24/02/2014 – Togetherness!

There were 100 swimmers out doing it today!

Some started their warm up with a roll in the sand.

Others hung around chatting and just being together.

 

Why togetherness?  Well, I’m indulging a little because it is three years since I began swimming with the B&B mob.  With two dear friends, I arrived wide-eyed and totally overwhelmed by the buzz of activity.  Kind of how these two must have felt today on their first swim.

It is so good to hang out together don’t you think? Miles and Paige think so.  Paige has even matched her nail polish to Miles’s cossie!!

   

 

Krystyna and Stephen brought along a new friend.  This is Lani, and she is a professional photographer (not intimidating at all!)

 

And guess who else has just hit the three year mark!!  Gorgeous Lesley and ever ready for a cuddle, Ian!!

So back to the swim – which is why we are here, although sometimes with all the chattering and hugging and hanging out it does become the excuse for all of the above.

With a beautiful morning – and another rainbow – water at 22.2 degrees and clear it is a challenge to work out where to look.  Loads of little fish dart about us as we wait at the point.

The crossing is calm as the southerly winds of yesterday have made sure the swell is almost non existent.

More hanging out at Shelly.

No birthdays today – so no waking the neighbourhood – but lucky me, I have the great honour of doing the ‘Let’s Go’.

 

Here is a groper I have spotted a few times in the past week.  It was only when I enlarged to photo I noticed there is a fish hook in its back!  Let’s hope that it was not acquired while in the Bay.

And a few of the regular fishy friends. . .

 

These two rays were playing chasings just off the point.

 

At the end of the swim I spotted these two doing a selfie!  Why?  Well together they arrived wide-eyed and totally overwhelmed by the buzz of activity to do their very first swim with the B&B.  How magic is the circle of life.  All the best and may every swim be as magic as today’s.

 

We have now bid farewell to all the summer badge swims.  So a little bit of a lull before Winter Badge Challenge begin in June.  This is also the final week of official Bolderdashes!

 

Also, well done to all the B&B swimmers who participated in this past weekends events; the Husky Triathlon, Rottnest Channel Swim and the Sydney Skinny.  If you have some photos, feel free to send them in…

It is also the final week of our RedFeb Challenge.  We are doing soooo well with the swimming, but really not so good with the fundraising.  Any donation you can make would be welcome.  The funds are to support further research in heart disease and its prevention.  Plus, you never know when you or someone close to you, might be the beneficiary of all that medical research.. Just follow the link and Give to Heart Research

 

Mary – together with Lesley

 

 

B&B i-Log

Almost 50% of swimmers are now using the B&B i-Log. Log your swim ANYTIME of day using this really efficient and easy way to ensure your swim is recorded in the daily attendance and on the Pacific Challenge. To get started, send an email to Ian Forster (ugoboyo@gmail.com). He will check that your email address is activated on the attendance register then send you info on how to get started.

Bolderdash

Final week for the official ones!  This daily swim to Queenscliff and back DEPARTS the surf club at 5.50am.  As these are generally intimate groups, please WAIT for everyone in the water before heading off.  Do buddy up with someone – great to be with someone who has the same pace – that way everyone is ‘accounted for’ at Queenscliff.

Staying safe

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:  100

Newbie:  8

Temp:   22.2 degrees

Sunrise: 6.38 am

Sunset: 7.38 pm