Back on Blog Duty

Back on Blog Duty

If you haven’t missed my blogs for the last six months, I don’t blame you, Roger’s Friday blogs have been unparalleled, and he left big shoes to fill. My excuse for the long silence: first a ruptured Achilles tendon back in March, followed by a couple of days in intensive care with a pulmonary embolism as a result of the tendon surgery, then in August a cracked eye socket, making me look like a knocked out champion boxer and impossible to wear goggles for a while. Now I am running out of excuses, and John Kelly didn’t waste any time in getting me back into the Friday blog.

My fitness has taken a severe hit during the forced absence from most physical activity, my swimming is now even slower than it has been before, but notwithstanding this, I am enjoying the swimming and the company of the B&B’s more than ever, therefore it’s my pleasure to be on blog duty again.

To today’s action

6am: gathering and departure of the early morning squad. I always admire their courage and commitment, not only to be up at such an early time, but more importantly, to voluntarily serve as water testing guinea pigs, reporting back any hazards (blue bottles, jimbles, rocks, rips, etc.) to the waiting crowd at the Surf Club,

showing no signs of fear for big waves and rips

6.30am: Drinks and his followers into the water to check swimming conditions from their end. They don’t have any time to waste, as they are usually back by 7am to provide a more detailed update on the early morning report

Their verdict, communicated to management by their spokesperson Jo:

No bruised arms or legs, no stings, but dangerous surf conditions. Look at the waves yourself

calling John Kelly in action for the important disclaimer “you swim at your own risk … and better go from half-way”

Some swimmmers seem to be undeterred from this and having too much fun, instead of paying attention to important information (reminds me of frequent flyers in airplanes who never pay attention to the demonstration of security measures by the flight attendants before taking off).

Meanwhile, John Bond in action for the daily temperature check

before most of us headed off for the stairs at half way, only to find challenging conditions to get safely the water there too

finally we all made it to Shelley, although the crowd there was smaller than usual

Richard in deep conversation with one of our newest recruits, an apparent German champion swimmer

and after John Kelly confirmed we can all tick the normal Shelley swim for the PC (1.5k) although most of us probably didn’t even swim half of that today

you saw a big smile on many faces after returning back to the Surf Club

That’s the end of today’s swim. Hope you enjoyed and see you all soon

Bernhard

Some stats

Swimmers: > 80

Newbies: not many probably (Ian to confirm)

Water temperature: 19.0

Jimbles & bluebottles: zero

Waves: many