 7am swim!
Lesbubbles
13/02/2015 at 10:51 am
Ps. Thanks for calling me young! Yay!
Although …I know “charming” was being sarcastic so maybe “young” was too?? 😮
Richard Lacey
13/02/2015 at 11:43 am
Good work Bernhardt I don’t know how you find time !!
Lainey aka E-laine
13/02/2015 at 11:57 am
Thanks BernHard for pointing out the dangerous risks us bloggers face in our efforts to get blogs out. I’ve lost a lot of swim paraphernalia and gashed knees scrambling out at rocks to get to Shelly on time! Great blog again. How lucky we are to have found another comical German. I got a selfie with Stephanie Gilmore today after Zab spotted her when we were at The Benches. Yay!!
Ian M
13/02/2015 at 12:17 pm
Happy Birthday Scott.
Tayls
13/02/2015 at 12:37 pm
Bernie…you’ve smashed it ! Great blog, fantastic photos. Good on you bubbles…never cease to amaze..rock star on tuesdays…doubler on others.
All your comments about the benefits of doubling are spot on Bernie. Think you are being a little harsh on the yellow capper…maybe cos he’s German & you’re demonstrating how Germans need to lead by example as you do. Well done.
roger
13/02/2015 at 12:43 pm
Love those portrait photos, Ben-Hard!
Bernhard
13/02/2015 at 12:55 pm
How do you dare doubting my words? Of course you are charming, why else would I have taken a photo of you today when everybody knows that you are not part of the core double team and would normally not have been mentioned in the blog if it wasn’t for your smile and your charm.
Alan Thomo
13/02/2015 at 1:10 pm
Well done Bernhard, great blog. Those doubler’s are certainly a photogenic mob!!!!!
ros ex
13/02/2015 at 1:20 pm
I’m just loving this 24.7 water. And another great blog from Bernhard!
Rob
13/02/2015 at 1:37 pm
Bernie after all those years of you chasing me on the pacific challenge & my efforts to stay ahead I cant believe I didnt get included as a doubler. Poor form old man, you’ll never catch me now 😉
Bernhard
13/02/2015 at 2:07 pm
How could I have forgotten you?? You haven’t been around at 6.45am when I took the portrait photos, I only realised you were there when we waited at the point for the second run. Promise, you’ll get an appropriate mention in my next blog (and you don’t even need to promise me that you’ll let me catch you eventually 🙂
Lips
13/02/2015 at 2:18 pm
Charming! LOL! You hilarious Bernhard! Love your sarcasm!
Great blog again! Time for me to retire..
Lesbubbles
13/02/2015 at 2:21 pm
Er.. Ahem.. I didn’t actually do a double..
Snorkles
13/02/2015 at 2:28 pm
Welcome to the blogging team!
Impressive that you managed to write a blog without mentioning Lips!
Lips
13/02/2015 at 2:47 pm
Read between the lines Snorks..
lesbubbles
13/02/2015 at 3:22 pm
poor Bernhard didn’t have a choice – he refused to take my photo so I threatened to bring up the war! and so yeah he panicked took the photo and wrote ‘nice’ things about me!
Mark
13/02/2015 at 3:30 pm
Bernhard,
Nice blog – you have convinced me; I’m in for the double tomorrow (provided the swell isn’t too crazy ;). I’ve been wanting to do it for a while, and today was a milestone for me – climbed my way onto the bottom of the list for the pacific challenge. Now I need one of those 2.5km badges next to my profile ;).
Mark
Shelly
13/02/2015 at 4:39 pm
Great work Bernhard !!!
105 566.5km Shelly Beach
106 565.5km Annie Larkin
107 562.5km Gayle McKnight
DWSS
13/02/2015 at 4:41 pm
I’m with you Lippy. Hilarious, young! Charming! Hahaha
Fantastic Blog!
Alanna
13/02/2015 at 6:19 pm
Bernhard – the German guy in the yellow hat is hooked I reckon! He asked what days we swum and at the point he asked “are you going again?”. He was so excited but he had to make hand signals to his wife with baby in stroller on the walkway to Shelley…we tried to help him signal he was going again.
Alanna
13/02/2015 at 6:21 pm
If its flat and calm the double is lovely. Today wasn’t so bad at all. Just a teensy teensy bit choppier than the flats we have had lately. Great blog Bernie.
Elizabeth X
13/02/2015 at 7:00 pm
Excellent blog again B and so nice that you featured those dedicated doublers that sar-major JK speaks to every morning at Shelly. Bit of Alzheimers amongst them is there? I mean every day its on its the same meeting spot – The Point – but JK feels the need to announce it again and again and again
Simon
13/02/2015 at 7:08 pm
Hi Bernhard
I really enjoyed your blog a great promotional piece for the double you even have your first convert.
LSA aka HKTQ
13/02/2015 at 7:21 pm
Great blog, great theme…. expecting a star B’elly group blog on return….hint, hint!
Btw, IF anyone spends their evening reading B&B comments and IF I have given you in the past some magical herbal cough pills and IF you gracefully accepted them (even if muttering about drug-peddling) and IF you stuffed them away in the back of a drawer, could you please have a rummage around and IF you find them, pass them on to Alyson (or to Lainey to give to Alyson). Her friend has whooping cough and she asked me to bring a few more, but yours would reach her friend sooner! Never fear, I’ll replace them:)
roger
13/02/2015 at 7:38 pm
Is this a triads drug ring from Hong Kong ..?
Bernhard
13/02/2015 at 7:40 pm
Had you been here lately, you would have been featured very prominently in my blog. Come back soon, so I have something to write about in my next blog
fifi
13/02/2015 at 8:20 pm
oh Bernhard! you are brilliant.
that post is gold. loved it!
Robert
14/02/2015 at 9:51 am
It is a nice event every morning. I really enjoyed. See you soon. Thanks….thanks….thanks…. 😉
Cheers….the German yello cap. 😉
Alanna
14/02/2015 at 6:01 pm
The yellow cap guy was back again on the 14th! What did I tell you?