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If you are reading this my blog on 30 June 2023, it is courtesy of a glitch in the matrix. I am in New Zealand and you are enjoying a wonderful winter swim at Manly.
Here are some photos of the swim that I definitely took myself:
The Temperature
Is a large quantity of surfers a good or bad omen for the water conditions ahead?
Some beach walkers surrendering en masse
A moment where 6:30 swimmers and 7am swimmers cross paths
Some people staying warm
And some WWW participants!
Bye for now!
Siyabona this fine morning from Old Blighty
CTB continues to deliver winter joy as I see from blogs and friends reports. I always think winter brings out the best of the swim grit and fun.
Solidarity in freezing one’s bits off. Warming in imaginary make do ‘saunas’. 50 shades of what that SLC door can deliver. Got to love the BnB crew. Apre kit a whole other subject and fashion statement.
Meanwhile the husband (Manus) and I are at ‘werk’, our offices in beautiful Lincolnshire. Lou in up Steep Hill in the Bailgate area (near the castle and cathedral) of Lincoln City where a lean one way or another is just perfect.
Capturing the spirit of the BnB especially our esteemed management crew Ian and JK
Our offices as proof we are ‘werking’ … our work is making fun stuff for kids
Beautiful daisies and elderflower in blossom
Nat Schaff just got her RYA day skippers, well done Skippy 👏
Leaving this little person behind is going to be hard … currently Pearl on account of my pearl habit :)
Missing you all and literally can’t wait to see you all … feck it’s been a long time between drinks ( nothing to do with the expresso’s … ok maybe a bit:)
In the meantime Hambe Kahle ( go well and safely)
Di
x
And from management
Glowing skies for those who arrive early. I have to admit Lainey sent me the first couple as I'm not that timely.
The mermaids and manmaids getting ready.
Michael, Peter and Ian, in his warm oodie, welcoming but didn't see any newbies. My last shot of Ian on duty before he heads off on a trip on Sunday. Safe travels!
Derek and Bindi being welcomed on arrival.
So the almost perfect conditions were actually 10 out of 10 except for the water temp. At 15.3C it's getting noticeably colder and although the bay is still a tad warmer, that seems to be cooler than last week. Still great viz, no jellies, lots of fish but unfortunately didn't see anything else. I was told that the 6.30ers saw the grey nurse at the point but it had taken off by the time the 7o'clockers came.
After the swim we all need to warm up and I was told that this spot is known as "sauna corner" so Ro and Ian were giving it a try. Ro gave it the thumbs up.
WOW's doing what they do "Women (sitting)of the Wall".
Lindsay and Kim all geared up for their slighter later, and therefore maybe warmer, swim.
Always include the bench crew in my blog, the stalwarts of the swim.
Roz's birthday cake, the Wow's love the wall and cake! Baked by Robyn (behind) and was delicious. Happy birthday Roz and also Michelle, who had a chocolate cake that looked great too but there's only so much cake one can eat in the morning!?
John D really lapping up sauna corner.
Another gorgeous Sydney winter's day. This year it's been superb. Get out and enjoy. Plus an excuse for a swimmers get together in July (do we need an excuse). See ad below.
Amanda
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Hey guys
I hope everyone had a lovely weekend!
I was lucky enough to get to the swim this morning just before 7am to see the sunrise & it was so beautiful.
Water felt super cold this morning at 15.8, but the low tide is a nice way to slowly walk into the water. In case anyone cares about my wetsuit whinging (LOL) I’ve stolen my mom’s wetty & whilst I hate it slightly less, it’s chaffing my neck which is making me whinge more. Haha. Last season I was tough but I’m just too cold now so the wetsuits are here to stay I think.
Sun rising as the 6.30am crew head up the beach at 7am
Ghost, JimBob & Stirls
Me & Lou before our swim
Enjoy your week guys!! See you tomorrow.
Tilly xx
A moment, a love. A dream, aloud
6.15am Shelly. A stark contrast to our Solstice fun. Brooding.
Guy's magical chalk refuses to be washed away
A kiss, a cry. Our rights, our wrongs. A gentle swell taps at the beach.
Rob Obrien cracks 2000 today. NIce job. One of our machine men not far behind, but a plethora of holidays might drag it out (holidays from retirement?).
Rusty's Pitch Report
We revisit Thursday beach scene. But it's dark. Wetsuits with head torches. Faahany tells the story again of the young ladies who wanted a group photo of a nude Toyota style jump. At 6.15 our old mate (non BnB) arrives, and mentions the carpark was a bit full yesterday and he wondered where all these lunatics were today. We have passed the hump day, and the water temperature has climbed considerably. Cloud cover blankets. Without Guy's chalk guidance I reckon at least 18 degrees. It's darkest just before the dawn. No jellies. No stings. Clear. A slight breeze, off the land and warming. I can almost smell spring...
Post swim delight. Sarah from Sales emerges, describing a swim in the coccon of darkness. Revelling in the night.
James pulls out the hot water.
We wonder where Stealthy has got to. Something about treat em mean, keep em keen. The anticipation is building
Thanks for the swim and coffee Team. Remember don't let your true love run cold!
Rusty the Fish, Faahany the Deviant & Carolinebythebeach
and Chippo can't believe you missed the carnage at Shelly at 6.15am yesterday... a cracking Aussie classic for you:
Wednesday 21st June - solstice is tomorrow! get ready! We are also celebrating the departure of the jellies!
Wonderful Wednesday brought one of the coldest mornings this year with the mercury dropping to below zero! The water, however was delightfully tropical in comparison at 16.3 degrees!
water temp: 16.3
air temp at 7:00 MINUS 1.4 degrees
conditions - Lake Manly continues, clear, calm and it seems like the jellies have commenced their "grande departe" to continue their "tour de ocean" elsewhere!
with all the joviality about jellies.... this week has been like a Masterchef mystery box of jellies. I had no idea the "comb jelly" family had so many varieties! many photos have been posted with the correct scientific names (thanks Lainey & others who have posted correct names below photos!!), However, did you know that some have bioluminescent properties? If you are an early bird, and head to the bower before dawn you may be lucky to see the beauty of the jellies!
Although most of the jellies are graceful and gross blobs of goo, some jimbles clearly decided it was a masquerade party & infiltrated the "Slaps" (I think perhaps "SALP" was a mis-spelling?) judging by all the stings on various parts of our wetsuit-less bodies (for those of us brave or stupid enough to continue the WWW quest!)
The jellies may have gone however the memories will last a lifetime.... so could we have made use of the jellies? Like the masterchef mystery box challenges, or the Iron chef creativity challenges (who remembers Iron Chef?)?
Gemma, Vikki and Clare - Gemma and Vikki met Clare at Lady Eliott Island last week whilst undertaking a free diving course in 23 degree water! today was the first cabbage tree bay Bold & beautiful swim for Gemma and Vikki - and I am so glad they experienced paradise today! They feel the best use of the jellies was to practice boxing, using them as punching bags (please dont tell greenpeace!)
Fiona and Jan - decided that jellyfish would make useful implants, Fi noted that she absolutely needs them!
Kirsty, Dave and our fabulous artist Georgina - think jellyfish would be useful as floatation in a warm bath, in a salad or as turtle treats!
Lainey suggested that Jellies are used as Christmas lights, taking advantage of their bioluminescent properties. Kate saw a cuttlefish nervously venturing out into the Bay to ensure there were no dolphins, however a real life "dolphin" Leanne was in the bay training on the boards and agreed that jellies would make great implants! Kate didn't know if cuttlefish like eating jellies, perhaps its the other way around?
Jill, Ruth (breakaway Drinks express, as they swim at 7! - they have yet to determine a more creative name although a few were bounced around today!), Drinks and Brendan all wonder why jellies were ever on this planet!
Mer people (davina, Simone, kath, sue, ian, sally, Kate, Petra, Chris & rob) resembling a line of rugged up king penguins keeping warm after another WWW swim : for Sue, Chris and Rob the very thought of swimming sans wetsuit is enough to shudder, and that was before cold water immersion and the endorphin release! They feel that the jellies would make lovely warm bubble tea, or be used as a weapon. Chance the labrador wonders why he cant eat them!
Some final words directed at all swimmers who are slowly getting through WWW or who are thinking about it - as the mercury drops it is sooo tempting to 1) stay coccooned in our doonas, or 2) stay out of the water or 3) wear a wetsuit - my encouragement is to keep at it! 3 years ago most the mer-people were swimming in the warmest wetsuits Orca sold (in my case the 3.8 enduro, thermal booties, thermal gloves and a thermal cap). We were inspired by our Mer-friends who swam the entire year without wrenching on (and off) a wetsuit - the key is to keep at it - think of the endorphins, the joy, the euphoria, and, ALL the other benefits of swimming in cold water, including the infusing magnesium naturally from the ocean every single swim, for those who like me have trouble relaxing and sleeping, it helps release stress, relax your muscles, promote deep sleep and, if you are spiritually minded, apparently it cleanses your aura!
Stay warm, stay kind, look out for and after each other and have a WONDERFUL Wednesday, and for those joining the solstice swim, hoping the jellies have ALL exited the bay !
Jocelyn
Simone is back from Europe and can't believe the temp is down to 15.7 and we've been hit by a tornado of Jellies! Most of them were soft and squidgy salp today though and the stinging ones have disappeared almost. A beautiful, calm and clear swim today!
We all love these gorgeous friendly guys at the coffee shop. They are amazing humans, Vitor, Patrick, Molly and Evan!
Another stunning sunrise that heralded in a sparkling, sunshiney day. Yes it's Winter folks :-)
Clare and Amanda bravely clock up another Winter Without Wetsuit swim
Little Sarah and Jono aka Frangi have done theirs.
Our dogs are also a big part of the B&B. Duncan brings his down today
The endorphins are flooding through these swimmers bodies post swim as you can see from these faces!
The orgasmic post swim hot shower!
Nick Howard is back from the US and gets a few cuddles!
:-)
Our amazing blogger/photographer, Jocelyn is off on her next ski-ing trip ;-)
I swam a bit later after my run, pilates, scooter ride
Anna and Pete enjoy 'Sauna Corner'!
This ribbon shaped Jelly is apparently a Venus Girdle!
Not sure what these are called!
Have a great day guys!
Hot quote from sparkling personality Simon Phin: “Today's is the clearest water I have ever seen."
Hey guys
Happy Monday & Happy King’s birthday!
Visibility was pretty good this morning, but nothing exciting was spotted during my swim. Only a very slow swimmer (me) in a super annoying wetsuit! It’s a lot warmer for sure, but I hate it!
It was Race 1 of our A Team Winter Triple Crown, and our favourite Frenchie, Jacquesy, took the win!
The beautiful sunrise just before 7am
A few of the Drinks express crew - Carter, Tim, DY & wannabe Prancer, Simon 😜
As always, some lovely work by Guy this morning
Race 1 winner, Jacquesy, with Mike, James, Oli & Genevieve
Honorary brother Ghost, with the 2 brothers - JimBob & Tim
I hope everyone enjoys the final day of the long weekend!
See you all tomorrow. I won’t be wearing a wetsuit 🤪
Tilly xx
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