Round the rugged rocks

As we gathered on the beach at Elberry Cove the sun was out and the sea was sparkling.  The water is finally starting to clear after the murk of the stormy winter, and as we waded out, Jackie and I remarked on that delicious feeling of anticipation of all the summer swims ahead.   We pottered along the crinkly coastline towards  Broadsands, swimming through lagoons and channels, and looking up at miniature cliffs, packed with exotic shapes in the limestone.  As Jackie said, it was Gaudi-esqe .  We then came across an arch that we swam under.  It was like being in fairyland.   Thanks to Jackie for the pictures.

Scorchio!

After of weeks of incessant rain we suddenly have a heatwave. Lynne, Geoffrey and I set off towards the sea at Goodrington beach in Paignton, enjoying the feel of the warm red sand in between our toes, to swim the mile south to Broadsands. We soon found ourselves over the most fascinating reef, and spent ages pootling around looking at the seaweed, anemones and shoals of tiny blue fish. We then swam on, saying hello to an eccentric canoeist wearing nothing but a minuscule pair of trunks (him not us), past numerous little coves, before hitting Armchair Rock. In the final part of the swim, in the approach to Broadsands, the water was lagoon-like, glossy like a swimming pool.

The nature trail

When I was little I wanted to be a Blue Peter presenter, and would walk around the fields near my home pointing out the things of interest to my imaginary audience. Today's swim was a bit like that, except the Val Singleton figure was my friend Sue who has an encylopaedic knowledge of our marine flora and fauna. We were swimming from Broadsands to Elberry in Paignton, where there is a bed of rare eel grass, home to sea horses. You swim alongside the crinkly coastline with its strange rocks like sculptures created by hippies on acid. As well as the delicate eel grass we saw breadcrumb sponge, sea lettuce, dulse, a starfish and sea potatoes (yes, sea potatoes). The latter are a type of furry urchin; there were lots of their shells on the seabed.

We did it!

Well after about six months of planning, hopes, dreams, frustrations, and shredded nerves, the big day finally came. The inaugural Agatha Christie Swim took place in Paignton, between the pretty beaches of Goodrington and Broadsands. 250 hardy souls swam what seemed like quite a bit more than a mile. The bravest - including the Mayor, Nick Bye - pictured here - did it without wetsuits. Respect. The event wasn't without its hiccups - especially in the water, I seemed to swallow half of Tor Bay - but hey, if we can raise thousands of pounds for the BBC Radio Devon Air Ambulance Appeal, it will have been worth doing.

Swimming through fairyland

Tor Bay has always been a place where ships shelter. Today, despite all the gales, it was serenely calm, and there was a magical sense of otherworldliness, a paused dimension, as we entered the water. We swam from Elberry Cove to Broadsands, past a series of crinkly, pointed rock formations that looked as though they should be home to mythical creatures. My very knowledgeable friend Sue tells me they are the fossilised remains of corals which grew here 360 million years ago, when the sea was shallow and tropical. There were caves and little inlets and channels to swim through. It felt like another kingdom.