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The Kenny Jo Jackson Trio: A jam session to Freshwater at 6.10 a.m…
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A Newbie from Victoria: Beth is Midge’s niece and lives in St Kilda. She’s loving this holiday on the Northern Beaches. She will swim early to Shelly with Lietz and Midge …
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There’s no rush on Boxing Day: Reg’s trio took a leisurely tour the along rocky reefs to Shelly at 6.10 a.m…
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Pretty in Pink: There is a lovely peace to be had on the concrete wall after an early swim. Clair and Sabine …
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Rose, David and Ken head out with the main bunch at 7 a.m…
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Jim and Maurizio organise wet-cam reporting for me … thank you Mr Fuentes!!
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Last night’s delicious rain has delivered some bits into the Cabbage Tree …
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Shaun: It only looks like I’m peeing …
Aaaaah …. that’s better
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“Let’s Go”
The Three-Day Chalice Shoot-out: Today marks Round Two of competition.
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She’ still got her eyes on those A-Teamers …
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The rest head back, hoping Manly’s 217 coffee shops have re-opened after Christmas …
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Round Two Results: Scotty, Brad, Sterling and George (The Ghost Who Stalks).
Two races in, and Brad is the Brew that is True (14 Points). Scotty keeps swallowing the Pellet With the Poison (7 points), and is starting to look like the butcher’s hook.
Post-race at the Sunny Benches, Sterling supps from the Vessel With the Pestle (10 Points) whilst reconciling the Tote in preparation for Race Three on New Year’s Eve. And, can we have a bet on the Spaniard (10 Points), if he first partakes from the Flagon With the Dragon?
And now for a little history, which will be celebrated in the morning …
It will be six years tomorrow, since that day when two women decided to go for a swim at the southern end of Manly beach. Jenny K and Julie Isbill. On the second day, they were joined by Michelle and Izzy.
Day three and along came Mahdi, and then Anna Alvsdotter. Within a month, Jenny M was with them too. The incidental meeting place was the then-Cafe Steyne (corner cafe located in front of Havana), where Islander Tavita was renowned for having one’s coffee ready to serve even before you’d get in the door.
“Many of us were quite scared in those first few days,” recalls Anna. “We didn’t like that distance to Shelly, and thoughts of what lurked beneath also had us worried.”
Izzy had previously been swimming with The Sheddites (50 metres north of Sunny Benches), but was looking for a more challenging swim. She recalls the new group spreading out across the water like cats. They later found out that it was because everyone was swimming with eyes shut; too scared to look into the deep.
About a month into it, Julie thought this small group should all wear the same-coloured swimming caps. She proposed orange.
“No! Hot pink,” said Izzy, the actor who at the time was into hot pink and leopard skin.
“None of the men will swim in pink,” someone retorted. How things have changed, six years on.
Looking back, these women this morning recall how they have shared weddings, divorces, breakdowns … and the flood of incoming grandchildren. They explain that Cabbage Tree Bay’s waters taste saltier these years; because of all the tears shed across its surface. The thought of being grandparents prompts one to inform me they are launching “Sit-Ups Sessions” tomorrow. “Oh good,” says another. “I’ll bring the cake!”
It’s brings a tear of joy to my eye, just writing about this.
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Merry Christmas everyone! Anne and Jill will be standing in for Ian and John while they take a well-deserved break for the next few weeks. We expect to have lots of new swimmers and returning swimmers during this time. There are a few things that you can do to help ensure that we get everyone in the water by 7am each morning.
· Keep an eye out for new swimmers, welcome them and direct them to the sign-in sheets.
· And for returning swimmers who might still be looking for the check list. Let them know how it works now and encourage them to iLog.
· Keep the area around the sign-in sheets clear so that we can move this process along.
· If you are not already iLogging, email your name to ugoboy@gmail.com so that we can set you up.
· Wait at the point before swimming to Shelly.
· Enjoy your swim!
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Thanks for the photos on the water, Maurizio
STATS:
Temp: 21.1
Newbies: 17
Swimmers: Lots
17 comments
Roger Harvey
26/12/2014 at 11:55 am
The history paragraph will get corrected later on … thanks again for extra pix Maurizio
Jane
26/12/2014 at 12:18 pm
Lovely Blog, great historical shot. Can you believe that some of the Triple Crown competitors wear WETSUITS? My money is on Swedish Sarah, who is way up there despite never wearing a wetsuit. Judges – disqualifications in order I think!
Elizabeth
26/12/2014 at 12:40 pm
This blog males eXcellent summer reading . Thanks to the first swimmers for making the swim open to all. It is the best
Pauline(aka HRH)
26/12/2014 at 1:15 pm
Great to mention the history and remember our story. Any B&B ers looking for a new adventure I am taking a private tour to Shanghai, after Easter 2015. It is tailor made for those want an exciting time dining on the fabulous cuisine and soaking up the culture of this vibrant city. Email me at paulineforster8@gmail.com to find out more.
lesbubbles
26/12/2014 at 1:51 pm
thanks Roger!! now I have nothing to put on tomorrow’s blog! ;-p
lesbubbles
26/12/2014 at 1:55 pm
ps. who came third in the triple crown?
Roger Harvey
26/12/2014 at 2:08 pm
Sorry Lesley!
Those Equal Seconds deleted third place (1,2,2,4)
ed
26/12/2014 at 2:11 pm
Thank goodness someone took the first stroke all those years ago
I used to look at it when at nipper carnivals and talk myself out of it
All good now
So many comfort levels stretched
Mauricio
26/12/2014 at 2:21 pm
No worries Roger, great blog I am glad the pix helped.
Lainey aka E-laine
26/12/2014 at 2:22 pm
I just love those photos of Shauny peeing (or worse!) Fun and interesting blog Roger. Love that description of Cabbage Tree Bay getting saltier because of all the tears shed… It’s excellent therapy that’s for sure as well as a happy, exhilarating experience. Thanks again to Jules and Jenny for making it all happen xx
Lainey aka E-laine
26/12/2014 at 2:23 pm
Hi Eddy, hope you are keeping that weight off and keeping fit up in Queensland. see you soon!
Simon
26/12/2014 at 4:59 pm
Roger
Thanks again for a nice story.
Lesley I think Sterling was =2.
Jane there is a complicated set of rules that includes wetsuits plus other rules such as the location of the finish line (first to stand up) is set by the current Champ (Scotty). If Brad beats Scotty in race 3 he’ll be the new champ and will move next crown series finish line to the beach, my money is on Brad.
Also Race 3 will have no wetsuits but will include age categories. So Jane if you want to be in the running for your Decade category see Brad.
Jane
26/12/2014 at 5:26 pm
Thankyou Simon, I’ll talk to Brad. I have won so many Ocean Swimming trophies because nearly everyone in my age category was dead. I hope this might apply in the Triple Crown. I think you should definitely have a sex (or should that be gender?) category.
fifi
26/12/2014 at 6:07 pm
yeah, wetsuits off guys…my money is on SARAH
woohoo!
fifi
26/12/2014 at 6:09 pm
oh my GOD Jane youre not THAT OLD!!
That comment made me snort my champers up the back of my nose.
Excellent blog Roger and of course brilliant photos Mauricio.
Jane
26/12/2014 at 9:35 pm
😬
DWSS
26/12/2014 at 11:47 pm
Great blog Roger. Thanks for the set up.
To clarify the situation –
I had the sun in my eyes in the first photo and we were discussing
the legalities of Brad’s walk before the race back.
The second photo is the moment we realised that it might be possible to appeal the result of today’s event by disqualification of the winner .
Turns out it was all legal after all.
Sorry Brad. 🙂
Very good blog, well done.