Winter Badges are on their way

BOLD & BEAUTIFUL SWIM GROUP IS CURRENTLY NOT RUNNING DUE TO THE RISKS OF CORONAVIRUS(COVID-19). IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND FOLLOW PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE.

Thank you for swimming at different times of the day and please continue to stay safe and remember to maintain 1.5m distance.

Its been an exciting  week at BnB “headquarters” with over 600 winter badges arriving, Ian has processed and mailed out over 400. Check your mailbox this week if your envelope has been submitted. If you haven’t ordered yours(there is no deadline for applying for your badge/s but Ian says “Please do this before Christmas” :). here’s what to do..

1. Inside a self-addressed, stamped($1.10) envelope place cash for your badge/s – $10 per badge for the Covid Badge (if you completed 20 swims over winter) and an extra $10 for the Ice Cold Corona Badge if you did those swims without a wetsuit. Family members/friends sharing an envelope must clearly name each swimmer and badge achieved. Please check postage rates(google) and size of envelope required for multiple badges.
2. Post this envelope($1.10) in another envelope($1.10+) to Ian Forster, 6 Bligh St, Northbridge. 2063.There has been great excitement this week about the multitude of the marine life we have been spotting. Out and about in Cabbage Tree Bay have been two grey nurses showing themselves off by swimming oh so slowly around the bay, often spotted off the Bower. As well, “brownie” the turtle has been seen every day this week, in CTB and  making his way from the Bower, to the pipe(towards Nth Steyne), via The Point. Port Jacksons are prolific and if you don’t see one swimming below you, check out the sandy patches below rock ledges along the Bower reef. Not to be outdone by the flashy visitors, there has been a huge eagle ray (by the Bower break), banjo rays, cuttlefish and a multitude of fish and other marine species in our beautiful aquarium. How lucky are we to have this magnificent marine reserve to share each day. Why not take your time, swim slowly, look around and bring your camera if you can…

   

   Beautiful day for an early morning swim

   

   Rhonda and Maxine looking very happy after their early swim

    

   The Thompson Family looking forward to taking the plunge. How lucky to have a family group to swim with and share the fun.

   

   It was a bit choppy at the point early on.

Swimmers about to take the plunge and swim though the chop.

It was very calm at Shelly Beach. Meet Adrian who is looking forward to blogging on Sunday October 4th.

Christina and Stacy say hi from Shelly beach and were looking forward to seeing marine life on the way back to Manly.

The following are some of my photos of the marine life from today and various swims this week. I’m enjoying learning about underwater photography

which is a new hobby for me. Picked up as an interest during our covid19 pandemic period.

Banjo Ray or also called a Fiddler Ray (spotted near the Bower break)

Giant flathead that lives in the shallows near Shelly Beach

Port Jackson shark, one of the many that are enjoying the shelter of Cabbage Tree Bay during their breeding season

“Brownie” the turtle out and about this month in CTB

Eagle ray found by the Bower Break

Lots of fish

Salp, a jelly like organism that feeds on phytoplankton. Anne and I, separately,  thought it was plastic and were about to collect and stuff down our cossies..eek..luckily we spotted its rubbery appearance before we got a fright. 🙂 I was pleased to read that its not a stinger!

One of the two grey nurses spotted this week.

Enjoy your weekend and your marine life spotting this week.

HRH (aka Pauline)