Sunday 16 February: Weedy Goodness

Plenty of weed around this morning:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThank goodness though the conditions have calmed down, after the cyclonic waves of the last few days:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe signs of the stormy conditions are still around.  A fellow swimmer explained to me that this debris had come down from Queenscliff Lagoon.  What the photos don’t convey is the accompanying “fragrance”:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Still, it will take more than logs, waves and fetid water to put off the swimming duo that is Sue + Greg:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA 

Nice water temp:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIan welcomed some newbies:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERADon’t be put off, guys – it won’t always smell this way!  (I’m talking about the beach, not Ian.)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAVeena and Shaun had big responsibilities this morning, looking after gorgeous Gordy.

It was great to catch up with two amazing peeps that I haven’t seen for ages – Jenny and Emma, pictured here with Jenny’s husband Mark:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA(Jen – your dinner’s been sitting on our dining table for three months now.  It’s getting cold.  🙂 )

 

Jo appeared, quashing rumours that she’s bought a new swimsuit:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe photography students found us fascinating (they’re right – we are):

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThese three ladies were looking forward to their crossing and the swimmer on the right was kitted out in anti-sea lice gear:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThere now follows a sequence I’ve entitled “Little Sarah dances with seaweed”:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAGreat stuff, Sarah – you put the “art” into blog tart.

I hadn’t been planning to swim from the beach – something about the smell, the weed, the memory of Friday’s cyclonic waves (I know, I’m fussy) – but before I knew it I was at the point.  And it was beautiful:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe water quality in the bay was actually OK, and certainly better than yesterday’s foamy patches.  The zero visibility sent me into a contemplative state, and I totally relaxed and immersed myself in the experience (at least, until a twig hit me) without the distraction of all that beautiful wildlife we normally see.  The ocean can surprise you.

My fellow swimmers were also getting that happy feeling. John B:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAlan and Elizabeth:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAKerry and Georgina demonstrated the murkiness:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe three of us had a lovely swim/chat back to Manly.  Before I knew it I was in the wave zone, but the waves didn’t hold much power and I told myself to relax:

 

 ***WARNING*** THIS BLOG NOW DESCENDS INTO SILLINESS.

We’ve all been told that weed can affect your mind and should be treated with caution.  Kerry and Georgina clearly didn’t get the memo:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAYou know that feeling when you just can’t get your seaweed to sit right?

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAGeorgina wondered why the free B&B caps are so small when there’s so much weed to fit into them:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI wasn’t entirely convinced that Georgina was in a position to laugh at Kerry:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABack on land it was Lisa’s turn to laugh:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAShower scene as you’ve never seen it before:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA 

Craving adult company, I went to chat to Colby (pictured here with Anne):

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAColby’s mother Jo oozed sophisticated beach chic:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe dream team – Suzie, Errol and Greg:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAJust when I thought “Grab the Blogger’s Camera” wasn’t going to happen, Greg grabbed the blogger’s camera.  Sue, Jacqui, Gunnar, Janet and yours truly:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAShowing signs of real blogger potential Greg then stole a shot of Belinda, who had somehow managed to evade the blog camera:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAnd so unpromising conditions turned into a fabulous, fun-filled morning, which sums up why I love swimming with the B&B (oh, and the chance to tease Jo and Suzie 🙂 ).  Happy Sunday, everyone!

Stats

Water temp: 22 degrees

Swimmers: Not that many for a Sunday in summer

Newbies: Yes

 

Royal Far West Charity Golf Day – Cromer Golf Club Tuesday 3rd March 2020

Funds raised go towards supporting children in regional areas who have been impacted by the devastating bushfires, as well as those living with the insidious and enduring effects of the drought . Help us direct our services in the most effective way by supporting kids and their carers who are at risk of long-lasting mental health challenges and trauma-related disorders. You can help us strengthen the long-term wellbeing and resilience of these communities by participating in our inaugural Royal Far West Golf Day.

Including 18 holes, breakfast, lunch and donation to Royal Far West – 7am – 3pm

Contact Desiree for more details –  dcreedon@royalfarwest.org.au  or call 1800 961 001

 

Swimmer of the Month

The Medibank Free+Active swimmer of the month of January is Rob O’Brien, who will receive a $100 Rebel voucher. Congratulations Rob!