Every swim is special for a B and B swimmer but this morning was extra special for John Bond. After 5 years of commitment to the B and B group, our trusted water temperature monitor, has swum a combination of singles, doubles, triples, boulderdash's, 6 km's, 10 km's and a swim across the Heads to reach the incredibly impressive milestone of 3000 km's. His calm, gentle yet confident approach to the swim has reassured many newbies over the years, including me.
John started with B and B in 2011 but had been doing the swim since 2009. The Pacific Challenge stopped showing John's progress after Cooktown but he is well on his way to Darwin! For the last 3 winters John has averaged 76 swims all without his wetsuit. He has swum with Silkie the Dolphin and Humpbacks off Manly Beach. What a truly impressive swim resume, John!
I have regularly enjoyed a post swim chat with John who always has an interesting fact or observation he is willing to share. I know my understanding of the ocean, its tides and marine life it supports, has been enriched by these conversations. He is always curious if you enjoyed the swim and why you enjoyed it. And he takes an interest in your responses, always encouraging each swimmer to have fun and to expand their capabilities. I never imagined I would try a double, triple or boulderdash but knowing John was often leading the group gave me that little bit of extra confidence to give it a go.
John is a wonderful example of the strength within our group - our Community. There are so many wonderful personalities involved in our swim. Some......or should I say many...... who strive for the limelight (you know who you are) and others who are quiet and more reserved, but no less driven to enjoy the mornings activity. Everyone comes, knowing they will get more out of the swim than just exercise. Our open and welcoming community is the drawcard. It ensures there is a place for everyone in B and B.
Through Johns warm and welcoming approach and his calm leadership he has proved himself a great example of what it is to be a committed B and B swimmer.
In honour of this wonderful achievement, we celebrated in true B and B style
Cath, Alison, Georgina and Monica went that extra mile to make sure John, or should I say 007 felt special. It's extremely difficult to put lippy on with frozen fingers and lips! Great effort WOW's
Now for some photos of other happy swimmers this morning:
Some of the 6.30's
A very happy Andrew
John, Dorset, Henrietta and Peter
John, Andrew, Jill, Wilf and Ian
Cherie, Karlene and Jodene
John and Robyn
Birthday girl Julie with her gorgeous son Saxon. Happy Birthday Julie!!
What is a birthday without balloons? Well done David for making Julie feel special!
Happy birthday to Hannah as well. She came all the way from QLD to swim with her mum Debbie, but I am devastated that their photo is the only one that didn't turn out. I'm so sorry ladies, I know how special mother and daughter swims are. I hope you have a lovely birthday Hannah.
Michael and a gang of 7 o'clocker's
Robyn, Inga, Shelley, Nicki and Melise
Jamie and Caroline
A really really happy Shelley!
Snorkelers gathering for a quick chat
Father and son team, Andrew and Joseph
Fun at Shelley Beach
I am sure we would all like to extend our congratulations to Julie Isbill. She accomplished an amazing challenge when she completed her English Channel swim, yesterday, in 13 hours and 24 minutes!! Brilliant achievement Julie!
I hope everyone had a great morning and the sense of fun continues throughout your day
Lisa
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It's that time again. Winter is here ... and so are the winter badges. To recap; Winter swim season runs from 1 June to 31 August. To qualify for a winter badge, you must:
- swim at least 20 times during this period
- swim in at least 7 different weeks
- log your swims
Clarity on the WWW badge. Please be aware that to obtain the coveted WinterWithoutWetsuit badge, the only parts of the body where wetsuit material is a permitted covering are the feet (booties allowed). Apart from the feet, the rest of the body must be in non-wetsuit material. Don't forget to check the "without wetsuit" button on the login screen
Why not give it a try? Any questions - email Ian: [email protected]
BE NICE
Also, a reminder that the philosophy of the B&B group is that we are a group activity - and that swims are only to be logged for swims made between the hours of 6 am and the final 7 am swim (or double or triple or other sanctioned swims). Swims are not to be logged outside of these times for social and safety reasons.
- Management
Staying safe
If you bring along a friend please ensure they can swim!!!
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. Also, if you have a bit more experience, keep an eye out for new swimmers who might need company. Do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf. To read, or even download, click here.
The Stats
Regulars: 180
Newbies: 1 oh so brave newbie
Temp: (water) 18.1 degrees (air 7 degrees)
SIGNATURE
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