Pacific Jules

Prepare Ye For The Great Chill

In the words of JP... well that escalated quickly!

Sure it looks beautiful, but it was a cold start to the day down at our favourite swim... from over 20 in the water to 18 degrees, and my car was telling me 11 degrees air temp.

Here is proof... though I think it was actually a bit warmer once you got around the corner...

A-team boys (and Richie)... ready to go! Where are you ranked on the Pacific Challenge? I'e been stuck in the 130's for at least the last 12 months... it's hard to move up the ladder with so many keen swimmers in our midst.

The ever delightful Megan glowing in the early sunlight...

And so who had the win on the way back this morning... none other than Irishman Alex who did all the hard work and led the entire way across the bay. A well deserved victory. Meanwhile, Scrappy Scotty second and me and JP left stranded on some rocks after taking the turn to early. And JP's wounds were just beginning to heal from his last rocks incident!

Master of the rocks, Scotty. His gorgeous wife Noni is about to give birth to their 3rd Mellis...

Finally I returned home to my two little kiddos. Luca loves wearing his beanie from when he was a baby and won't take it off all day at pre-school. Hope is having a day off due to being 'poorly'...

Have a great day and make sure you rug up if you are coming down to the swim. Big swells are forecast over the weekend which should be fun.

The Bishop

Thursday 10 May Its a present called the present

Following the historic meeting between North and South Korea, then a Federal Budget where we are all winners, poker faced swimmers were looking for three of a kind this morning and we came up trumps.

Not trumps like Donald and Melania but trumps in the mindful meditative way that we settle into in May. Yet it’s easy to meditate on a swim with 18-degree air temperature, 19.9-degree water temperature and easy trance like swell that lulls you into a subconscious bliss. B&B swimmers know that mindfulness creates a better swim, and the easy repetitive stroke is a focusing device for the conscious mind so the subconscious can work its magic. We know its about being present with the sunrise, with the ocean and with each other. That’s why we come down each morning and get our presents.  (If you'd like to meditate with swimmers on Saturday morning have a look at the link at the bottom of the blog).

I caught some swimmers in a meditative state before the swim....

.

And while we are talking about being present what about getting a present like I'm sure Emma and Gillian we get today because they shared a birthday. Here's Gillian celebrating with her son.

And the girls celebrating at Shelly with the customary splash....

 

See you in the present.

Pete Anthony

Stats:

Swimmers: 235

Newbies: 4

Temperature: 19.9 (felt like 20.17398)

Today's B&B News Bulletin

Shitbox Rally for Cancer Council

Tim Slessor who is a long time B&B swimmer is competing in the Shitbox Rally again in two weeks. The aim is to buy a car for less than a grand and drive it, along with 200 others, from Brisbane it Darwin, OFF ROAD!! 

Shitbox Rally is a dedicated fundraising event for cancer research with funds going to Cancer Council.

Cancer Council is one of the largest non-government funders of cancer research in Australia. We conduct and fund research studies across all cancers and all stages of the cancer journey.

Thanks to the community funds raised such as Shitbox Rally we can fund world-class research that reduces the impact of cancer for everyone.

Over $13 million has been raised by Box Rallies to date. 

Please click on the link to donate to this worthy cause and thank you all.

https://donate18.shitboxrally.com.au/a-pom-and-a-kiwi

 

Great Interview with Julie 

Julia Chalon, one of our swimmers has interviewed Julie Isbill, the B&B founder for a blog.  It’s very interesting and attached here;

 https://www.thrivhers.com/meet-the-thrivhers/thrivher-interview-dr-julie-isbill

 

Growth Mindset Meditation for Swimmers

Swimmers are meeting Saturday mornings for a 30 minute meditation at dawn. Just bring a goal and gold coin donation for room hire at Manly Community Centre. For all the details click here: 

Manly Growth Mindset Meditation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 8th of May - 21 Degrees and Seasational

Another set of fabulous conditions for those chasing the personal best times. An occasional meter of swell but combined with a north-west zephyr hardly even being registered, made for a very clean surface. We will see a small SE Pulse tomorrow but then it will fall away to nothing by end of the week along with the air temperatures.

The 21 degrees in May is all a bit hard to follow but no ones complaining so make a swim while the sea's warm.

Seemed the 6.30 crew were early too.

We headed off a little ahead of the pack today around 6:50 and only had remnants of the 6:30 pack returning, otherwise we seemed to have it all to ourselves except for this swimmer basking in the magnificence of the sunrise.

The obligatory lone paddleboarder on the return leg from the Bower.

This shot was just under the surface but kind of hard to tell up from down.

One of the 6:30 pack on the homeward leg, sped past us.

And this was about as busy as it got.

Shelley was very peaceful.

All round great conditions and worth getting up for.

Around 190 adventurous souls apparently with 5 new starts and with conditions like this it should be a great week as the southerlies gradually drag the temps down for the weekend.

Hard to believe 21 degree water in May.

See you tonight if you have been able to get a ticket for the Penny Berents show at Bluewater. Lots of very eager people.

Have a great week.

 And some news.

- 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

  

 

 

 

07/05/2018 - Wakey Wakey

Sun’s up…
So what?

So, it’s another day. Another chance to get it right. Well, at least a little more right-er than yesterday. And that sun, almost 1.4 million km across and burning at a bright 5,500º C, is a free ticket to do it.

If you're serious about improving your health, you first need to understand that "you're a self-organising system that builds its own parts"©. The level at which your body-mind can organise is THE foundation of a healthy, enjoyable life. Lack of organisation in the body has the same affect on your health as the congestion, frustration and waste of resources caused by out-of-synch traffic lights.

And the sun?..
Below a certain level of light (1000 lux/m²) our systems don't even totally wake up. But even more importantly, just a few minutes of its morning rays hitting the retina of your eye starts re-setting central and peripheral body clocks that exist throughout your body. This helps re-establish the necessary organisation, and you can do it every morning.

There’s more to the story, so stay tuned. For now, that sunrise is a good place to start… 

 

(click photos to enlarge)...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With love,
Andrew Maher.

Gentle, Light Touch Chiropractic Collaroy - mention you swim with B&B

Stats:
Swimmers  137
Newbees  2
Water  19.9 degrees C

Next BB dinner

The next dinner scheduled for Tuesday 8^th May is brought to us by one of our very own Dr Penny Berents and is described below.  Please book soon to avoid disappointment.

‘What lives at the bottom of the ocean at 3000 metres depth in the Great Australian Bight?’

Dr Penny Berents spent a month at sea last year to answer this question. Penny will talk about life at sea on a research ship and the weird and wonderful animals discovered on the voyage.

Please book early using http://www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/bb-bluewater-monthly-dinner.html

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

Don't swim at 6am *

Don't swim at 6am!

The past 3 weeks unfortunately I have had to swim at 6am and it's been tough...

It's cold and lonely...desolate..at that time of the morning..

Everyone is mean and unfriendly..

Midge is an As..................

Anne just doesn't want to know...

Ian..

Fi is snippy...uh no wait that's just normal.. :-p

The hooks are uncovered and dangerous..

Even the roller door is scary...

Barely a soul to keep you company in the Bay

5 people at The Point (and they don't want you there anyway)

At Shelly it felt lonely and we waited less than a minute before heading back..

AND it was Lee's birthday but no one sung!

The whole bay was empty of people...

One LONE swimmer..so sad..

Even the rays turned their backs..


In contrast the 7am swim.... Loads of bags covering those dangerous hooks..

550+ people walking into the water at the same time.. to keep your company!

People everywhere.. you’ll never experience isolation

The line for the shower stretching all the way down the ramp...it’s wonderful having 30 stare at you whilst u shower.. and you get a massive 5 seconds under there..

So whatever you do DON'T swim at 6am!!

 

In other BnB news

Janet reached her 1000km today!  Guess who's leg got in the way of my photo?



Well done Janet!

Here's Tony Height...

He was supposed to get his 500 last September but smashed his shoulder while skiing.

Ugh that looks PAINFUL!

8 months later he got his 500 badge this morning!!  What a legend! 

Lee's Birthday choc crackles - what Aussie born when sugar was

still one of the healthy food groups doesn't love these!? ;-)

 

Signing off Lesbubs...

*I lied it's BRILLIANT swimming at 6am.. thanks for the 6am'ers for playing it up for the camera!

ps. Just so you know though 6am is NOT tickable...but who gives a f..

Wow! What a Saturday

The morning started in such a beautiful light , and then it just got better and better. Walking to manly from north Steyne I caught the sunrise and arrived just in time to see the 6.30 group head off from the point. 

The air temp at the beginning of the day was 12 degrees and the water temp was 19.7 so it’s no surprise everyone got in and stayed in. Lots of doublers and I presume triplers too. A few wetsuits being worn but it felt more like 20.7 to me in the water. 

Meanwhile before the swim I watched more of the sunrise from the waters edge and caught up with the people coming and going. 

Mirek was paddling alongside a group swimming from manly around to the harbour side , including Greg who’s training for a 32km swim in lake St. John in July in Quebec. Greg’s the one being kissed by mirek! 

really early swimmers cross paths with normal early swimmers and stop for a chat and pic, thanks girls 

i spent so much time at the waters edge I bumped into the 7am group starting!  Running late as a blogger isn’t good . Got a few of you though - Patrick and daughter Zoe 

Here comes just a small bunch of the total 427 swimmers 

Shelley and Melise started together then Melise joined me and others enjoying the bower break on a crystal clear day. Perfect for snorkelling and enjoying the change after yesterday’s surfy, swelly conditions. 

i saw Gary the Groper and followed him a bit but Elaine and anne really saw marine life 

James enjoying the spectacular conditions 

Anne saw the cuttlefish and a stonefish? Stunning whatever it’s called and a lucky sighting 

Elaine’s cuttlefish- equally beautiful-

Now for the interesting news. Two of our swimmers recently completed long distance swims overseas. Congratulations to  mark mallison and dean swimmer- superfish! 

Mark did the Gibraltar strait with three others . Swam 20km in 15.6 degrees for 4 hours and 18mins . His pics- 

Dean did a swim in Hawaii , the Ka’iwi channel swim. He swam 46km in 20 hours and 12 min with 4-5 of those hours having a white tip shark the size of a kayak following him . Unfortunately for him the currents worked against him but he came out the other end body and humour intact . 

Two last snaps as I finished 

Now , the dinner on Tuesday night will be fascinating, Penny Berents is speaking. Please go to yesterday’s blog to click the link and book. 

New towels are available from the budgysmuggler web site 

get out there and enjoy the weekend everyone! 

Edwina. 

Friday 4 May 2018 a bumpy swim

It was a bumpy old swim today. A bit of different actions at the shore and then ok at Shelly. Lots of people enjoying the 21 degrees water

The newbies keep rolling in like the constant waves to the shore. Welcome to you

Lovely that Brian and Jen have come along for a Friday swim

The orange T shirt is not a direction to me but a description of what its wearer has already done before swimming

I was looking at google for some stretches to make my shoulders more flexible because a day of YTWL did nothing for my time. And then I saw this shocking text:

 

"Dangers of Swimmers stretching "

so I will give it a rest for a week and see how that goes. This is the first time I have seen Russell on land this year. Lovely

So pink

A bit of swimming. My favourite activity - Luckily an expert went by at the point







Some doublers just in time to save me from freaking out about the sea weed

This lot are medley swimmers. Delightful range of strokes done together

Sometimes when I say stop and pose for the blog people don't

 

 

What I have been reading:

The Healers by Anne Cleeves. Not bad. It does not feature Vera as a detective so I am taking a while to get into it.

Also, the Guardian reports the introduction of gender non-specific language for a new baby? "theyby". I am passing it on to you to use in case you need it.

 

Management notices:

Temp - see above

Newbies 8

Numbers 320

 

The Medibank Swimmer of the Month for April is .... Leeke Griffin, who wins a $100 Rebel Sport eVoucher. In order to be eligible for the next monthly prize you must swim, and log your swim some time in May. The more times you swim, the more chances you have of winning!

 

The next dinner scheduled for Tuesday 8^th May is brought to us by one of our very own Dr Penny Berents and is described below.  Please book soon to avoid disappointment.

‘What lives at the bottom of the ocean at 3000 metres depth in the Great Australian Bight?’

Dr Penny Berents spent a month at sea last year to answer this question. Penny will talk about life at sea on a research ship and the weird and wonderful animals discovered on the voyage.

Please book early using http://www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/bb-bluewater-monthly-dinner.html

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

 And who won the Badge Ceremony Far West Raffle??? Me! I go to stay at Newcastle near Mereweather pool. Yipee

 

Thursday 3 May 2018: With that sunrise it's just going to be a cracker

Some mornings as you walk towards Manly Beach you know it is going to be one of those special days.  The sunrise postcard worthy, the swell was just enough to have a play and the water temperature still lingering above 20 degrees.

Across my social media this week was a story about the benefits of going to the beach.  Several studies from the United States and Britain have found that the beach improves happiness, well-being, and even the brain function of an individual - but we could have told them that.

This finding is supported by the research by Kobe University that residents in Japan who live in a house with a view of the ocean are calmer and more peaceful than those who live in the urban jungle. Similar findings are found by Health Place claiming that Brits who live by the coast report better physical and mental health.

The yogi's know that too and were out doing their usual Thursday stretches and poses on the beach to the sound of waves crashing.

We had eight new swimmers this morning and what a fabulous introduction to Bold and Beautiful they got.  I heard reports of the giant cuttlefish off the point as well as the large blue gropher and the wobbygong as well as the usual suspects.

Rosemary is becoming a bit of a regular. Don't forget Michael's drinks each Friday night with happy hour from 4pm to 7pm at North on North Steyne. (next to Hemingway's above Skater HQ).  Last week there was a great turnout an what better way to kick off the weekend than a debrief over a bevvy with your fellow swimmers.

Robyn and Melise

Michelle and Martin back from their 6.30 swim.

Mary, Louise and Michael jumping waves before their 7pm swim.

Lisa and the WOW's are some of the happiest people at the beach and she's always up for a hug.

I found this group hanging around off Ferry Bower.

Anyway have a fabulous day and remember:


From Myrtle the Turtle

 

Management notices:

Waters temperature:    20.3
Newbies:                         8
Total swimmers            108

Next BB dinner

The next dinner scheduled for Tuesday 8^th May is brought to us by one of our very own Dr Penny Berents and is described below.  Please book soon to avoid disappointment.

‘What lives at the bottom of the ocean at 3000 metres depth in the Great Australian Bight?’

Dr Penny Berents spent a month at sea last year to answer this question. Penny will talk about life at sea on a research ship and the weird and wonderful animals discovered on the voyage.

Please book early using http://www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/bb-bluewater-monthly-dinner.html

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:

 

Wednesday 2nd May 2018 - Fun, Fish and Friends

Fun, fish and friends... another perfect day greeted the eager beavers swimming this morning. 

The saying goes 'perfect one day and better the next' for some place north of the border, well this is doubly true for our magnificent Manly and, I might say, triply true for the mostly Bold and very Beautiful swimmers we see on the beach each day.

Apologies for the late Blog, your cadet Blogger was confused with way too much material from this morning's swim and had a technical issue whereby the site crashed as the Blog was uploading!!!

So here we go, better late than never...

Management would like to report:

Swimmers: Guessing - 200

Newbies: Guessing - 5

Temp: Nailed that one - 20.8 :-)

Early birds were treated to a magnificent sunrise.  If you'd like even better sunrise pics see Dorset, his were brilliant although he didn't want to share! :-)

6.15am and there were smiles all round...

Shannon (left) is celebrating her 50th birthday tomorrow.  Note to Drinks - Sing Happy Birthday at Shelly! 

Jo and swim buddy

Sharnie and Julia.

Booty Campers warming up.

Compulsory 'A Team' photo.

  

6.20am and some pink caps jumped in early whilst the moon said goodbye.

Drinks Express relaxing with a perfect photo bomb by Martin.

6.30am and the pinks caps head to the water.

Some stopping for a photo opportunity.
 

Or to rearrange ears.

First touch seemed a little fresh, however at a balmy 20.8 deg the pink caps were soon frolicking in the water.

And hanging out at the point checking out the magnificent sunrise.

 
 
 
Back on the beach and things were getting busy...

Lainey was preparing for celebrations.

Henrietta was sharing yesterday's swimming adventure, having spotted three cuttlefish.  Happy Anniversary Henrietta (did your husband remember?)

 

Good friends were practicing 'best hugging technique'... remember more than 10 seconds is creepy :-)
 
 

Hugging with protection.

 

 Mandy instructing Shelley on how to hug, with Michael feigning disinterest.

 
 Michael 'practicing'... NAILED IT! (BTW is that Leonie in the Blog?)
 

Janet and Steve, with Mandy in background monitoring...

 

Sam and Suzy.

 

WOWs.

John and Inge passing on best practice technique to Bryan, on swimming not hugging.

 

 Finally!  7am was called and we headed to the water...

 

Michelle and Martin.

Mr Numero Uno ready for action.

 

Excited Rosemary and Di.

Cold Monica and Alexandra.

 

Shenanigans at Shelly Beach included 50th Birthday celebrations for Chris who travelled all the way from Hong Kong to share with us. 

 Man hugs.

 

 And on the return to Manly a break at halfway for a little chat.

  

 

Finally and fabulously Greg Franks celebrated his 2000km swim!  Amazing effort Greg, congratulations from us all.  Shelley will give you a celebratory hug tomorrow. 

 

 Greg looking fetching dressed as a pink mermaid.

 

Hope you had as much fun as I did ...  all before 8am.  See you on the beach tomorrow!

 

Cadet Blogger Extraordinaire

(Phew this Blogging stuff takes a lot of time!)

 

What I have been reading

Just finished Persuasion, Jane Austen, every now then I like to revisit the classics. The perfect social commentary and wit is as relevant today as when written. 

Next book Whiteout, Ken Follet.  Please share your reading recommendations in comments. 

 

Management notices

 

Next BB dinner

The next dinner scheduled for Tuesday 8^th May is brought to us by one of our very own Dr Penny Berents and is described below.  Please book soon to avoid disappointment.

‘What lives at the bottom of the ocean at 3000 metres depth in the Great Australian Bight?’

Dr Penny Berents spent a month at sea last year to answer this question. Penny will talk about life at sea on a research ship and the weird and wonderful animals discovered on the voyage.

Please book early using http://www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/bb-bluewater-monthly-dinner.html

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

 

Bold and Beautiful is owned and operated by Bold and Beautiful Swim Squad Pty Ltd.

1st of May - What a Day

I woke this morning for some reason at 5am, most likely following a very early night and couldnt help but wonder why its still so warm in May. The rain the previous night was pretty heavy at our place and hailed for some. All this is kinda strange with little wind. Normally by now, the socks are on and the wooly jumpers are out but not this year. What a bargain.

With a good metre of ground swell (by my reckoning) coming in at the North end , we had a few sets of similar size ever so occasionally swing by the point. The very light WSW winds swept the bumps away and made for clean near ideal conditions.

By Friday from what I can see on the synoptic charts we will have next to no swell at all and very little breeze which will lift the temps up to 26-27 toward the end of week. With a balmy 20 degrees in the water its shaping to be a great week for swimming.  

It was a smouldering start.

Wont be long before the Sun drops below the horizon for the long walk.

And to arrive to this bunch of happy chaps caps off a magic start.

The good news board, dont forget Penny's Tuesday night coming up.

Cracking pace for the Yogi's.

20 degrees and sensational.

And check out the latest in cammo anti sharkware available at your local swimwear specialist. Thanks Lyndal. I couldn't even see you out there. Worked a treat.

Bit of swell on the way out.

And some Yellowtail

And some more Yellowtail

Yellowtail Swarm

https://youtu.be/RxjVwJsVjoQ

Its getting a bit busy out there. 

Great conditions

And then as quickly as it had started it was over.

But how good was it.  

Have a great week people.

And some management notes.

Next BB dinner

The next dinner scheduled for Tuesday 8^th May is brought to us by one of our very own Dr Penny Berents and is described below.  Please book soon to avoid disappointment.

‘What lives at the bottom of the ocean at 3000 metres depth in the Great Australian Bight?’

Dr Penny Berents spent a month at sea last year to answer this question. Penny will talk about life at sea on a research ship and the weird and wonderful animals discovered on the voyage.

Please book early using http://www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/bb-bluewater-monthly-dinner.html

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