Let me sail, let me sail,
let the orinoco flow,
Let me reach, let me beach
On the shores of Man-il-y.
My blue sail, my blue sail,
Let me crash upon your shore,
Let me reach, let me beach
Far beyond the Manly Sea.
– Enya
Matthew Smith’s early morning photo of a bioluminescent bluebottle jellyfish (floating in the morning light at Bushrangers Bay, Shellharbour) has won the 2014 Australian Geographic ANZANG Nature Photographer of the Year Competition. Mr Smith won $10,000 cash and a 10-night Kimberley expedition cruise for two.
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When I’m swimming baby,
I go right outa my head.
And I just can’t get enough
And I just can’t get enough
– Depeche Mode
These four elder wizards, Alistair (from Balgowlah), Craig (Curl Curl), Dave (Cremorne) and Rob (Northbridge) train regularly at North Sydney Olympic Pool. Members of the Badgers Swim Squad, they meet there at 6 a.m, up to three times a week … covering 3.5 to 4 kilometres per session. It includes snorkel training, which aims to keep the body true and the head level; and “Friday Flippers”, where fins are used to challenge the thigh muscles and lung power. Coach Steve Badger is a Commonwealth games competitor (1974) and ex-Olympian (1976) whose swimming background began with North Bondi Surf Club. The ‘Badgered’ also come to Bold & Beautiful – for its convivial social aspect, and to enjoy the aquatic scenery. The swim itself (for these guys) is a bit of a stretch-out only, and so they can be partial to the occasional Double.
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Jimble-aya and a crayfish pie and flathead gumbo,
For tonight I’m gonna see my skin blow up so red-oh;
Seein’ stars, fat lips smart and go insane-oh,
Son of a gun, gonna have big fun on the bay-oh.
– Creedence
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Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
It’s Off to Swim We Go
– Disney 1937
An incidental inquiry about another swimmer’s Log-in password (Answer: Weany) un-earths a hidden and on-going phenomenon … where innocent newbie swimmers are being unwittingly issued with amusing or weirdo pseudonyms. As; I then asked the other five swimmers sitting at same cafe table: what are their Log-in monickers?
Revealing: Soggy, Windy, Fronzy, Weany, Yodsy, Gross and ‘I’ve Forgotten’ (AKA Dopey). Ian Forster denies responsibility, claiming that all Log-in monickers are randomly generated by the Pacific Jules software. Decorum forbids my blogging of what the Bolds computer labeled John Kelly. So the next time you are with your circle; ask around.
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Bombora, from Novotel roof – on Wednesday morning, after the night’s huge storm
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Keep saving our Marine Sanctuaries from fishing, please!
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Merilyn lives in Canberra, but travels up once a month. Wearing her 2007 FINA Volunteer jacket this morning. She uses the blog to check conditions from ACT …
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Another pod of Orcas
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Flock of Seagulls (I’m sick of typing lyrics)
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Zoom Zoom Zoom
Swimmers 80
Newbies One
Temp 18.1
17 comments
Lesbubbles
17/10/2014 at 9:35 am
good to see i can make the blog without even trying and as always a great great shot of me!!!!!!!!
Bootycampbuffman
17/10/2014 at 9:51 am
It’s is a great shot of you with Penny speaking ! bit surprised Driftwood didn’t caption it….
Jo
17/10/2014 at 10:04 am
Amazing bluebottle pic! Pretty amazing blog too!
Mary
17/10/2014 at 10:57 am
Oh I feel so happy (cue another song) reading this blog 🙂
Elizabeth
17/10/2014 at 12:37 pm
Hi Merilyn! Welcome back Ross – you did not log in to the Pacific Challenge! Great rainbow today. Thanks to the person who found and returned the tempo pro. Much appreciated
Elizabeth
17/10/2014 at 12:42 pm
I am curious to know from those who measure their swim time what is the difference between swimming with and without wet suit. %
Lesbubbles
17/10/2014 at 1:10 pm
he did ..read speech bubbles 😉
Lesbubbles
17/10/2014 at 1:11 pm
probably HEAPS faster say 90% WITH them on…. Now Brad and the rest of the A team have taken their wetsuits off I am now pretty much head to head with them all the way back…
Bootycampbuffman
17/10/2014 at 1:20 pm
from your mouth Lesbubbles.
Merilyn
17/10/2014 at 1:37 pm
Hi Elizabeth. I didn’t see you this morning. Didn’t see the rainbow either. Couldn’t see the whale John was pointing out. what is going on? Maybe that 22 hours trip back from Northern Thailand yesterday really has turned me into a zombie! Another swim tomorrow should fix it. See you there.
Great blog
Nick Dawkins
17/10/2014 at 1:44 pm
John Kelly’s login moniker: Scousey
Good one Roger 😉
Truth Fairy
17/10/2014 at 1:46 pm
At least for the first 10 metres ..
Lips
17/10/2014 at 1:57 pm
Love the fat lips reference in the Creedence lyrics!
Truth Fairy
17/10/2014 at 2:58 pm
We could do with a Clearwater Revival
Truth Fairy sister
17/10/2014 at 3:15 pm
10???
1
Elizabeth X
17/10/2014 at 5:50 pm
Another awesome blog! Thank you
nicolif46@optusnet.com.au
17/10/2014 at 11:10 pm
Hi Elizabeth,
with full steamer wetsuit, I swim 30 to 60 sec faster for the 500 m from the point to Shelly.
About 30 yrs ago, I timed myself in wetsuit over 400 m in Manly pool and was about 1 minute faster.
Therefore for me, 5 to 15% faster, say 7 to 8% average. You could try it yourself over a few swims.
Slower Ian