There’s a quiet kind of magic that happens down at the beach before most of the world wakes up. By 5:30am, the early risers are already here, the ones I like to call the “5 a.m.ers.” The people who choose to start their day with intention. You see them scattered along the sand, some walking,...

Toasty 22.3 degrees in the water. Our crew launched into the rip @6:15 (6 minutes after sunrise). We zigzagged to the pipe using multiple rips (out) & waves (in) – perfect body surfing conditions. I almost forgot to blog until I got to Fusion. I caught up with Roger drawing his “trout” on the newspaper,...

Amazing insight into fast strong swimming. People sweat on exit if they swam hard. I sort of float and it involves no sweating. Interesting. Here is Mark in new cozzies – sharks motif. Nice. Nikki’s first swim after having a baby. Welcome back and congratulations. An offer of rescue to me by these two lovely...

It is dark – so dark – at 6 and 630 but a few brave legends still go into the water. The water is still very warm at 22.9 but when it is dark it seems that cannot be true. But Jeremy Wheeler confirms it is so and in passing provides some of his always...

The water was slightly warmer@22.9 degs. Clair & Mel on the ramp @6:31. Just after the Drinks Express. We did 50 stroke sprints north in the “safety” of the white water + I caught two waves to the beach. Derek Lainey Jon Four Simons 7:22am Jen took the selfie @Vini’s Clair caught the ferry to...

It’s a good day for the surfers today and a hazardous one for swimmers. Temperature was 22.1 and swell was big plus a strong pull to the water movement. Some of the stronger swimmers like the A team entered at Manly, some walked to Shelly, others splashed in the fairy bower pool or entered at...

The challenge early is juggling 6am starts with pitch darkness and the sounds of bigger waves. And the waves are getting bigger. Those Petbarn coloured lights don’t provide much protection against the men in grey suits, but do help with sighting each other. I don’t wear one, but ordered online last week when I learnt...

Those were some of the descriptions I heard this morning. It may be true but just wait a day or 2 while the Tasman low builds. We have been blessed with stunning mornings and today’s sunrise was gorgeous, with a very appreciative audience. I took the next 3  photos from above the surf club. Since...

Sunshine smiles from Suzie and friends this morning post swim! Heather and Edwina below. Heather and Edwina get a work out swim in before work and below a dad and toddler amused many of us as they did crawling games on the sand. I met this lovely lot this morning who often swim at Balmoral,...

Quite a crowd when I arrived at 6:08 in the dark across the puddles in the promenade. Drinks Express launched@6:30. Then Ali, Jo, David, Rusty, Chris & I did 50 stroke sprints plus, a few wave rides, through the white-water to the Pantry. By 7:02 the sky turned golden as the 7am crew streamed down...