Lena writes from Germany to give an update for her friends, the local Mollymook Ocean swimmers.

“It has been a busy past few weeks. I passed my other exam and in the end it all worked out well. I am working, trying to write all my essays and get a lecturer to help me with my bachelor thesis. 

I thought the situation here would be worse, but apart from having to wear a mask inside, having barely any bars open and just a few social get together’s with not many people and usually outdoors, it isn’t too bad. My only concern is that we are heading straight into winter and most of the things we are doing so far can’t work then. But I guess time will bring the answer. 

Hope you are all doing well! Attached photos of my home town and my weekend off work where we have been in the Netherlands at the coast, with what we call “waves” from a really strong wind”.

Miss you all, love Lena.

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Liz’s birthday morning tea plus some snippets from this week in the lives of the Mollymook Ocean Swimmers and their friends.

 

Request from Ken: Throughout the lock down period, many shared their fun stories and experiences which were so well received. Should you have any sources of inspiring stories to share, please on forward them to me and I’ll attach them to our swimmers e-news letters.

 

Today’s attachment is an amazing inspirational You Tube video clip sent in to share, courtesy of Heather Stewart.

A MUST WATCH! Its titled – Yes I Can Paralympian

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Mollymook Beach, Picture Perfect – August 2020

 

 

 

Beautiful swimming conditions at Mollymook beach, ‘Flat as’ then Ian pondered “Where did this wave come from”? That was Thursday, then on Friday there were swarms of Little Corella’s also known as ‘Blue eyed – White Cockatoo’s’ followed by another picture perfect day on Saturday the swimmers shared with a ‘Southern Right’ whale and some paddlers. (Click on pics to enlarge)

Plus a MUST watch video link at bottom of this post.

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John and Jacqui’s ‘Getaway’ to enjoy their 70th Birthday Gift from Family & Friends

 

 

John and Jacqui enjoy their 70th Birthday Gift at ‘Bangalay’ Luxury Villas

John writes: “Jacqui and I arrived at Bangalay Luxury Villas on Sunday afternoon and it certainly lives up to its reputation. Villas have lovely modern design features and our patio looks out onto the golf course. Surf beach is a few minutes walk. We are having such a good time and would like to thank all our wonderful swimming and walking friends for our birthday treat. Our 3 day package included:

• Complimentary wine and choc treats on arrival
• In room continental breakfasts with yummy pastries, cereal, rhubarb compote and yogurt.
• Delicious dinners both in room and in restaurant. Owners and staff here are very friendly and helpful.

Only downside is I had to have an emergency tooth extraction Monday morning and was instructed to avoid alcohol for the next 3 days so you’ll see the restaurant picture has me holding a mock-tail while Jacqui was enjoying a glass of bubbly.

Off to Jamberoo and Saddleback Mountain today so will get a chance to check out the views and the final hill climb leg of the Le Tape. Back home Wednesday and looking forward seeing you all”. Regards,John & Jacqui. 

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Looking better with age, Garry and Bobby celebrate 70th Birthday’s

 

 

Thanks to Garry and Noelene we enjoyed fabulous cake and a malt whisky. What a way to start the day! 

 

Below Bobby and Garry in all sorts of pain and discomfit following operations over a year ago. Now today, one year + on and they are a picture of health.

 

 

Adios Lena, the swimmers will miss you. When are you planning to come back?

 

 

 

Lena had been given permission to do her practical teaching overseas for a month. She arrived in Australia late February 2020 and as was her custom, headed straight to Mollymook beach every morning for a surf. She was due to return to Germany late March 2020, her plane was cancelled due to the Corona Pandemic and here she has remained, isolated on the other side of the world on an island called Australia.

In Lena’s words: “I came for work-experience in February and I have since had difficulty getting back home to my parents in West Germany. Thanks to the Mollymook swimmer’s for helping me throughout this difficult past few months. I couldn’t even give you all a hug at my farewell morning tea and cake on Tuesday morning. Love you all and will miss you. Till we meet again. Love Lena”

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A Memory of the nice surf during this past week

 

 

Kathryn takes on some decent size waves.

 

Sitting at home in these terrible conditions with rain and wind from the east, it’s good to just look back and consider how well off we are here in the Mollymook Milton Ulladulla area even though its winter, we have enjoyed nice sunny days and a good surf during the day this past week, until today.    (Click on pics to enlarge)

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Billy (Rusho) handed out his 8 page epistle yesterday to the 8.00 am swimmers. Talking to various swimmers it was very well received. Comments such as: “Its nice to have some humour in this ongoing difficult COVID-19 period.

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The week in Review – Mollymook Ocean Swimmers tackle the big seas

 

 

To celebrate the ending of COVID-19 restrictions, Huey sent through a big surf this past week to test the forgotten skills of the local surfers. Attached are a few examples of the fun experienced during the bigger than normal surfing conditions.

Click on pics to enlarge

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Finally a great surf arrives to mark the end of the COVID-19 lockdown

 

 

Greg duck’s just in time to miss the surfer’s board.

 

A SUPER MOON rises over Mollymook, NSW. 

 

 

A super moon happens when the full moon falls near the point at which the Moon is closest to Earth. Unlike the other astronomical events in the sky earlier this past week such the meteor shower we witnessed, the full Moon is much easy to find as it rises in all it’s glory in the evening. This year, it’s primary period was Thursday and Friday nights, May 7 and 8.

From Wikipedia: A super moon is a full moon or a new moon that nearly coincides with perigee (i.e. the closest that the Moon comes to the Earth in its elliptic orbit) It results in a slightly larger than usual apparent size as viewed from Earth. 

… a new or full moon occurs in short when, the Earth, Moon and Sun are all in a line, with the Moon in its nearest approach to Earth according to Richard Nolle, Dell Horoscope Magazine, 1979

If you missed it, you’ll have to wait until April 26 next year to see the next one.

 

Mother’s Day (and Grand-Mother’s) Length of Beach Swim

 

 

(Above) Sunrise at Mollymook prior to the ‘social distancing’ length of beach swim to mark ‘Mother’s and Grand-Mother’s day’

Below: Swimming well apart from one another, a number of swimmers joined in at various times keeping their distance and ensuring there was no congregating for this 2 km length of Mollymook Beach ‘fun’ swim. Issi commented afterwards that the swim  was in aqua blue conditions all the way, water so clear, possibly the best conditions ever.

Heather wrote: Thanks to Isabella & Helen for such a lovely Grandmother’s day swim this morning, (even though I am not one yet!!!) thoroughly  enjoyable & I made it to the end, it’s been a long time since I swam so far!!! 

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Last nights effort to capture the ‘Eta Aquarids’ meteor shower above Mollymook

 

Click on the images to enlarge

 

 

 Wikipedia records : A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate, or originate, from one point in the night sky. These meteors are caused by streams of cosmic debris called meteoroids entering Earth’s atmosphere at extremely high speeds on parallel trajectories.

The Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaked on the nights of April 4 and 5! The spectacle is brought to us as the planet orbits through the path of debris left behind by Halley’s comet! The meteor shower – shooting stars, look like stars that quickly shoot across the sky, but they are not stars. A shooting star is really a small piece of rock or dust that hits Earth’s atmosphere from space. It moves so fast that it heats up and glows as it moves through the atmosphere.

(Most of the above images were shot between 4.00 am and 4.30 am this morning. You just sit and sit and then you will see some. Later after the 5.30 am news someone rang in and saw a spectacular display just before 5.30 am. So you have to be patient)

 

Swimming in pairs for exercise

 

 

The boy’s swam in two’s maintaining ‘social distancing’. 1st pair home were Tony then Garry. 2nd pair home Ed then Ben.

 

Next Sunday, May 10 on Mothers Day:

Helen and Isabel thought to make Mothers Day special, they are planning to do a length of beach informal fun swim – starting at North Molly at 7.30 am, and of course following the Covid-19 restrictions, swimming safely in 2’s.  Just for fun – we’re calling it the “Grandma’s Covid-19 – 2020 One and Only Mollymook Swim -Grandmothers Rool”.  And of course it’s not a race, its a swim.  Swim wearing wet suits, flippers, 2-3 hats, whatever makes you happy to celebrate Mothers/Grandmothers Day.   And of course….. boys, your welcome too! We will swim in two’s maintaining the ‘social distancing’ rules.