Thursday 19 July: Hope is a good thing

Walking down to the swim this morning wondering how cold the water will be and hoping it will be enjoyable or it least not painful. And hoping my friends will be there and we can enjoy a coffee afterwards. Of course, all the hoping comes true, as most things do. Swim was cool and awesome and mates great too. We know our thoughts become things and that what we focus on tends to turn up. When we think about an old friend we bump into them or remember a film and suddenly its on Netflix. I watched Shawshank Redemption again a few days ago, it’s a masterpiece about hope. It centres on the story of two prison inmates, Andy and Red as they endure their sentences. Red gives up hope about getting paroled while Andy schemes on. Finally, Andy breaks out and writes to Red to join him in freedom. Andy writes to Red:
‘Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.’
Hope never dies when we keep it alive, just like our swim is always as great if not better than we hope for.

One great part of our swim is the people, maybe it’s the best thing. And as you may know we lost one of our best this week, Greg McDonough. I was lucky to know Greg, even though he was one of the founders of the Australian surf industry you would never know it because of his humility. A great companion, unique bugle player and the best charmer of women I have met. Play on Greg, we miss you already.

Here are a few of the great folks who enjoyed the swim today.

Let’s keep on hoping…

Pete Anthony

Stats

Swimmers 160

Newbies 0

Temperature 16.5 (Felt like 16.387)

The Winter swimming season is finally here!
Although the water temperature may be a little colder than you might like, there are several advantages of swimming in winter, including flat seas, good visibility and no bluebottles.
Perhaps the biggest advantage is that you can also qualify for a winter badge by swimming a minimum of 20 times between 1st June and 31st August.
You must also swim in at least 7 different weeks. If you manage to do all of your qualifying swims without a wetsuit (or other thermal enhancing equipment), you will also qualify for the coveted WWW badge (Winter without wetsuit).
So start now, and don’t forget to log your swims to qualify.

B&B SWIMMING MERCHANDISE UPDATE:
NEW TOWELS HAVE ARRIVED & COSSIES BACK IN STOCK
– Ladies B&B bathers are back in stock
– Men’s should be back in stock next week
And…
– NEW B&B TOWELS HAVE ARRIVED !!! they are an amazing new light weight material that is super easy to shake the sand from.
Get yours now for only $50 in Budgy Smuggler Store, 1A/22 Darley Rd, Manly or Online:
https://budgysmuggler.com.au/collections/accessories/products/bold-and-beautiful-towel