Pacific Jules

The Hottest Spot north of Havana

James and Michelle emerge James Bond and Halle Berry like, warriors from the dangerous surf. 

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Guy recruits assistance for our daily thermometer wall. I ponder what the 2 turtles are actually doing....

James shows off his bite size wetsuit damage. We watch the shark boat idle for 40 minutes off Freshie in the distance. Smoko break or something too big to handle?

Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl with yellow feather in her hair. Guv regales about another hot September night in a nightclub far, far away, An air of thickening Geordie accents, Talk Talk on the DJ, doing the cha, cha, Tony tended the floor. Young and not behaving himself.

Faahany mentions that there a screw loose somewhere in his head. Literally. The new tooth is about to be screwed in but they lost something...

Snoopy and I talk cake, and of growing fat watching Andre's Facebook journey through Japan and now Taiwan.

Tilly and her sister take a leaf from David Panton's exercise book, fast in the water, strong on the sand.

Excitement just before 8am. A bevy of whales start playing off the Bower to the big crowd at the Wall.

Thanks for the swim and coffee Team (and the cake Emma!). Remember don't let your true love run cold!

Rusty the Fish

Oh and thanks to the girls in the cafe for their coffee art this morning. Think they are trying to tell me something:

 

Dont forget to enter the Council underwater photo comp

 

26/09/2023 - Diamondfish and Diamondpeople

We've had huge schools of Diamondfish hanging out between the point and halfway lately. We've also got some absolute gems (or diamond) humans that swim with us. Such a wonderful, brave and supportive community and the swim and people have helped so many through tricky times in their life. Thank you.

Conditions were great today. A calm bay with a few waves going in, 4-8 metre visibility, no stingers and water temp up a little to 17.

Al is over from WA again and he celebrated his birthday with a swim. Please don't be shy and tell us if its your birthday. You wouldn't want to miss out on the birthday splash and serenade at Shelly!

Simone and JK in the middle, some more 7am swimmers at Shelly. Rainer pulling faces at the back...like old times!

A few pics of 2 days ago. I was so happy to still see a Cuttlefish in the bay :-)

Penny and Beccy were having a nice float and chat in the middle of the bay as I came across them!

Jill and John's son Josh was down from the Gold Coast with the kids!

Miguel with his bodyguard behind him ;-)

 

Sorry a quick blog today as Typepad not working well.

Have a great day folks!

Lainey

 

25 September 2023 - Happy Anniversary Trish & John + jimbles

Happy 15th anniversary Trish and John.

I swam with the 5:45 crew Mel Brett Trish Bianca.

Kylie led the 5:48 crew.

Getting ready

 

DX

Colour

Jimbles

Greg & Sue

Great sunnies Bianca

Ready for work

Manly Jazz Festival yesterday, yeah!

Hard to get a bad shot of Manly

Have a safe & enjoyable week

Simon

 

 

 

Wild Woolly Wednesday

Siyabona (I see you) 

With evidence that mindfulness actually changes one’s brain positively I reckon we should all practice ‘seeing’ each other when we say hello. Being present actually, Love. 

Today as Chris said it was wild and woolly. Temperature artists stun yet again with wild seas behind 

Stirling talks safety, demonstrating how to frolic like the ‘A’ team and then the  exit route.  You do you. 
Amanda is riveted. 


The team consider this in their various ways. Clare immediately reaches for the cocoa butter protection, Ian and friend fold arms, Amanda, Duncan and Lolly, Roger and Nikki thinking about it, Bruce suits up

Phinny post swim sucks in his belly (can’t talk at same time he says - some might argue a bonus) with  lovely WOW Nikki. 

Some went to frolic like the A team, thanks for the pics Lainey and the inspiration Stirling. Nikki, Simone, Clare and Amanda pull out the frolic moves. Amanda and Clare look for salvation at times or maybe Stirling. Wild. 

Mike and Leah join for a folic, thanks for the company guys

Post swim/ frolic ‘kak praat’ (talking rubbish) when we all practice being  mindful over a coffee 

Dan, an experienced father, offers to babysit for lovely Michelle as we all await no 2 bubby 

Simon and Chris with a post swim glow 


Coatsey with pants on for a change ( it’s a shorts story) 

Annie, Shaun and I talk about the ‘So Long Mary-Anne’ gathering idea. 😉

Lovely JD picks up his coffee before a bask on the wall. 

That’s  the wrap enjoy your day / week and Hambe Kahle ( go well/ safely. 


It’s all going pear shaped with the format so bye from me

Di

x 

 

 

 

Tuesday 19th September - All about options

via pacificjules.typepad.com

Tuesday 19th September - All about options

And options are more important with the return of the jellies. To quote Hels, she saw one bigger than her! Glad I missed that one,  but I didn't see any, we'll get to the "why not" shortly.

Firstly,  there were no complaints about what a glorious morning it is.

Henrietta,  Ian and Gayle all smiles choosing their option. 

Option 1 was usual manly surf club entry. Reports from early swimmers weren't enticing me, poor viz and I could see waves breaking beyond the point. Never a good sign for me. Others assured me there was no strong rip but I wasn't tempted. 

To quote Roger there were momments when it looked benign but it's sneaky.

Others milling around perhaps talking options too.

Option 2 was half way but as the waves were smashing the wall, I wasn't keen,  plus it's often dirtiest here.

Option 3 was the pool but as lovely as it looks there were no pink caps here.

For those really not keen option 4 is a shower, with a view.

Lastly,  option 5, which in the end was my choice, was from Shelley. From this end viz wasn't as bad as I expected but once out in the bay it was pretty bumpy so Lainey's washing machine post was accurate. It was still lovely to get in. No complaints from the temperature of 17.5c. I guess the jellies were in the middle of the bay which I avoided.

Ed and Liz opted for option 5 too.

Enjoy the heat if that's what you like. For me the nicest part of the day is done!

 

Amanda 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 11th of September 2023 - Go to Hawaii

23 minutes before sunrise

I swam past the Trident with Danny, Mel, Brett, Ali, Camilla & Trish





Drinks Express 


I swam the Waikiki Roughwater 3.8km swim with Danny , Mel & Bruce

Wet suited couple

Milly

Fifi

Michael & Jeff

Have a safe & enjoyable week. 
Let me encourage everyone to do the Waikiki Roughwater at least once in your life!

Simon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seven Inches from the Midday sun

it's just like the ocean under the moon. Oh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from you

A scorching sun, flaming the clouds, cracks open at 6am. The 609 dawn patrol swells in size and they wade into the sunrise.

You feel the turning of the world, so soft and slow

Lainey hides behind the clocktower, a mischievous look like she has hidden someone's toys. Where is Guy these days? Jon mentions the rumour that our erstwhile weatherman is actually dipping the BBQ thermometer at midnight. Have the paparazzi claimed the lifestyle of another celebrity, shying away from the groupies and newshounds.

Not quite Paris Disneyland, but some epic days await this weekend. Willy notes we may break 30.

Fridays feel like a flash mob forming. I'm pining for the return of the FFF Blocky, surely we can go early?

I stop and chat to an optimistic surfer by the pipe, who pines for some swell. He says I've written this winter off. Lets hope that Spring brings some better news.

You're my reason for reason. The step in my groove

As I exit, the Guv skims past. James dries off after a pre-dawn dash, and Matthew contemplates the surf, which has fallen considerably.

Hels skirts the icey waters of a southern NZ lake, 7 degrees. I reckon we are in for a much warmer summer than normal. Her cheeky Kiwi mate sleeps in, no longer a wall stalward at 7am?

Thanks for the swim and coffee Team. In the sage words of a famous KISS rocker "As long as your schmeckle works, you feel immortal". 

 

Rusty the Fish

4.40pm uploaded blog, finished the week, now for a molten rum, and some loud sultry guitar.....See you in the water this weekend!

 

Wednesday 13th September - Kindness is catching and birthday bonus!

Wednesday 13th September and the theme for todays blog is inspired by our B&B birthday mer-friends - our newest "sexagenerian" - the one and only David "DC" Collins (aka “super man” or “rock star” as he loves rocks and cant seem to stay away from them), and Brazilian-aussie, beautiful Tatiana Trevisan!    The Mermaids greeted DC and Tati with a special decorative accessory as they exited the water - then leaping into the air with unbridled joy and celebration!   A whole lot of kindness in this photo!  

Both our birthday swimmers and countless members of the B&B community exude kindness and generosity, either through support for each other, and supporting various causes and charities financially or personal time or donation of resources, including volunteer surf patrol at our beautiful piece of paradise.   Kindness is definitely catching with these two!    Infectious smiles, positivity, and ALWAYS supporting others.  

 And....All those highly sought after badges, which will be ceremoniously awarded on Sunday (see details below) - raise money for the Royal Far West!  So, those who shivered sans neoprene throughout winter to earn that coveted WWW badge also displayed kindness to others in enduring the frosty windswept mornings and glacial winter water wonderland!  

today mother nature was very kind - an increase in water temperature!   

water temperature:  16.7 degrees (and we LOVE the art work thank you guy!)

air temperature: 7.6 degrees at 7am 

conditions:  smoky, smooth-ish, slight swell

vibe:  hump day happiness

cake celebrations:  Mandatory! included today a Brazilian traditional birthday cake kindly made by Tati's sister Pri, nutty slice kindly made by Lainey and decadent double chocolate cheesecake kindly made by Paul!  The smiles of happiness and joy - what a way to start the day!  

DC volunteers his time supporting the "tour de cure"  -  bravely transforming from Swimmer to MAMIL to guide and support new riders to achieve their goals and raise much needed funds for cancer research.     A few of the B&B community have joined the rides - "Aussie Kate", Sue B, Grant M and others - not to mention  the B&B community support in donating to their fundraisers and fuelling their motivation to complete the long rides!  happy birthday DC, pictured here with Des, who is always one of the first to help others in need!

Roger, Mark & Andrew drinkwater - "different KIND of men" (of the door)... all three generously give their time to many causes - notably for Drinks (x2) careflight and mental health causes, and you will all be familiar with Roger's artwork supporting many causes! 

David, Anne and Sandy - David and Sandy drove Anne's new car from Melbourne - very kind of them!  Anne didnt swim today and treated David and Sandy to breakfast at the Shelly Beach boat house!

Susie was kindly minding Walter and napoleon who was a bit out of sorts today (despite looking cute in his "Pyjamas"!)

 

Nicci and fi - always looking out for others and live by the motto "if you can be anything, be kind"

Natasha and Mel - both give their time to volunteer to many causes.   You may see Natasha at the Addi Road food bank! 

lainey - kindness in a package - ALWAYS giving time for others, her infectious smile brightening up our days,  supporting many many causes, kindly showing anyone swimming where the cool creatures hide out AND ensuring we are all well versed in the - ahem - biology and amorous behaviours of Port Jackson sharks and cuttlefish !

Sir Basil - what can we say?   its said that canines are the best buddies - unconditional love given and received.  

As always, stay kind, spread kindness (its catching!), look out for each other and have a wonderful Wednesday!

Jocelyn

PS -  finally - the time has come to collect your hard earned winter badges This Sunday (and support Royal Far West!)!!!  (although there's a case for swimming through Spring without neoprene (SWW?   SWoN?), the water really hasn't warmed up yet).... details below!

Our Winter 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 17th September, 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-winter-badge-ceremony.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12/09/2023 - Port Jackson time of the year!

I love swimming at this time of the year because there are lots of male Port Jackson sharks around looking for a mate. As a matchmaker myself I love seeing them meet up ;-) but there are a lot more males than females (not like Manly) and it's a lucky sighting when you see a female. They are bigger than the males by about 20 cms!

I screenshotted this pic from a video I took of mating going on involving 3 males and a female. They actually bite on a fin to pin the female down before inserting one of their claspers!

I got the info below from the net...

'Copulation was observed and involved oral grasping of the female’s pectoral fin by a single male, which wrapped his body around hers to insert one clasper. Ovipositing females appeared to search crevices in the reef prior to delivering a single capsule, which was washed into the crevice by water movement, with the female departing very soon after'

Swimming with PJs at the weekend. We were following a female that was in the process of giving birth ad trying to find a good hiding place that it would wedge in to rocks away from predators!

Anyway back to today's swim!

Glorious start to the morning with 12 degrees out and 16.1 in with calm  but slightly murky water!

Pilates and Yoga groups from 6-7am!

Stars and Stripes Pufferfish

It's tricky getting wetsuits off. Here are Sheena and Merilee

Max is back from many years living o/s. We saved a turtle from a balloon tie about 6 years ago! Here he is with Jo and Jill

Frangi, Merman and Drinks post-swim

More of the Drinks Express with Talitha in the foreground who has a birthday today. Happy Birthday Talitha!

Quite a few Wows (women of the wall) today

Lots of Mods (men of the door)

One of our favourite couples, John and Jill :-)

The Merpeople were thin on the ground today but there will be loads here tomorrow for Tatiana

s and DC's birthdays. Join us for some cake post-swim!

 

Have a great day folks and remember the Winter Badge Ceremony on Sunday!

Lainey