Saturday 11 June 2016. Calm after the storm

With some significant foresight, the Common Linnets, a 'band'from the Netherlands wrote a song about our swim today for Eurovision 2014, Calm after the Storm. 

I often think f how much I get out of swimming. exercise. Calm. Etc

Today I saw the sea weed that the sea got out. it includes cungevois and other sea creatures so the smell is pretty whiffy. I am on the look out for maggots which we saw a few years ago appearing as the sea weed decomposed. 

Lesley got about a thousand pieces of plastic out yesterday. Ted helped as did other swimmers. It means that some swimmers also got plastic out of the sea

A fast swim plus collection of debris (taken Friday). 

The 630 am swimmers going out

Shaun and Guy. Soon they will be going on their surf tour at the Malidves arranged by the travel agent Perfect Wave which specialises in surfing trips. Temp of that water is about 28 degrees. Too hot I think

It is 648 am and people are streaming in to swim and check out the calm after the storm. Is it the same sea?

Richard and lovely wife having a walk today through North Head where my husband walks too. A lovely spot. They were walking last Sunday - did the waves reach them up there?

 

one swimmer and 3 spectators

John on shore

Angela on shore. 

Big numbers now arriving but I have to get going - an early entry will mean I can take photos at Shelly

 

My encounters with the 6.30 swimmers

 

And finally at Shelly. with the slightly lower numbers there is no cover for a later arrival. People are keen to get going. Why is it always colder at Shelly? Are home owners pouring in ice to stop singing at 715 am?

Exchange of body heat helps fight hypothermia. Also, a hug is nice

Howard is showing me best hand position for a good stroke - relaxed fingers

Nikki and marco

I love Nat's wetsuit. What a great warm colour

Louise and Nikki reached 500km today. Congratulations. As a reward they got to say Let's go. The Let's go took place today without regard for the arrival of the press. I think that the "comms" strategy was either incomplete or incorrectly executed. Luckily I got a photo later

The Eastern Suburbs doublers posed for a photo between one of their several laps.

Simone and pal were floating around in the bay. We reflected on how strange it is that the toilet block has gone and left no trace, not even stumps. Its contents have all been taken into the sea. We also reflected on how good it was that the North Bondi to Watsons Bay swim was not held last week. Also how much change can be made in the sea in a couple of weeks. That swim has a great T shirt so it seems like a good one to do. 

 

500km today!!!

 

 

Marco and Julie, 500km recently

 

 

 

 

What I have been reading: Continuing with the Death in Orders by PD James. Work etc is tiring me out so I am not getting through much. I am watching Hinterland on dvd, set in Wales. Lovely landscapes and plot is ok. Also I saw the Sam Neil Film, Hunt for the Wilderpeople. It is a lovely film with beautiful NZ scenery and some humour - which I always appreciate

 

Stats

195 swimmers

temp 18.7

[no newbies so far this week. 

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.

Next BB dinner

The next B&B monthly dinner will be on Tuesday 14^th June at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. The guest speaker for the night will be Canadian-born, Australian authorCatherine DeVrye, whose talk is titled ‘Shift Happens’. You’ll laugh while you learn about turning obstacles into opportunities, as Catherine shares her journey from an orphanage in Canada to #1 best-selling author, Australian Executive Woman of the Year winner, and the 2010 Australian Keynote Speaker of the Year.

 

The cost of the dinner is only $25 a head and includes shared entrees, a selection of mains to choose (incl a vegetarian option), corkage (for byo wine only) and a little thank you for the staff. Glasses of beer or wine and desserts are also available at the special price of only $5 each. Numbers are limited, so bookings are essential. To avoid disappointment and secure your spot BOOK HERE NOW, 

*B & B Trivia Night*

As you are aware B&B is a free for all activity, but there are ongoing
costs that need to be met.  To help support B&B and keep it the wonderful,
inclusive, growing phenomena that it is we will be arranging a fund-raising
Trivia Night at The Steyne Hotel on Tuesday 12th July. Please keep this
date free so you can come along. In order to make this event a success, we
are asking for:


   - volunteers to assist in the organisation of the event
   - donation of goods and or services that can be used as auction items or
   raffle prizes

If you can assist with either of these can you please contact John Kelly  (
[email protected]).


*Winter Badge*

It's nearly that time again. Winter is coming ... and so are the winter
badges. The winter swimming season runs from 1 June to 31 August, and to
qualify for your winter badge, you must:


   - swim at least 20 times during this period
   - swim in at least 7 different weeks
   - log your swims

To qualify for the WWW badge (winter without wetsuit) you must complete all
of the above without wearing a wetsuit or any other form of bodily thermal
enhancement (don't forget to check the "without wetsuit" button on the log
in screen). Why not give it a try? Any questions - email Ian (
[email protected])