Classic shot  29 minutes before sunrise.     Just for you Lucy! And yes Brad won the 6:30 express. Bootie before sunrise.     Happy 55th Emma & fans.     Lyndal’s scone recipe “1 1 3 2oo 10”     6.29 drinkless express. Smile.     The 6:31 crowd.     Capless took his...

  Sally sits with us today, surveying the glassy swell. Lyndsay talks to me about how the crisp morning reminds her of the Kaipara at dawn. Christine brings a smile with her wit and sharp observations much like her son. Kristine frowns with her daughter’s dubious decisions, with Christine knowingly nodding along. Lavinia consults the...

On days like today, I don’t turn up to Manly Beach anymore. I park at Shelly and start my swim there. Jon went back to the beach though and took some photos for me of the surf and swell there. Lots of surfers, some brave swimmers , lots of fun too I imagine for those...

I entered through the waves today. At Shelly! They were big. There I found some excellent swimmers       What sea is this? was it only last week I was looking at green sea grass calmly at this point?   Ted, Roz, Georgina and David heading off for a swim     David and...

Today’s conditions in the water and out of the water were challenging, but the water is still warm – in the 20s.  The swell was up and the water was murky.  At 6:15 it was still dark:   We walked to Shelly to swim to the point from there. On the walk back from our...

Well our sunny days had to end at some stage….  Wednesday brought moody skies and here comes the rain!    However, we still swim, as swimming in the rain can be very therapeutic, calming, meditative watching raindrops on water…  and we are wet anyway!   air temperature at 7am 15.7 degrees water temperature 20.9 degrees...

It’s Story Room Tuesday again, with guest speakers lining up at the Steyne tonight – excellent! Meanwhile, here’s a few more good yarns …         Water:       20º Air:            17º Wind:        Slight Sky:          Overcast Vis:           Still not the best Plus:         Waves!...

Sister sharks Clair & Ali.   My 5:36am swimming buddies.   Patrick & Mel.   Suzie & Jon @13 minutes before sunrise. Two Simons. Simon about to kiss Sean?     Luke Annora and Claire.   Buddies from Sth Africa.   Sam in the shadows of the drinkless express.   Buddies from Chile & Spain....

We’ve come a long way since May 02, 2020 – today’s sunrise may be just as stunning as year ago. But busy restaurants and the happy buzz of Manly food and wine festival today make us appreciate the contrasts to the lockdown back then.       Above: Air temp at 7am: 16 degrees Water:...

We still have some smoke in the air but it’s definitely not as bad as earlier in the week. Warm days and cool nights – the best combination   Water temp – nothing to complain about   Here is Belinda, the leader and instigator of the Bold-Arsed Swans modelling a preview our amazing t shirts,...