Happy New Year

We have a tradition (well this is the fourth year we've done it so I think it counts as a tradition) of bringing in the New Year with a swim at Hope Cove. This year it was with a little extra panache, as Esther decided to bring along her wind up gramophone, so we entered the water to the strains of the Pomp and Circumstance March.  The plan was to swim from Outer to Inner Hope, around the Shippen, a small headland (so called because of all the ships that have fallen foul of it).  There were huge waves, murky water and lots of rocks, so most of us decided to turn back and swim in the calmer waters of Inner Hope.  We watched and waited for the few who had decided to go ahead.  We got a bit confused as it looked as though there was an extra swimmer coming in, but it turned out to be the Hope Cove Seal.

Hope at Hope Cove and a seal to boot

Hope Cove is one of the prettiest coastal villages in Devon, with its tiny harbour and cute cottages, not to mention the lively pub with its New Year Morris Men. We swam from Outer to Inner Hope - from one beach to the next round a small headland - and on the way found Devon's answer to the Corryvreckan whirlpool. Best of all though was swimming into the harbour where a grey seal was there to greet us. We trod water, not wanting to break the spell. It would pop up and look at us for a while, before dropping its head back in the most uber-casual manner and disappearing into the depths. My friend Gareth did the swim with a video camera strapped to his head. You can see the film here.

New Year's Splash

Well a lot more than a splash actually. A gorgeous swim at Hope Cove, from Outer to Inner Hope, bathed in intense afternoon sunshine that at times was blinding. We met outside the Hope and Anchor pub, where there was a large crowd watching Morris dancers; a lovely congenial atmosphere, perfect for christening the New Year. We ran down the beach at Outer Hope, and waded in...the water wasn't cold and the swimming was fairly easy, though it was a little choppy round the rocks. We swam past the Old Priest and over Barney Bank (the former a rocky finger pointing out to sea, the latter a reef) heading south towards Inner Hope. It was so calm and clear we could swim at a leisurely pace, chatting and enjoying the scenery.