Over 400 Bold and Beautiful Swimmers and still counting....including over 50 new people!
Beautiful early morning shot..courtesy of Gaetan
An incredible turn out today for the Anzac swim! This blog will be a slightly bigger one, spread out over a 4 parts...Arrival / Anzac Ceremony / The Return /The Jimbles and other matters!
Part 1 - Arrival
There was a great crowd of excited happy people this morning - and many newbies arrived all at once...See second photo of Ian making sure everyone was signed in!
The walk out went on for so long I am sure people were reaching Shelly as some were still leaving the beach! People were signing in and arriving way after 7 ... Chris - 7.04am! ;-)
Some of the great people we had along! ....good to see Tim and Linda venturing out into the freezing cold seas of 24 degrees - they don't usually come under 25! 2 cute paddle boarders who passed by me - just as I got my first hit of a Jimble! (see part 4)
Actually the water was colder than it has been around 19.5 - but conditions were ideal - especially for our new people. The swim over was lovely and fairly clear and just how we like it. A lot of people took their time and enjoyed themselves which was good to see (because then I could at least not be very last!)
Part 2 - Anzac Rememberance Ceremony
Greg McDonagh arrived early looking dapper! The guy who sells the corn on weekends dressed the part complete with Jeep! And the sign in sheets with the Rosemary that John Kelly kindly brought along for everyone to take on the swim.
View of everyone on the beach at Shelly. Bruce Baird reading the Ode and Greg playing the last post on his trumpet. We all stood in a circle around them and the atmosphere was quiet and respectful for the minute silence in rememberance of those who fought for us.
From B & B swimmer Simon Cowell: "Bruce Gave a heartfelt tribute to all those who had fallen and mentioned every war Australia has been involved in since 1915. Following the reading of the Ode Lest We Forget Greg played the last post"
Part 3 - Return
Going, going, gone.....
Catching a lovely wave in, Attracta where have you been! 2 of our more Fast Elite swimmers - Jalna and not sure who the other one is...
Part 4 - Jimbles and other matters
Pretty much everyone seems to have been stung today and no it wasn't lice it was... jimbles! Those pesky jellyfish that arrive around about now! One of the upsides of swimming in winter though is that you are so numb you don't usually feel the jimble stings! They are nothing to worry about though - even though 2nd photo shows what a sting looks like - they do go away after a few months...I mean hours. Their stings are a free Bold and Beautiful badge of honour too - so be proud of your markings! Last photo is of a pair of fins found in the surf - normally 1 fin is lost but I have never seen a pair! Hopefully the owner made it back safely??
A message from Anna A...B&B swimmer and Surf Club member...
It was wonderful to see so many people join in for today’s swim and the magnificent remembrance ceremony for the Anzacs at Shelly Beach. On these special occasion days we tend to get a huge crowd which is fantastic. Every morning, and particularly when we are numerous, let’s all try our best to share the front of the lifesaving club in a fair manner.
I had a friendly request this morning from one of the older members of Manly Lifesaving Club. Please let’s try to keep the wooden seats in front of the club free of bags and towels, and tie up dogs away from the seats and the entrance. It’s lovely to chat to the early rising club members as we get changed and ready for our swim, so please let’s leave the seats bag free. It’s only fair.
And last but not least ....
New baby Lilou - with her parents Claire and Michel!!
See you all tonight at Manly Wine!!
Disclaimer: apologies for any mistakes or omissions....
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