November 3rd 2017 Lough Hyne Swim @ 12.30
High Tide 03.55 (3.50m)
Low Tide 09.56 (0.70m)
High Tide 16.15 (3.60m)
Low Tide 22.15 (0.60m)
Full Moon
My husband reminded me I have not posted a blog for a while. I have been swimming but time seems to be flying and I am chasing my tail as they say. I have had some beautiful October swims all in Lough Hyne and post Hurricane Ophilia which blasted into West Cork directly, although she lost hurricane status thankfully before she hit . She caused some chaos to trees and many homes were without power for days. Lough Hyne Hill is closed to the public as many trees have fallen and made the pathways blocked and dangerous. It is very sad to see such devastation. I saw work being done today so hopefully they have started clearing the trees but I would say it will be sometime before we can walk up that beautiful hill for that magnificent view.
My favourite view is always at the start of my blogs, the snap I take just before a swim and todays is rather special. I was meant to be meeting fellow swimmers at 12 but I was delayed and late by a good half an hour, I could see the splashes up at the gap, so it was a lone swimmer experience today.
Tide is low getting in, its flat calm and just a little chilly. I hear my breath for the first few strokes until I relax. The only new addition to my swimming wardrobe is my socks. I am still in my lighter wetsuit with orange arms. I much prefer this and am determined to keep it on with my thin rash vest and heat seeker vest, and no gloves for as long as I can. I am so impressed with other non wet suit swimmers especially Simon who is embracing the “skin” and keeping it going in November still going around the island, whoop, whoop.
I think it is the cold water that becomes addictive. I find myself doing strange things like having colder showers and running my hands under the cold water tap. The buzz of when I come out of the water even when I am flipping freezing. I love it and want my body to be able to endure the cold and push myself out of my comfort zone further this year, all in the hope that I will get some of that brown fat and next summer be able to lose the wetsuit all together!!
The best thing about being a lone swimmer is I can take my time and take photos and not have to race to keep up.
The water is pretty murky and heavy and clumps of terrifying seaweed just appear and frighten the living daylights out of me. I wish I was not on my own now..
Lough Hyne Hill, the devastation is hidden by the hill in the foreground.
On my final stride home I bump into Iron Man Garry who completed the Barcelona Iron Man this year, he is pretty incredible and a true inspiration and always smiling.
Busy car park and the organisers of Scar are getting ready for the event on Saturday. More Iron men and women in the making, good luck to you all.
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