06/08/2014 – Dugong on a Motorbike?? Whatever next!!!

We see some amazing creatures on our swims… Since I’ve been swimming  I’ve swam up close with a Southern Right Whale, Silky the lone dolphin tried to surface between my legs, Port Jackson sharks have mated below me…This week Fifi reported a shark sighting at Shelly later identified as a Grey Nurse Shark. (The ‘Labradors of the Sea’ completely harmless and rare.) Gaetan produced a photo of this shark yesterday and later in the day, wonder of wonders, a dugong near the motorbike that is off the rocks on the Eastern side of Shelly Beach!This is the photo that Gaetan sent to Alex and he posted on the ‘Did you swim today?’ Facebook page as being ‘legit’…And the Grey Nurse photo…

 

What will it be today Gaetan? Mermaids are expected for sure!

My story of today’s swim starts off the usual way with The Drinks Expressers. Alison  was excited to be clocking up her 20th Winter swim today qualifying her for the Cold and Beautiful badge!

 

 

Another Winter’s day, another glorious sunrise…7 degrees out 16.6 in!

 

Here’s our Booty Camp Master. Is Storchy’s Mum the only one who thinks the sun shines out of his a**?

 

The theme was ‘Bright’ for Booty Camp this morning!Renae brought along her beautiful daughters, McKnighty brought along his son Josh, all shaking their booties 🙂

 

Fifi did an early Double on the look out for Grey Nurse Sharks and Dugongs.She found Drinky…

 

Tayls in his favourite position, between two lovely ladies.

Now he’s found another one 😉

 

 

See that wave that just got Jalna, Vicky and Sue!

 

A huge, very pale wobbegong stopped Jalna and I as we swam to The Point.

 

The ‘A Team’ or Speed Demons before they set off on their race back.

 

 

Elizabeth is in my ‘A Team’. She is unassuming, quiet but very brave, kind and determined. She’s back swimming after a bout of flu. She told her kids they should swim every day and they wouldn’t get sick and then she suddenly came down with it. There are quite a few regular swimmers who haven’t been sick in years so keep it up folks!

 

Lots of mullet around today..Not my favourite fish…

 

But the Giant Cuttlefish was around too and he IS one of my favourites! Did you know cuttlefish have 3 hearts? A few of our swimmers have too I’m sure of it!

 

Rock cod are usually a bit uninteresting hanging around on the rocks at The Point but I did catch these two kissing which was pretty cool!

 

I didn’t ‘go all the way’ today hence the photo of the fast swimmers coming out of the water.

 

Meet another inspiring swimmer. Dr Patrick tells his Dr interns up at Manly Hospital, “There’s something I want you to do whilst you are here in Manly..” (imagine lovely Irish accent). They shiver in their shoes expecting him to give them some big research project. He tells them, “Get yourself down to The Surf Club at 7am and swim with The Bold and Beautiful”.

We’ve had Dr John, James, Beccy, Suzie, Jess and more and they love it!

 

Sky didn’t ‘go all the way either’ as she happily tells us post swim. ‘I had a threesome with Nicky and Derek, it was great!’

 

 

We have a few parents who do a relay swim where they hand over the baby at Shelly rather than the baton!

Apres-swim chatter where conversations generally go along the lines of sharks one minute, world peace the next. Love it!

 

It’s  time to get some photos out for the 2015 calendar so us bloggers have been asked to send some photos in to Linda and Tim of Manly Mac Art. (One of the B&B sponsors click on their page top left side of blog). Going through my photos, one gave me a giggle…Silky the dolphin taking a fancy to Mauricio’s butt!

 

You get everything on these swims!

Have a lovely day guys. See you tomorrow (and it’s Lips’s birthday!!)

Special Event – Guest Speaker!

The next B&B monthly dinner is on Tuesday 12th August at 6.30pm at Bluewater Restaurant. This month’s special presenter is Ruth Hollows, the youngest daughter of Fred Hollows.  Her presentation is on how she is helping fulfil her father’s legacy through her role as Ambassador for Wild Women On Top Sydney Coastrek.

The cost of the dinner is only $20 a head which includes shared entrees, a selection of mains to choose (incl a vegetarian option), corkage (for byo wine only) and a little thank you for the staff. Glasses of beer or wine and desserts are also available at the special price of only $5 each. Numbers are limited, so bookings are essential.  Avoid disappointment and Book Now!

Fred Hollows is a modern legend, and was many things to many people – a husband, a father, a friend, a skilled ophthalmologist and for a few politicians and bureaucrats, an irritating thorn in their side. Above all else he was a humanitarian. This explains why he was so passionate about improving the health of indigenous Australians. In 80% of cases blindness is unnecessary, it can either be avoided or it can be overcome through a simple operation. Since Fred died The Fred Hollows Foundation has restored sight to well over one million people in the developing world.

Winter Badge season – only 5 weeks to go.

There are 14 weeks in the winter season.  To qualify for the prized Cold & Bold Badge you simply need to swim 20 times within the season ensuring you have swum in aminimum of 7 different weeks.  So, attempting to do it all in the first few weeks does not count!!  Make sure you use the i-Log to register your without wetsuit for the WWW badge.  The badge ceremony is being held straight after the swim on 21 September at the Royal Far West.

B&B i-Log

Log your swim ANYTIME of day using the B&B i-Log.  This is the best and easiest way to ensure your swims are recorded in the daily attendance and on the Pacific Challenge. To get started, send an email to Ian Forster ugoboyo@gmail.com (This is not a link so please copy and paste into your email).   He will check that your email address is activated on the attendance register then send you info on how to use the log in.

Staying safe

Are you prepared for the return of the surf? Remember that there are no badges for scaring yourself silly!  While it is great to extend your boundaries, it is important to know your limits.  Do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf.  To read, or even download, click here.

The Stats

Regulars:  77 ish

Newbie:  0 (Potential Newbies plz don’t be put off by talk of sharks. Cabbage Tree Bay sharks have all been harmless to date)

Temp:    16.6 degrees

Sunrise:  6.42 am

Sunset:  5.18 pm

Signing off Lainey Loo with 007 John Bond