Sustainable Sustenance.
Morning’s first light breathes across the bay, reflecting from each individual and at the same time shining on all of us collectively. A reminder that our connection is always strongest in the absence of our shadows.
Teetering from an age of information to immersion in one of inspiration. Our daily swim, respite from the entropy of common hours spent at odds with the essence of who we are. That act of stepping into the water, giving pause to catch a breath, allowing us to once again be remembered.
Casting off into the flow, chaos collapsing into coherence. A fresh canvas upon which to create our day. As thanks for this sustenance, we will ensure it shall be sustained.
“To fly as fast as thought, to anywhere that is, you must begin by knowing that you have already arrived.”
– Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
… And Arrive they did.
Chris still singing about his Saturday night Summer Lovin’.
The Old Guard suspicious of the virgin Blogger.
Bill decides to try a pre-coffee swim.
Whilst Storchy takes selfies in the sand.
Conditions were clear, smooth and not too cool.
Les and Nick leading the call to pound the paprazzi.
But Lainey just stikes a pose.
And the point peacefully pointed.
Yes it was that calm… Dead calm.
Only 81 swimmers chanced the stunning morning, adding to the serenity at Shelly.
Ted has moved on from his Shelly Beach push-ups to invisible hula-hoops.
This blog is dedicated to Mauricio (filmaker, freediver and all-round good guy) who saved one of the local wobbegong sharks from a certain terrible demise by removing a sling that had become stuck around its snout. This series of shots from Elaine shows the rescue…
Kind Regards,
Andrew “Magic Hands” Maher.
2014 Summer Badge Ceremony
You’ve done the 6km and / or 10km swims, now come and collect your badges with all the pomp and ceremony the B&B can muster. Venue is the Royal Far West on Sunday 9th March straight after the regular swim !
To cover the cost of the sausage sizzle breakfast, a $5 donation will be payable at the gate. Bookings are essential to ensure there are enough sausages. Book here for Badge Breakfast
Badges are $10 each so if you could bring the correct money that will help the morning run smoothly, thank you.
Monthly Dinner at Bluewater – Tuesday 11th March at 6.30 pm
It’s Movie Night!! And the stars are the B&B swimmers. Don’t know if there will be a red carpet (maybe pink), but come and see Dr Salt. The movie was written and shot by Naomi Fryer late last year will be screened on the night.
With a limit on the numbers, bookings are essential. The cost is only $20 a head which includes shared entrees, a selection of mains to choose (including a vegetarian option) and corkage (for byo wine only) and a little thank you for the staff. All beers, glasses of wine and deserts are an optional extra at the special price of only $5 each!
Do mark this must attend event in your diary, follow the link B&B Movie Night Dinner to book.
If you are in Byron Bay on the 9th March you can see the Bold and Beautiful movie there as well as that is where it will DEBUT!! It’s called Dr Salt and here’s a link to details: http://www.bbff.com.au/programme-2014/?venue=360
B&B i-Log
Almost 50% of swimmers are now using the B&B i-Log. Log your swim ANYTIME of day using this really efficient and easy way to ensure your swim is recorded in the daily attendance and on the Pacific Challenge. To get started, send an email to Ian Forster (ugoboyo@gmail.com). He will check that your email address is activated on the attendance register then send you info on how to get started.
Staying safe
Remember that there are no badges for scaring yourself silly! While it is great to extend your boundaries, it is important to know your limits. Do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf. To read, or even download, click here.
The Stats
Regulars: 81
Newbie: 1
Temp: 21.8 degrees
Sunrise: 6.45 am
14 comments
Renae Fowler
03/03/2014 at 1:42 pm
Nice Blog Andrew and thanks for the Dance on Saturday night it was just what my weary legs needed.
Jane
03/03/2014 at 1:50 pm
Andrew! Fabulous blog! Mauricio! Fabulous (and brave) rescue!
Wow, don’t we have some marvellous fellow swimmers?
Bill McPreSwimCaffeine
03/03/2014 at 2:26 pm
Andrew, great blog, very thoughtful and insightful …….. did you swallow a dictionary or was it the Meditation Lexicon ?
Very classy mate !
Still no photograph of me actually IN the water, yet no one has called me an International Man of Mystery.
Yes, I do get a lot of “that grey haired old guy who drinks coffee and hangs out with us” … my mistake was to stop weeping at such asides. They think I don’t mind.
Lesbubbles
03/03/2014 at 2:49 pm
Andrew!! Well done! and PHEW! When you said to me at 9.05 this morning that you’d had no BnB blog training or account setup to do this I thought we were stuffed! 😉 and yet you came through with flying colours!
And also thank goodness Mauricio and the BnB’ers were there to help Mr Wobbie! Although to be honest I think the wobbie did it deliberately so he could get a pat by his fav Bnb’er!
Storchy wasn’t taking selfie but a sneaky butt shot for his ‘collection’ ;-p
Magic Hands
03/03/2014 at 3:18 pm
Thanks all for the kind comments.
See you with another installment soon…
fifi lemur
03/03/2014 at 3:26 pm
Mauricio you are awesome. Thanks Elaine for the pics. Fabulous.
Lainey aka E-laine
03/03/2014 at 3:45 pm
Loved your blog Andrew, I feel all relaxed and calm now…Another awesome B&B moment watching Mauricio carefully and professionally release that ‘noose like’ sling from wobbie’s snout!
LSA aka HKTQ
03/03/2014 at 3:53 pm
Great work, Andrew! It’s wonderful to have so many different talented bloggers who all bring their special touches, swim viewpoint and humour to the blogs! Thanks, Andrew xxx
Talking of “special touches” – Mauricio’s gentle care of the wobble is beautiful and love Storchy’s posing for his selfie at bootcamp:-) Mr March?
Lips
03/03/2014 at 4:41 pm
Fantastic debut blog Magic Hands.
And well done Mauricio. Saving the world one Wobbie at a time!
Anna McC
03/03/2014 at 4:52 pm
“And the point peacefully pointed.”
Best in B&B poetry.
Margot
03/03/2014 at 5:06 pm
Elegant and beautifully written blog, Andrew! A true wordsmith. There I was feeling all stressed out after a problematic day, and your blog made me feel good about the world! Thanks.
Lindsay
03/03/2014 at 6:44 pm
Fabulous blog and three cheers to Mauricio!
mauricio
03/03/2014 at 7:21 pm
Thank you Andrew! Thank you everyone for your kind words! Swimming with you guys is definitely a huge privilege! Re our friend the wobbie, someone told me this weekend: All creatures understand gentle! I think she is right. See you tomorrow
Rob
04/03/2014 at 8:30 am
beautiful words and pictures. well done.
The verse at the start really catches the spirit of what the swim means to a lot of us, thanks for sharing.