Spring at London Bridge

As we walked down the coastpath from Daddyhole Plain in Torquay, the view out to sea was hazy and almost eerie.  The sea was glassy and flat calm, and everything seemed rather blurred and dreamlike   As we got nearer the water, we got a sudden glimpse through the trees of  petrol-blue water.   Having made our way down through the sadly neglected and rubbish-strewn gardens above Peaked Tor Cove, we changed in the sun before setting out on our aquatic adventure to London Bridge, a natural arch that just cries out to be swum through.  The water was calm, clear and beautiful, and we swooshed through the channel between Saddle Rock and the coastline, before heading towards the majestic arch, which we swam underneath.  Out the other side, we swam further along the coast to a cave where the water gurgled in the crevices.

Thanks to Carole Whelan for the pictures.

Underneath the arch

Allan had made a plan for a swim to London Bridge, a natural arch in Torquay.  Who would have thought that a swim in November would be so glorious?  As we arrived at Peaked Tor Cove the sun sparkled on the sea and the tide was very low. (It is a full moon tomorrow, so big tides).  We changed on the old concrete bathing platform, which was men-only in the days of segregated bathing, and climbed down the old barnacle-covered steps.  As we headed towards the arch the sun shone in our faces; London Bridge was stark in silhouette.  As we approached, it loomed in its great

magnificence.  The sea was petrol blue and glossy ribbons of kelp swayed to and fro, hanging from the rock. The tunnels and caves inside the arch were accessible, because the tide was low, and we swam inside, and were rocked up and down by the swell....before the cave turned nasty and spat us out.
Thanks to Jo Lubbe for the picture inside the cave.
And you can watch the swim below!

Wild in Torbay

We've had extremely low tides for the last couple of days, and two swims have revealed Torquay's hidden marine wildlife in all its naked, sometimes grotesque beauty. The names say it all: elephant hide sponge, dead men's fingers, to name just a couple; but most exciting of all, I have finally seen a Devonshire Cup Coral.  Our first swim was at London Bridge, a natural arch.  It was a glorious day with bright sun and flat, turquoise sea.  Underneath the arch we saw starfish, dead men's fingers and various sponges; we swam into a double cave at the side of the Bridge and were overwhelmed by the sheer power of the light suffusing the water.   The following day we swam at Oddicombe, a mile or two up the coast, and again, because of the low tide, saw masses of corals and anemones nestling in the rock faces.  It was here I saw the Devonshire Cup Coral - almost exactly in the middle of this picture - it's such a romantic name, I have always dreamt about seeing one. Shame that, close up, it actually looks like a cat's bottom.