Saturday Vibes 22 July 2017

The sunrise today was outstanding. As the 280 swimmers descended on Manly Beach the sun put on a show. The ocean has been kind, calm and clear these last 6 weeks. So, today it decided to mix it up a bit literally. The ocean was a bit like a washing machine. There were great waves out there so perfect for surfing, not so much for swimming. The swimmers were being tossed around and they all pumped their legs and arms to make it to Shelly Beach and back to Manly. The water wasn’t very clear either. However, the bonus was the temperature is still warm at 18 degrees coming to the end of July, whereas last year at this time we had already had temps of 16 degrees. I love sunrises it just gives out amazing energy and positive vibes. I love Saturdays!

 

Lots of splashes against the rocks

 

The Bold and Beautiful swimmers on their way to Shelly Beach

 

Nearly there. How gorgeous is that sunrise

 

Hopefully the funds are raised to restore this iconic statue

 

Lots of white wash today

 

The 7amers are the white dots in the water

 

Shelly Beach

 

Squad arriving at Shelly Beach

 

Legends

 

Pauline and Bing gave me a run down of the conditions. I ran along today taking pics from land

 

Belinda also agreed with Pauline and Bing saying that it was a workout to get to Shelly today

 

At this point I was still going in. But shortly after this selfie was taken I decided otherwise after conversing with Pauline, Bin and Belinda.

 

Squad on their way back to Manly

 

Andrew and Greg from the 6:30am crew

 

Humans of the Bold and Beautiful

I ask members two questions:

1) Why did you start swimming with the Bold and Beautiful Squad?

2) How does it make you feel?

Alana- “I have always swum, but I was a pool swimmer before that and I was a bit unfit then in 2014. I had heard about this swim and I thought I would just come down and have a look one day. I am addicted now. It makes me feel really good. There is nothing better than a swim in the morning.”

 

Bin- “I started swimming here a year ago and I have always loved swimming. I saw these people swimming so I thought I should join them. It makes me feel great and I have made a commitment to it. I have met so many great people. ”

 

Michelle (Head of Emergency at Manly Hospital)- “I had just been through a trauma in my life and I was looking for something and it happened to be the Bold and Beautiful. It makes me feel great I absolutely love it. I have been swimming since November 2015.”

 

Julia- (Journalist and author of the New York Times article about the Bold and Beautiful Swim Squad)

“New York Times was launching in Australia and my editor said that I always talk about swimming and asked if I could write an article about swimming. I scratched my head and thought, what would be my argument about swimming. I started looking into what happens to people when they start exercising in the natural world. So, I did research on awe.It was really interesting. What it means to be small and next to a vast ocean and how therapeutic it is and how great it is to be dwarfed sometimes. All the research shows that communities are made stronger when people regularly experience awe.

I started swimming with the Bold and Beautiful about 7 or 8 years ago. When I used to travel here I used to swim with my dad who does it everyday. At the time I was living in New York. But I moved back 6 years ago and do it regularly. I love it. ”

 

Bruce (Julia’s father) – “I started swimming with the Bold and Beautiful because I like to do longer swims and I was going to Balmoral at the time. I saw this operating about 7 years ago and I thought I will give it a try. I have been swimming ever since. It makes me feel great in the mornings and throughout the day. If I don’t have my swim I am a bit grumpy. ”

 

Father and daughter pic

 

Guy (Black Dog speaker) – “I was watching a couple of people I know swimming. It looked very tempting so I decided to do it. It looked like such a great group of healthy people. Initially I was a bit scared of the distance, but I made it. That was 2 years ago. Everyday you are guaranteed to feel great and for me it is just after the swim.”

 

Merrily- “I was training for the state titles for beach running and I broke my foot. I had to keep fit so I had to start swimming. I found this wonderful fraternity of people and a plethora of fish. I started swimming about 2 years ago. It makes me feel fantastic.”

FYI- At the World Surf Life Saving Championships last year in the Netherlands she won her age in sprinting, flags and the relay. WOAH. AMAZING STUFF!

 

Sarah- “I started years ago because I was training for triathlons. It makes me feel amazing. It is the best way to start the day.”

(FYI- Sarah is 30 weeks and SWIMMING)

 

Tim- I have already interviewed him previously. I just wanted to put this here because this world is soooo small. We just found out this week I had taught his daughter at school. Plus our boys are in the same year at high school and are mates. Super duper small world.

 

Squad going in at 7am

 

How good is that

 

Over and out, much love

Natx

 

Stats:

Temp:18 degrees

Swimmers:280

Newbies:4