Glorious sunshine on the beach and early morning heavenly swims.

Glorious sunshine and warmth, finally!  My skin is enjoying emerging from the thermals that I have been wearing since last autumn.  There is a spring in my step as I escape from my house into bright sunlight.  Summer has arrived alongside a general sense of relaxation and cheerfulness.  It feels like a mini-break from the long pandemic months we have endured this year. More people seem to say good-morning on my morning walks when the sun is glistening on the sea.  Everything feels just a little better in the sunshine.

There is of course a downside to living in this picturesque, supposedly trendy seaside town.  And that is the sudden arrival of cars, visitors, noise and litter.  It is just part of the package, I know... mostly quiet for nine months of the year and then overcrowded for the warm weeks.  It just feels like a shock each year to my sensitive, nature loving soul.  I crave peace as much as I crave sleep, food and dark chocolate.  During our long lockdowns, I think my body has reset itself to enjoy the emptiness of our roads and beach.  Now things have become busy again I feel rather like my friend's "lockdown puppy" that now barks at the slightest noise and disturbance.  Not that I've yet to start howling, although I feel close to this at times.  My heart also sinks as I notice that some people come to the beach and ruin it with toxic barbecue smoke and disruptive music.  I long to tell them all to connect with nature just as it is and to enjoy the clean, salty fresh air and relaxing sound of the waves.  It is already perfect here, why disturb this?

However, I do understand the human desire to flock to the beach in the sunshine.  With such a limited number of hot days in England, we often associate sunny weather with trips to the beach.  Perhaps it reminds us of happy childhood memories of building sandcastles and eating fish and chips on the beach, without a care in the world.  After a year of feeling anything but carefree, the beach is a perfect respite from the pandemic's endless challenges.  While politicians and scientists argue about the latest variant, case numbers and restrictions, the sea remains limitless and wild.  No matter what is happening in our life, the waves will still ebb and flow in a rhythm that is reassuring and primal.  Being out in nature, away from screens and zoom is always going to be extremely good for our well-being.

In order to find my moment of peace and calm in the sea, I have become an early morning swimmer for the first time.  As I opened my eyes each morning this week, woken by cracks of sunlight, my first thought has been the sea.  I could almost hear the waves beckoning me to emerge from my sleep into the peaceful, empty waters.  This morning it was 7.30 am as I crunched my way over the shingle to the water's edge.  There was grey in the sky for the first time, providing coolness and a scattering of rain.  The morning sea is always cooler, which still appeals as a refreshing, invigorating part of the experience.

As I looked around, I was not totally alone.  Three Herring Gulls were waiting for me as I swam out past the groynes and I could hear the quiet chatter of two local swimmers along the beach.  A paddle-boarder passed me, gliding effortless (or so it appeared) out to sea.  In these warmer waters I can swim a little further out and head to the jetty, a short distance away.  The swim there was easy, assisted by the current which made me feel like I was almost gliding like the paddle-board.  As I turned to come back, I realised the deceptively calm sea was still moving strongly.  It felt like I swam about a hundred strokes to just travel five metres.  But in the warmth of these summer seas, my body felt more mermaid-like and awake rather than tingling with cold.

When I checked the temperature of the water, it was around 15 ℃.  I wondered if it felt more like a warm bath because I have acclimatised through winter swimming?  I then watched someone slowly easing themselves into the sea, gasping and shrieking for at least a couple of minutes!  Does it really feel that cold to the novice swimmer I thought?  Having swum every other day through the whole winter (including frost and snow) summer swimming is very different.  There is less physical challenge obviously and no need for long warm-up sessions with hot drinks afterwards.  But it still feels good, refreshing and freeing to be in the sea.  Maybe we all need a moment of calm connection to nature each day wherever we are.  Especially in these continuing uncertain times.

Comments

  1. "I enjoyed reading about summer swimming and how different it is to your winter dips"

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A wonderful week of nourishment at Cortijo Romero in Spain.

How Cortijo Romero, in Spain, is keeping calm and riding the ups and downs of the pandemic.

When life takes an unexpected turn, the sudden passing of my father.

The wonders of sea swimming during lockdown! And how to get the health benefit without freezing!

Coast to coast walk day 5. The last section, reaching the south-east coast of Kent! Walking to support Cortijo Romero in Spain.

How to get through Covid fatigue - have patience and rest or push on through?

Making a pilgrimage to lay flowers for the Queen and our collective loss.

From a blog to a book! Contributing to an anthology of stories titled "Love in the time of Corona - Covid Chronicles."

Why is resting so difficult to actually do? A peaceful weekend remembering how to slow down!

Swimming (and walking) in the snow while soaking up the beauty of nature.