Pacific Jules

Happy Saturday!!

BOLD & BEAUTIFUL IS NOT CURRENTLY RUNNING
DUE TO THE RISKS OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19).

Thank you for following public health advice including physical distancing and outdoor exercising limits (currently 2 people at a time, within your LGA or within 10kms of your home) at all times (and please remember to check in if you're buying take away coffee at the local cafes!)

This is how the bay greeted me,  a little bumpy and some waves at halfway and in the middle of the bay some swimmers stopping to chat and giggle .

I had the joy of seeing Elaine as she was finishing and I was entering. Always handy to get some tips of what to see and where, first hand knowledge is best and if there's something to see she has seen it.

Then I saw some free diving friends who warned me about the jimbles and the marine life they had seen after 2 hours in the water. Two grey nurses, a cuttlefish, amongst it all, watch social media for their photos later. Emma and Nick

I tried following the bluest of gropers but he went under a rock and into a cave. But I found a pretty shell at the entrance

Straight down the scenic route to Shelly it was all happening. Weed everywhere and fish everywhere plus a beautiful Port Jackson looking for his hiding hole which he eventually found under some weeds down deep.Birds drying off and flying off, was a lovely jaunt down the walkway.

Once I got to Shelly it was much cooler and clearer, so I crossed the beach and went up to the Bower Break, saw some divers and more Port Jacksons and one cuttlefish.

Then I made the decision to brave the jimbles that tend to live in the middle of the bay , cross over to my start point at halfway. Seeing as it was low tide or close enough to and clear enough, I"d look for the motorbike on my way over. It's so deep it's hard to get down on one breath and get close enough, but I got a shot at least.

A glance of how it looked today in my swim. 

That's it from me folks, stay safe and be patient :) 

Edwina.

 

 

Friday 30 July 2021 Breeze through

Not everyone can get to Manly at the moment. Some can access other places to swim. Balmoral. Parramatta lake. Crossroads. These locations are very cool. In the literal sense

They are not the same as Manly with aquatic reserve inhabitants (although I saw a photo of a sign at Parramatta Lake warning swimmers about eel tail catfish biting swimmers) but better than nothing. If you don't have access to a swim location at the moment, when the weather is super breezy, you can still be a swimmer. 

Here are some tips. 

Watch the Olympics.

Sit on the couch and buy something to do with swimming - fun swimming costumes, new FORM goggles, or equipment to improve your swimming: Maybe I could set this vasa trainer up with my reading below. 

OR

Copy Michael Phelps who does dryland training including boxercise (or something like that)

 

Maybe you also saw that some Olympic swimmers had had cupping done. Try that at home

 

Yoga is good for swimmers too

I will balter. With goggles in hand. Or wearing a swim cap on my unruly unstyled hair. While I am not impersonating a walrus on the couch.

 

I hope you have a good routine in mind to breeze through lockdown

BOLD & BEAUTIFUL IS NOT CURRENTLY RUNNING
DUE TO THE RISKS OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19).

Thank you for following public health advice including physical distancing and outdoor exercising limits (currently 2 people at a time, within your LGA or within 10kms of your home) at all times (and please remember to check in if you're buying take away coffee at the local cafes!)

 

 

 

Clear and calm

BOLD & BEAUTIFUL IS NOT CURRENTLY RUNNING DUE TO THE RISKS OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19).

Thank you for following public health advice including physical distancing and outdoor exercising limits (currently 2 people at a time, within your LGA or within 10kms of your home) at all times (and please remember to check in if you're buying take away coffee at the local cafes!)

Today saw the temperature drop down to the 15s again with calm and clear conditions.

Council is fixing the steps at Bower.

The port jacksons and wobbegongs have been out in force.   

Port jacksons have returned to their cave.

My partner took this video of a Wobbegong yesterday:

There have also been so many large schools of yellow tails!

These two 11-year-olds and their mate have qualified for their winter badge. It's been great having this swim as an outlet during the homeschooling - cheeky mid-morning or midday swimming breaks up the day.

Hope you are all staying safe and well during this time

Wednesday 28th July - Olympic inspiration and Gold fever!

BOLD & BEAUTIFUL IS NOT CURRENTLY RUNNING
DUE TO THE RISKS OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19).

Thank you for following public health advice including physical distancing and outdoor exercising limits (currently 2 people at a time, within your LGA or within 10kms of your home) at all times (and please remember to check in if you're buying take away coffee at the local cafes!)

Wednesday 28th July - and a golden sunrise on golden sand!   Australia is basking in a positive contagion - Gold fever, as our awesome swimmers have won three Olympic Golds in the pool (so far), and Austalia lies 7th on the medal tally mid way through week 1.  What a fabulous start to the games!    The inspirational peformances in the pool have no doubt inspired many of us to "just keep swimming" in the ocean during the lockdown, for sanity, mental health and fitness (following the Public Health guidelines of course) and for those like my friends and I continuing without wetsuits - continuing that brown (ie good fat) fat metabolism.   On Monday when I went for a late afternoon swim with a friend, from half way, some excited kids were literally bursting out of their skin & inflicted with verbal diarrhoea, unable to contain their excitement at the performances in the pool.    The future is bright!  

Todays fun facts:

air temp at 7am - 11 degrees (in anticipation of a spring-like day ahead!)

water temp - a bracing 16.2 degrees

conditions- a bit of NE swell causing a few bumps but we love a challenge after so many sublime days - keeps us on our toes (or for some, flippers)

tide - low, beginning to turn

the vibe - guarded but grateful and inspired by our awesome olympians and the awe and wonder of our own piece of paradise

jimbles - after hearing reports (from early swimmers) of "no jimbles" and a turtle in the bay (presumably eating said jimbles) they obviously decided to come out of hiding just in time for our swim - we and others swimming at a similar time encountered them near the point and one of my friends received a nasty sting (where was that turtle!) - this is a jimble - so pretty but with a sting (or a sharp kiss!) - taken a few weeks ago - the little critters were too fast for me today, darting off after their "kiss"!! 

Some fun facts about Australias swimming record at the Olympic Games:

• of the 150 Gold medals (up to Rio 2016), swimmers have won 62 (41%)
• of the 512 medals won in total (up to Rio 2016), swimmers have won 196 (38%)
• open water (marathon) swimming had its debut in 2008 at the Beijing Olympic Games with a 10km race in, of course, open water.    Australia has been represented in Open Water (Marathon) swimming at every Olympic Games since (Tokyo 2020 Australia will be represented by Kai Edwards and Kareena Lee.)   If the Olympic Marathon swim was to be undertaken in Cabbage Tree bay I doubt many records would be created as there are so many distractions!  

And in what is now "old" news, Australia will host their 3rd Olympic Games - 1956 in Melbourne, 2000 in Sydney and now 2032 in Brisbane.  There will be some Austalians who, by then, will have witnessed three home Olympic Games - what a treat!   In the spirit of Brisbane 2032, and the host country privilege to choose a few new sports, today I asked swimmers which new sport should be on the Olympic Schedule in 2032?  Some of the responses were surprising!

Rob and Mike suggested Squash - which was a popular sport in Australia until about 20 years ago.   Notable squash players include Geoff Hunt and Sarah Fitzgerald.  Could including Squash begin a resurgence for the sport?  

Tracy and Petra suggested Tug of War, Wakeboarding (Australia could do well in this sport with so much talent!), Sock Wrestling (I am told this requires alcohol) and Roman Chariot racing.... hmmmm..

Michael, Hannah and Jennifer would include snorkelling (spot as  many sharks as possible - which might not be hard up North!) and Tree Climbing (plenty of palm trees up north)!    The way Hannah is standing I thought they may have suggested Yoga!

Jon would include Cricket - a shortened version of 20/20!  this would actually be brilliant to watch and would satisfy "fast and furious" (kind of like Rugby 7s but kind of not...)

Suzie would include dog walking - that would be interesting but not out of the question - bonus points for canine outfits and tricks, perhaps?   After all, other sports have artistic components so why not?  

Lloyd, Nic (same household FYI) and Margaret the Griffin (the only canine around today - presumably the rest were staying home!) would include ultra trail running - a great idea!

Katie and Denise - would include wakeboarding - thats 2 votes for wakeboarding!

Nic and Rhi - would include Brazilian JuJitsu however apparently there is too much conflict at the administrator level for them to agree!  and here's an interesting one: Cani-Cross - run with your dog!   I like that!  

Richard would include Jimble Dodging - that would be interesting, although it would be more like Irukanji dodging in QLD!  

Rochelle would include a barista challenge - very appropriate for Australia!   It would be an interesting competition with Italy & other "coffee-conoisseur (snob?)" nations.....  or would they start importing talent now?  

Delphina and Susanna (fellow can-too'ers) would also include snorkelling - thats 2 votes for snorkelling!  

Michelle and Paulina (also can-too'ers) would also include a Barista challenge, and a Scottish Highland Games event - tossing the Caber (see photo)!  

tossing the caber - i wonder if we could involve water somehow? 

thats all swimmers, and as I write Australia has just won another 2 Gold medals in another water-based sport - rowing as the Mens and Womens Oarsome Foursomes BOTH won gold (OK I know the Mens crew is traditionally referred to as the Oarsome Foursome but today it defintely applies to both!)!   

have a fabulously Oarsomely golden day everyone and stay safe!

Jocelyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 27th-Mixing it up

Due to covid restrictions it seems we are all trying to mix things up to avoid overcrowding, such as times, starting points and even those who are swimming elsewhere. Hence my blog is late. I chose to swim at 9and from Shelley. Biking past Manly it looked pretty quiet. Stopped for a couple of photos. 

Still calm, clear and didn't see anything I didn't want to see but did see a  cuttlefish and pj. Temperature is 16.4, for me a bit chilly even with a wetsuit. 

Well distanced Michael, Tony, Annie and Jo, talking about wine, which for a refreshing change from the usual topic on our minds!

Shelley was also calm, quite nippy getting in but always worth it. Looking like the whole week might be perfect, or at least the air temperature. Enjoy your swims!

Amanda

July 27th-Mixing it up

Due to covid restrictions it seems we are all trying to mix things up to avoid overcrowding, such as times, starting points and even those who are swimming elsewhere. Hence my blog is late. I chose to swim at 9and from Shelley. Biking past Manly it looked pretty quiet. Stopped for a couple of photos. 

Still calm, clear and didn't see anything I didn't want to see but did see a  cuttlefish and pj. Temperature is 16.4, for me a bit chilly even with a wetsuit. 

Well distanced Michael, Tony, Annie and Jo, talking about wine, which for a refreshing change from the usual topic on our minds!

Shelley was also calm, quite nippy getting in but always worth it. Looking like the whole week might be perfect, or at least the air temperature. Enjoy your swims!

Amanda

Monday 26th July 2021 - Sam (my swimming buddy) said, “lll always look out for you”.

Boys in blue arrived @7:15am.


6:10 am moon from the point.


I swam 2+2 with Tom, Sam and Carel.



Jo swam with the Pirate.

John St & Lyndall.

7:19am.

7:23am I went home.

Stay safe, swim, mask up and go home.

Simon

 

 

 

 

Reflections

Yesterday I overhead a conversation about appreciation of getting into the ocean - briefly becoming part of something so different to you and so much bigger than you gives you perspective about your place in the universe. In these tough times we are lucky to be able to experience this and wonder whether it matters if we are here at all.

Open water swimming - not only does it facilitate profound introspection, its also damn enjoyable!  You don't even have to be good at it.

Do you reckon these folks might be having a good time?

Can't say the same for the poor little Mado who ended up as late lunch for a bigger fish

The PJs are definitely here, hope the 17 degree water isn't too hot for them

Over at the bower I spotted a very tiny orange jellyfish I hadn't seen before 

and over at the wall side, this! Also an extremely tiny creature, and unusual to see in the Bay

You have to give it to this guy for creativity - look at the weight on the right hand side of his weight belt

Yellowtail hopefully making meals of the jimbles

A big volute

BOLD & BEAUTIFUL IS NOT CURRENTLY RUNNING
IN COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS 

Thank you for following public health advice at all times.
This includes physical distancing,
limiting outdoor exercise to no more than two people at a time,
staying within your LGA or 10kms from your home.
Check in and out wherever you go.

What am I listening to?

Last week another music legend celebrated a birthday - Linda Rondstadt. Here's something a bit less rock'n'roll from her

Let’s Live it Up – Riding the tigers back

Arrive in the dark, racing a tumble weed down the pavement. I can hear the surf. Lines of white but the point looks clear (I think peering into the gloom). High tide. Andrew says dark, windy with a bit of a ripple. Grey. Remember to be optimistic. Burdens of a lifetime lift off our shoulders in the salt water. Just go.

Rusty and Caroline’s Pitch Report

A few squeals as people hit the water. Of delight! Today’s onshore breeze has pushed warm water back into the bay. Drinksy say 17. I’m calling 20. Grey skies give way to clear, warm water. Swimming in the twilight of the day. Ripples in the sand, lines of fine seaweed on the bottom, and I’m swimming over a gigantic tiger’s back etched in the sandbank. Short chop slowing but I don’t care. It’s warm! 

Haven’t seen Chippo for a while, my partner in blogging. Seemingly the lockdown and distance has kept him from the beaches. But I suspect a darker reality lurks. A backyard operation, a weigh lifters loss is Chippo’s gain. Running like Benny Hill chasing a young lady around. The fabulous Caroline is co-blogging today. She’s the one always taking pictures of froth and surf on the water’s edge.

Caroline's Daily Instagram page - click here

Greedy Smith was in the car. Hey, yeah you, with the sad face, Come up to my place and live it up, You, beside the dance floor, What do you cry for, let’s live it up.

As cab lights grow smaller, An empty road reflects the crimson sky

The night lights are blinking, At logic that’s sinking

Digesting things that are not rational

Thanks for the swim Team. Good times never seemed so good!

Carolinebythebeach & Rusty the Fish

 

Lockdown Quiz for you:

Guess the Victim and the Murderer’s name

There are 5 men. These are the clues you’ve got:

1. One of them shot and killed one of the other 5.
2. Rusty ran in the Sydney Marathon yesterday with one of the innocent men.
3. Chippo considered being a farmer before he moved to the city.
4. Caroline is a top-notch computer consultant and wants to install Stealthy’s new computer next week.
5. The murderer had their leg amputated last month.
6. Stealthy met Tony for the first time 6 months ago.
7. Tony has been in seclusion since the crime.
8. Rusty used to drink heavily.
9. Stealthy and Caroline built their last computers together.
10. The murderer is Tony’s sibling. They grew up together in Esperance.

And a note from the management

Random B&B Swimmer of the Month for June is: Sadie Davies

Sadie is the lucky recipient of a voucher for a pair of ladies Budgy Smugglers

Congratulations Sadie and keep on swimming 

Look forward to seeing you in your new ‘Budgy’s’ soon and hoping you will share a photo of yourself in them with both B&B and Budgy Smuggler 🧜‍♀️

To be in the running to be Swimmer of the Month all you need to do is log your swims

Thursday 22 July: A great time for optimism

Bold & Beautiful is not currently running in compliance with public health orders. Thank you for following public health advice at all times. This includes physical distancing, limiting outdoor exercise to no more than two people at a time, staying within your LGA or 10kms from your home. Check in and out wherever you go.

This morning the water temperature was 15.8 and the water was clear and calm. These times got me thinking about how important it is to be optimistic in these challenging times. In fact optimism gets more useful as your challenges increase. So after a swim I filmed this at 7 am in Manly alone and on the move. I hope you find these ideas, based on the work of Martin Seligman, useful for whatever challenges you are facing right now.