You are in bed, you can hear the rain pelting down, it’s cold and time to answer that nagging question, ‘to swim or not to swim?”.
Don’t you hate it when you decide it is going to be a “bed” morning, then you read the blog and regret that you missed the perfect morning. All those magnificent shots of excellent visibility, heaps of marine life, people frolicking in what seems to be perfect conditions. Well, not this morning.
On my way to the beach, on the harbourside, I saw the abyss forged out through the sand from the stormwater runoff during the night. Not a great start. Anyway, I had blog duty, so no excuse not to turn up.
On arrival I was greeted by these happy faces from the 6:30 swim.
Then the 7AMers started asking what was the blog theme today as they were eager to adopt the appropriate poses. Probably to take their minds of the cold and rain.
I was about to tell them “grumpy old bastard who has to do a blog in the cold and the rain” but didn’t want to crush their enthusiasm even before they hit the water.
Anyway, eager bright eyed swimmers continued to roll up.
It was cold and grey. I was kicking myself for not throwing in my wetsuit.
By the time we got to Shelly, the mood was as usual, exuberant.
Two everyday heroes today.
First up was Alan Thomson who racked up his 2,000ks today.
Congratulations.
Of course, celebrated with the obligatory arch and cake.
Next up is Adam.
Adam is a new swimmer who has been pushing it a bit further on each swim.
Today he managed to Shelly and back through sheer determination.
I don’t know whether this is a look of relief or great satisfaction.
Well done.
Everyone else fought for shelter and to grab a warming coffee.
The sun didn’t come out but at least I had transformed from being the grumpy old bastard to a much brighter mood after another great start to the day.
Stats:
Temp: 19.3 (felt colder)
Newbies: 6
Swimmers: 230 (inc 6:30ers)
Monthly Dinner – 14th November 2017 – Guest Speaker awesome Izzy
The final B&B monthly dinner for the year will be held on Tuesday 14th November at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. The guest speaker on the night will be local Manly identity and B&B original, Isobel Kirk. Isobel is a renowned actress, a sought-after voice coach and entertaining raconteuse. With her perfect diction and precise elocution, she is eminently qualified to deliver her address entitled “Everyfink wot I know (and nuffink wot I don’t)”
The cost of the dinner is great value at only $25 a head, which includes shared entrees, and a selection of mains to choose from (including a vegetarian option). Glasses of beer or wine and desserts are also available at the special price of only $5 each. Numbers are limited, so bookings are essential: To avoid disappointment and secure your spot please book HERE.
Budgy Smugglers
Budgy Smugglers will be opening the store at 7:30am On Saturday to have it open for the B&B weekend swimmers, Offer for 10% if they show their pink cap will be good to go.
Help country kids learn how to surf!
Each Wednesday in November and Thursdays in December we are looking for volunteers to help Royal Far West’s country kids learn how to surf. These children are from all over the state, for many of them it is their first time to Sydney and for most of them it will be the first time they have surfed! The age range is 9 years to 17 years. . The times are 4pm – 6pm once a week. If you can volunteer some afternoons in that time (it doesn’t have to be every week) please contact Anna Bowden on 89668597 or email annab@royalfarwest.org.au. A working with children check is required
17 comments
Paul
05/11/2017 at 12:29 pm
I think the trick is to not let the nagging question be asked. When the alarm goes off, just get up and head to Manly.
The moment you start asking the question is the moment when you find plenty of reasons to succumb to the attraction of the mattress magnet, especially when it’s cold, dark, wet and windy outside.
Has anyone ever said “I wish I didn’t swim today?”
Paul
05/11/2017 at 12:31 pm
I’ll concede, that may have been Harold Holt’s last words, but we’re not certain.
Lainey Loo
05/11/2017 at 1:40 pm
Have never seen you grumpy Michael! Well done great blog. It was this sort of miserable day when we swam with the Southern Right Whale so you never know what will happen down at CTB! Kerry J said she saw a Grey Nurse again yesterday. Anymore sightings? I slept in for running today but still managed a swim, which of course I don’t regret. Happy Sunday folks.
Michael
05/11/2017 at 1:48 pm
You’re probably right Paul. Right after he remembered he should have worn his pink cap so those onshore could see him before the Chinese sub picked him up.
Lips
05/11/2017 at 1:53 pm
Loved your little dog and pony show at Shelly this morning. Great halftime entertainment!
Michael
05/11/2017 at 1:53 pm
Thanks Lainey. You are right. It is impossible to be grumpy amongst such good company.
Lips
05/11/2017 at 1:57 pm
Agree Michael. I’m ususally the first one to claim that the swim was ‘so much better than it looked’.. not today.
More onshore wind tomorrow. Character-building.
Lainey Loo
05/11/2017 at 2:21 pm
Where was the pony Lips??
Michael
05/11/2017 at 2:22 pm
Now just some credibility building and I’ll be right.
AnnieG
05/11/2017 at 3:15 pm
It certainly sorted out the ‘Bold’ from the just ‘Beautiful’ today. Personally I love the drizzle that reminds me of Cornwall, and I found the swim NTB (Not Too Bad) !
AnnieG
05/11/2017 at 3:16 pm
I agree – Just get up and don’t let the internal ‘Shall I? / Shan’t I’ debate even start. Just Do It.
LSA aka HKTQ
05/11/2017 at 3:39 pm
Lainey’s ‘Hop, Skip, Jump’ route, preferably with Freddie, definitely deserves a place in Lips’ Part 2 series of alternative routes!
LSA aka HKTQ
05/11/2017 at 3:41 pm
A test of the real ‘Bolds’! Actually, this was mild by the standards of “THE Whale Swim”!
LSA aka HKTQ
05/11/2017 at 3:43 pm
I think you should blog every day, then you’d swim and get out of any grumbles every day, M!
Fantastic blog and definitely agree with AnnieG that it gets at least a NTB rating! x
Elizabeth
05/11/2017 at 3:54 pm
Thanks to Annie for words of encouragement on entry. Congratulations Alan. I had not reached Shelly beach yet when you said the Let’s Go but I heard it. Excellent voice projection!!
Alan
05/11/2017 at 5:54 pm
Thanks Elizabeth. The voice projection is a result of 7 years at boarding school
edwina harrison
05/11/2017 at 5:59 pm
congrats Alan and Adam for completing the swim on a not easy day. Derek and I don’t look impressed with paparazzi today! We need warning. thanks for your lanyard too, owe you coffee next weekend please 🙂