Pacific Jules

Trying to touch the sun

5.55am the hour of the Baker. First light 5.45am, sunrise 6.15am. So in the hollow twilight of dawn we push out into an empty bay. Despite overnight rain it's crystal clear. And the jellies aren't seen till well past sunrise. Not for lack of light, just lack of jellies. Snoopy bounds out of the gates like a frisky bull on heat, Andre and I limp slowly across behind like a pair of jilted lovers...

She's been living on a razor's edge, trying to touch the sun. No turtle today, but it's out there heading up the North Steyne banks past the point at 6am most days. 

Wondering whether the day will ever come

living with a dream world of yesterday

Blocky and Trooper are masters of herding cats. They have to be. A quick dry then Snoopy and I hit the soft sand with the Freshiest Men and Women of Manly.

A bigger contingent of Drinks Express join us today. One day we may even see Drinksy down here? Trooper you have a mission...

Gender diversity is top of mind for the humble Trooper. The womens rant brings out a few men with feminine leanings. Cross Dressers. I keep my back to the wall.

Oh and Lainey is back. Jonny rants in Afrikaans. No idea what he said. The Boomers partition for their own Voice. Scared of becoming a minority.

Mark, Trooper and Chris. Chris has commuted all the way from Adelaide to participate in the legendary FFF. Blocky introduces him as surviving the Murder Capital. Not sure if that was some sledge on our loveable Trooper?

The Baker is away for the next couple of weeks. Off to Japan...

The Machine Men in action. Pete, Will and Faahany. Faahany learnt to swim and surf at the Esperance beach known as the Kelp Beds. I swim with him most days.. google the Kelp Beds Esperance to find out why. Will is heading off this weekend to look for 10mm wetsuits to get him through winter. 

Caroline often surprises us innocent Machine Men with her obsession with the FFF bums. She was even sighted post Express swim chasing some of the scrumptious FFF bums out into the surf...

Thanks for the swim and beach run and coffee Team. Remember don't let your true love run cold~

Cheers, Rusty the Fish and carolinebythebeach

 

and Chippo for you.. an Australian classic, crank up the Sonos, lather yourself with baby oil and put on the pink tutu...

 

Tues 11th: Jellies on the Wane

CONDITIONS

Air                          12.9º

Water                     19.7º

Coles Carpark        25º (For Ekaterina)

Tide                       Out

Surface                 Flat

Waves                   Occasional biggish one standing up on the corner

Bommie                 Goin’ Off

Horizon                 Bumpy

 

Photo Credit:        Jocelyn's Jellies

It was a unique and fascinating experience, swimming through these ... Avatar-like

 

 

 

Badges: Sunday week

2023 Summer Badge Ceremony – Sunday 23^rd April

You’ve done the hard yards and earned your Summer Badge(s), so why not collect them personally with all the pomp and ceremony the B&B can muster. Our Summer Badge Ceremony will be held at the Royal Far West’s Centre for Country Kids at 14-18 Wentworth St (opposite Rialto Square) on Sunday 23^rd April, at 8 am, straight after the regular swim! Everyone is welcome, family, friends and swimmers alike. Bring along $10 for each badge you have earned (credit cards will be accepted at this event). $5 will be donated to RFW for each badge collected at this event, so, if you can’t make it, get your friends to collect your badge for you. Or if you have previous badges you have forgotten to collect, now is the time to do it.

A $5 per person donation will be payable to the RFW at the gate for hosting this event, and .... RFW will provide a FREE breakfast (sausage sandwich and a coffee/tea). Bookings are essential to ensure there is enough food. Book here NOW  https://www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/2023-summer-badge-ceremony.html

 

Easter Monday 10th April 2023 - HB Guv, Bishop 1

Happy Birthday Guvner

Matt

Clair

Fireman & Father of the Bride

Clair Charlie Danny Pirate Mel Robbie

The gentle Terminator

Drinks

Trooper

The Bishop - 1st in the 2nd Triple Crown

Stay safe

Have an enjoyable week

Simon

 

 

 

Good Friday 7 April 2023 Things we know

Today was a day to know your ability against the conditions. Waves - not massive but regular and biggish; a pretty strong rip and a bit of murk. Still very nice in.

We also know that the triple crown races were on today. Some contenders getting ready:

We also know that when you run out in the FFF you have to touch the wall. Before you line up to hear the comments and run back in. Below is a photo of the participant who did not touch the wall - now buried in the sand.

Triathletes galore. What an impressive sport. I love it almost as much as open water swimming and water polo. And the season is coming to an end but the training goes on

I never have far to look to find beautiful swimmers to photograph

Welcome back lovely Adrian

Family swim

Great to see Allan here and Pam.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL!!!!!

Badge ceremony coming up for summer bages - we all know that is what swimming is all about ;) And also Lynda acheived her 1000km in the rain last week but we were glad to do a tunnel and digital 1000 today

 

And my idol, Alan Thomson compelted 4oookm last Friday and has gone to Western Australia to celebrate! Congratulations !!

 

2023 Summer Badge Ceremony – Sunday 23^rd April

You’ve done the hard yards and earned your Summer Badge(s), so why not collect them personally with all the pomp and ceremony the B&B can muster. Our Summer Badge Ceremony will be held at the Royal Far West’s Centre for Country Kids at 14-18 Wentworth St (opposite Rialto Square) on Sunday 23^rd April, at 8 am, straight after the regular swim! Everyone is welcome, family, friends and swimmers alike. Bring along $10 for each badge you have earned (credit cards will be accepted at this event). $5 will be donated to RFW for each badge collected at this event, so, if you can’t make it, get your friends to collect your badge for you. Or if you have previous badges you have forgotten to collect, now is the time to do it.

A $5 per person donation will be payable to the RFW at the gate for hosting this event, and .... RFW will provide a FREE breakfast (sausage sandwich and a coffee/tea). Bookings are essential to ensure there is enough food. Book here NOW  https://www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/2023-summer-badge-ceremony.html

Cloudy with a chance of blubbers

Siyabona and G’day 

Today was much like yesterday with swell building a bit today. Blubbers were sighted, blubbers stung and blubbers were avoided. It was a lottery. Waves were sizey. 
Some wild guesses at how many blubbers in the bay … 6.5 (Sean), about 3 ( The Driver and Master Baker ) a few avoidable ones near the rocks mostly clear (Jon) and I counted about 8 yesterday before giving up the count. A frolic in the waves was in order today. 
The look and the booty camp crew dashing for glory.

The 6.30 crew can only be partially credible witnesses in the am as they don’t see well in the dark and oft have a tendency to underplay the conditions and jellies I find. (Pinocchio emoji territory) 
Here’s part of the ‘it’s fine/fantastic’ ‘ I saw not a single jelly ’ crew. 
Pete, Clarkie, Phinny the Trooper (shout out Phinny  rescued someone yesterday in Freshie ) and Jon ( whose credibility factor remains strong with his daily fishies reports) and Trevor the bomber  at the back. Admiring Pete’s bouffant #blogtarts

Poor Simon had a run in with a rock (it’s dark and competitive at 6.30) seen here sporting his injuries with Doc Shanny and the Master Baker Andre. Enjoying their visit from E Bunny. 


Tammy from Mudgee was welcomed back to the WOWs visiting from Mudgee. We’ve missed you Tam was fab to see you. Come again soon ! Flanked by Jane and Deb. 

Bruce explains ‘how big it is’ … waves / current / jellies it’s the ‘swim at your own capacity  talk’ to the 7 am crew. 

It’s a family affair the ‘best of the rest’. First up the Potgieters Suzie, Wally Potgieter ( the fluffy one) Charl and Kerry (missing Oom Justus)  and the Drinkwater’s , Drinky and Mum Lenore ( missing Mark and Sis) 

Suzie adds glamour to Jon and Michael’s blog pose 

Daughter Nat and Bindi. Nat was fostering Bindi when Derek offered her a forever home. Best thing ever:) 

Easter bunny came early with Saffer marshmallow eggs. Happy day Dan, Jon,Drinky ( it’s an Easter egg not a suppository Drinks) and Greg

Penny (our resident marine biologist) and Peter. Peter is recovering from a knee replacement op and Penny a cataract op … heal well both. 

There is always a doctor in the house. Doc Michelle sorting Champ. It ended well I’m told. 

A duo of beautiful Fi’s and farewell to Fi and Melise who are off on a fabulous cruise to Bali / East Timor and the Kimberley’s tomorrow. 
Hambe Kahle ladies have the best time. 

One lonely petunia in an onion field. Sitting still for a short while - last seen suited up hobnobbing with the Packers and before visiting and supporting the UNICEF crew (with Tim Tams in his luggage)  in Turkey post earthquake … onya Tony. 


Congratulations to Michelle who swam 50km for Laps for Life - amazing Michelle we are all so proud of you. Incredible achievement. Flanked by the beautiful WOW’s. 

Taken last Friday the husband and daughter Lou enjoy the FFF’s. 

Hambe Kahle And have a great week. Happy Easter or Passover or whatever festival you celebrating. 
Di 

x

Monday 3 April - a rainbow sky

Hi all

 

Happy Monday!! 

I had a fun swim with the 6.30am crew this morning. The water was beautiful - 19.9 degrees & lovely and clear. I saw so many fish and a massive wobbygong as we left the point. As we swam back in, it started raining (I love swimming in the rain when the conditions are like this - it was beautiful). The sun was out, the rain was falling, and then a massive rainbow appeared!! 

Trooper, Capless, The Driver & Radox getting ready to jump in at 6.28am 

 

Lou & I freezing after our 6.30am swim 

 

Magic Mike, our other Monday blogger Simon, and Bruce pre 7am swim 

 

James & Genevieve pre 7am swim 

 

The A Team post swim benches coffee & chats 

 

And finally thanks to Michelle for capturing this amazing rainbow shot!!! It’s stunning!! 😻 

 

Have a fab week all. See you tomorrow.

Tilly xx