Mollymook News
editor Ken Banks
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Tim Mooney writes from Singapore. The temperature is 25 C both in and out of the water. Unlike the Ulladulla sea pool this one here in Singapore is only 25 metres, so I do 40 laps three times a day to hopefully loose the baguettes n cheese. See you Monday. Maybe.
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Mollymook surf this past week with the easterly and east nor east winds
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Ocean swimming was not inviting throughout the past week with the daily wind direction from either the east or east nor east making for a bumpy / choppy ocean with rips and currents prevalent.
The Ulladulla sea pool has been painted and Leisure centre staff advise it will be filled and available for use sometime during next week. A great back up for when conditions are not ideal at Mollymook.
Ray A. writes: “Hope all is well in the land of Molly, the rocky outcrop (pic below) remarkably overshadowing my powerful hulk is Monemvasia. This impregnable fortress town has been hotly contested over two thousand years,being presided over by Grecian, Venetian and Ottoman rulers. This citadel island was never breached but taken via the art of siege negotiation. See you all soon“.
Red Algae Bloom at Mollymook Beach, Saturday afternoon
The following information was found on the web in relation to ‘Red Algae Bloom’.
According to Wikipedia the “red tide” is a common term used for a harmful algal bloom. It is not uncommon for it to occur nearly every summer. This bloom is caused by microscopic algae that produce toxins that kill fish and make shellfish dangerous to eat.
An article in the Washington Post back in July, reported: “a 26-foot whale shark found dead on Sanibel Island, on Florida’s southwestern Gulf Coast, its body riddled with the neurotoxin produced by tiny algae in the sea.
Marine scientists don’t know for sure how it died, but they have a suspect the Karenia brevis algae — a single-celled organism that’s currently in a massive bloom cycle, called a red tide.
The red tide has claimed many many victims this year on the Florida coast, which has become a rotting marine graveyard. At least a hundred manatees, a dozen dolphins, thousands of fish, 300 sea turtles, and more have died or washed along shores in putrid-smelling masses. They were all likely felled by the red tide.
The red tide is a normal, seasonal occurrence in southwest Florida. But this year’s red tide has persisted since last November — nearly a year now — making it the worst bloom since 2006.”
A BBC report had the following to say: “Since November 2017, the red tide has taken a toll on the marine life around this extremely diverse paradise. At least 29 manatees are confirmed to have died due to the toxin by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Seventy-four more deaths are being investigated. The FWC has documented 588 stranded sea turtles and attributes 318 of them to the red tide.
But the red tide can also affect people. According to the National Oceanic Service, sea waves can cause K. brevis cells to release toxins into the air, causing skin irritations and respiratory problems. For people with chronic conditions such as asthma, the red tide can make them very sick.”
The following information was provided by Monica Mudge:
A link to the recent algae seen at Jervis Bay. (Info from SCC)
http://doc.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/displaydoc.aspx?record=D11/139167
I’m trying to find out if it’s linked to all the red jellyfish currently in the ocean (the lions main jellyfish), which I believe it is. I’ll let you know.
A link to the recent story from the Narooma news regarding the jellyfish.
X Moni
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Editor: Ken Banks on behalf of the Mollymook Ocean Swimmers
‘Back of Burrill’ – Bike Ride
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The day started with us wondering whether it would be too rainy to ride but after a few text messages and phone calls were exchanged, we gathered a group of 14 intrepid riders prepared to get wet.
Starting at Burrill Lions Park, we headed across the highway, turned into Wallaby Drive and then Wyoming Avenue to find the path to the heritage listed Aboriginal Cave. We stopped for a look at the cave, which was occupied for 20,000 years before European settlers arrived and from a time when the ocean shore was over 18 km further east than it is today. We then travelled along Burrill Lake Drive, with a notable and challenging detour suggested by Bobbie, finally exiting at Wheelbarrow Road. From here we headed across to the back of Lake Tabourie before returning to Burrill Lake, locking up 17 km overall.
Beautiful scenery around Burrill Lake’s southern edge and Lake Tabourie. Stand out performances by Issi who rode to the start from home, Simone for pure dare-devil Kamikaze riding and Kaitlin who managed the hardest part of the ride on a bike a bit too small until Mum (Cheryl) took pity and swapped for her bike on the way back. It was hard to keep up with Jacqui’s E Bike speed ascending the steeper hills but we gave it our best shot.
Riders included Bobbie & Lyn, Issi, Paul, John & Nikki, John & Jacqui, Cheryl & Caitlyn, Robbie & Simone, John & Margy.
Commentary by John Louth and Pic credits, John and Simone
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The weekend finally brought some nice waves for the boys and girls. Above pics, Ed climbs onto a nice wave at Mollymook beach.
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