If you were the producer of a new health and lifestyle TV show, who would you go and see first? No, not the Liposuction Ladies in Cronulla, try again. That’s right, you’d be doing what Channel 7 did this very morning, you’d be interviewing Wilf Deck, proudly the B&B swimmer with the most number of years under his belt. At 77 he’s a regular with our swim group.
Wilf is not just a super friendly man with a great sense of humour, he’s also a real water baby. Just look at him slide through the salty surf in this photo above, and this YouTube clip http://youtu.be/fTAxYFyY5V8 courtesy of Stephen Coulter.
Manly is getting used to the media frenzy around the B&B by now, and again this morning the TV camera’s lens was trained on the pink caps, today totalling 192. We had 12 new swimmers, 4 Boulderdashers and 4 people did the double to Shelly.
The nervous tension as we anxiously await the Go Ahead from the producer. Will we make it down the ramp this time..?
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Looks like we did, as proven by the scientific evidence submitted in the form of two photos by Stephen Coulter.
Michael Appelby and Lesley Coulter were excitedly telling me that they saw a baby dusky whaler shark get pushed up on the beach by the ramp due to the backwash after all the pink caps entered the water. But I’m pretty sure this is just Terry.
Fiona, you made it onto the photo. Just.
Sarah didn’t, but does her face look bovvered? Nah, she’s as happy as Larry to be swimming with a baby dusky (or is that Terry again?).
The bay was full of disgusting debris today. Lori’s cozzie was stuffed with plastics, discarded clothing and other rubbish, and I picked up a plastic bag and a torn party balloon that resembled a yummy jellyfish to unsuspecting turtles. Tut tut party people, please dispose of your straws, bags, cups and decorations responsibly.
The good news is, the bay is full of marine life too. Fiona reported seeing a plethora of duskies, and here’s a pic of a fluffy jellyfish.
…a beautiful stingray
… and a stunning mermaid
Is that you, Julia O? Gorgeous pic by Stephen Coulter again.
The TV crew followed us by foot to Shelly, because we are just so interesting.
“Oh look, there’s Wilf now”, they said and called off the Sea Rescue Helicopter. He may be our oldest swimmer, but he aint our fastest.
Sarah B is one lucky mum, today swimming with her two absolutely gorgeous sons Lachlan and Fraser. Hard to believe these two muscle packs came out of tiny cat suit woman, but it’s true.
Elaine Kindred brought her fantastically fit friend Di Westaway this morning. This woman takes groups of people on trips around the world and shows them how to climb the tallest mountains. Today was her first day with the B&B after she’d eyed us up for quite some time. Congratulations on conquering a different obstacle today, Di, and welcome to our group!
And one of the jimbles in the bay was up for a French kiss with our monsieour Gaetan. Ouch.
Dont forget that one of our lovely swimmers and his wife, Jonny and Di Schaffer have very kindly offered to host a farewell picnic for Julie and Michael from 5pm on Sunday 13th January in Clontarf.
It will be nice and relaxed so that everyone can enjoy themselves, so it would be great if people can bring their own ‘picnic’ and drinks OR a plate of finger food to share and drinks (including any utensils they may need incl glasses / beakers etc…) for themselves.
People can arrive anytime from 5pm, in time to watch the sun go down over our beautiful Sydney Harbour.
Everyone is most welcome, but to help give us an idea of numbers please could everyone RSVP (to another lovely swimmer) Cate Brockbank at catejb33@yahoo.com.au with their estimated time of arrival and in return Cate will reply with the address 🙂 You can also ask for details at the 7am swim as someone will know the address.
Also, next Friday is a very special day. It’s Julie’s and Michael’s last swim with us before they hit the road to Western Australia. It also happens to be Julie’s 24th birthday! Let’s all turn up and sing Happy Birthday at Shelly Beach for her as loud as we can.
If you haven’t bought a B&B calendar yet, hurry up! There are still a few left which Julie wouldn’t mind getting rid of before she goes.
“Hi everyone!!”, says Michael Christie,
“I’m thinking of doing a 10km+ swim on this Saturday. I will probably start early [? around 5.30] and will do it either as laps to Freshie and back or in the harbour from Manly to little Manly and back. It will depend on conditions of course. I’ll just be trying to go at my pace, which is not real fast, so anyone who wants to do some or all of it is welcome.
If you would like to count it as a 10k badge swim that is fine also- as long as you swim 10k of course. I’ll put up final details on the blog sometime in the evening, when its clear what the conditions will be. Happy to see anyone who want to come”, he concludes.
Over and out from Girl Friday Blogger Anna. Have a lovely day ya’ll.
Today’s stats:
Water temp: 22.1 C
Air temp: will reach 30 C today
Sunrise: 5:56am
Sunset: 8:09pm
High tide: 8.29pm
Low tide: 3.11pm
26 comments
fifi
11/01/2013 at 12:49 pm
Fantastic blog Anna, as always. Love the pics, especially my photobomb attempt. Its a wonder the water in the whole bay didnt disappear down that big mouth.
Underwater shots are great! So many wonders in Cabbage tree Bay, amazing people and amazing wildlife!
Michael [EX CI]
11/01/2013 at 12:55 pm
What a great day! I got credited with my double as a Bolderdash!! BUT then I noticed EVERYONE ELSE DID A BOLDERDASH. It must be a record!!!!!
Sam Massey
11/01/2013 at 1:45 pm
Today was my first swim with B&B, what an inspiring and supportive group to swim with! Thanks for the blog Anna – see you all next week!
Alyson
11/01/2013 at 1:46 pm
Oh Fiona! That is fantastic!
Alyson
11/01/2013 at 1:47 pm
Well Done Wilf! Hopefully you will inspire many others to join you too! Great pic of Jules, Anna
DWSS
11/01/2013 at 1:47 pm
Great work team.
Great blog Anna, seriously journalistic.
Great photo bombing Fif’s. haha
Great photos,
Great sting Gaz formally known as Gaetan.
I’m up for an attempt at the 10k tomorrow. So the slowies can have a breather if they want.
Libby
11/01/2013 at 1:49 pm
Great youtube Wilf! Swimming Cabbage Tree Bay with style and soft rhythm, and showing us the way to long life!
Libby
11/01/2013 at 1:52 pm
…..and a delicious blog – a feast of fotos,fish and friends. Gracias,Anna!
Michael [EX CI]
11/01/2013 at 2:06 pm
OK tomorrow I am going in the harbour. There will be a nor easter all day today till about midnight then changing to nor wester. So harbour will probably be the best.
We will be in the water at 5.30am, so meet about 5.15 at the end of Ashburner. Try and pair up with someone if you can, and bring some fluid and a little food if you are doing 10k.
Out and back to little Manly is about 3.25km I think, so three laps will give you a ten k. I may try and do a bit more, so it may be possible to still do a 10k with company if you want to start after the first or second laps. That is around 6.30am or 7.30am.
I will bring a tick sheet and you can tick if you want to have your 10k recognised, but remove your name afterwards if you don’t get there,[quite unthinkable]
Michelle
11/01/2013 at 2:22 pm
Great blog girl Friday 🙂 …and great energy all round today…bouncy waves but surely something more going on…Im in for a 6km at least …hoping it will be ocean swim . See ya then
Jalna
11/01/2013 at 3:03 pm
This morning I picked up two bait bags, balloons, and lots of other debris.
I grabbed a tatty plastic bag pretending to be a jellyfish, but, it turned out to be a jellyfish pretending to be a tatty plastic bag.
Fortunately stopped short of tucking that one into my cossies!!!
No one hears you when you scream underwater….
Great blog Anna.Love the photo of Sarah and the Bursle Boys.
mauricio
11/01/2013 at 4:06 pm
Beautiful swim this morning, great blog Anna and what else can I say: it’s good to be here.
For those who lost the chance of been broadcast nationwide, take a look at today’s video as you might be there:
http://youtu.be/_L5crk8U4RY
unfortunately I missed our honored guest this time. Congratulations Wilf!
Inez
11/01/2013 at 4:20 pm
Michael, I would consider it an honour to swim beside you while you pass your 1000th km at B and B and while I swim my first 10km. See you harbouside at 5.15, you crazy nutter.
Lainey Loo
11/01/2013 at 4:21 pm
Great blog and tribute to our Wilf, Anna! Well done Jalna for attempting to get rid of that plastic bag/jelly fish! Is anyone doing a 6km swim tomorrow?
fifi
11/01/2013 at 4:31 pm
hahaha Jalna, I did exactly the same. I rammed my head into a plastic bag full of water floating near the surface, literally scooped up another with my hand inadvertently, and then went to scoop the jelly up before realizing it was a hairy big jelly…ew!
also did anyone else see that little dusky zooming along at top speed? Not sure if It was rocketing away from the larger dusky or from our noise….
fifi
11/01/2013 at 4:32 pm
Mauricio, I absolutely adore these films.
What a beautiful job!
mauricio
11/01/2013 at 4:41 pm
Thank you Fifi!
StephenC
11/01/2013 at 5:18 pm
Another great video Mauricio – you’re welcome to edit my Wilf video into it too!
StephenC
11/01/2013 at 5:19 pm
I’m thinking about 6km.
Sam
11/01/2013 at 5:22 pm
See you there Aladdin 👳
Pacific Jules
11/01/2013 at 5:31 pm
Like 🙂
mauricio
11/01/2013 at 5:45 pm
Hi Stephen, what are you using, Sony?it looks
very good as well!
Wonder how could I download yours, any sugestion?
Thank you
LC Butt-Ski
11/01/2013 at 6:01 pm
The story I heard was… a small dusky was hearded into the shore by our crazy numbers!! I also saw a small dusky (probably same fella) at the Point, on my return – he literally was swimming alongside me, eye level about 2 metres away – he ABSOLUTELY bolted when he saw me – I think he’d had enough of the pink caps for one day!
Well done Anna – great blog – great photos!
I am sorry but NOONE does Jimble Lips like Rainer does – they try but cannot compete! 😀
Inez
11/01/2013 at 7:20 pm
True : )
DWSS
11/01/2013 at 8:33 pm
Mr Dusky was speeding until he saw your butski.
'The Lips' formerly known as Rainer
11/01/2013 at 8:38 pm
Thanks Lesbutt and Inez! I’m flattered..
Can I return the compliment and say no one does butt shots like Lesbutt and early morning bolderdash-shelly doubles like Inez!
I’m back tomorrow! Can’t wait!!!
Great blog Anna.. love your style. 🙂