All mouth & trousers

Hushed conversations on Tuesday night.  Should we? The forecast is bad you know.  Perhaps best to stay abed and recharge the batteries.

However, the inevitable happened.  Joan announced that the grotto would be open for business at 7.00 sharp.  No more indecision.  Bags were packed for multiple activities and then an early night.

Pete began his day with a run along the undercliff.
Joan began hers with a run on the overcliff.

Running along the bottom, Pete could hear crashing and see a distant foaming.  The tide was right out but making its presence felt.  The undercliff however was strangely calm, very little wind and just a tiny drizzle.  The main obstacles being the shingle and puddles left over from what looked to have been a wild night along the front.

Arriving back - Joan and Sara soon appeared and so did dawn.  Almost flick-of-a-switch quick.  The sea was calming now to gentle playful waves but it was still a long way out.  Pete raced down the beach, hoping to get to a swimmable  depth asap but Joan and Sara dawdled, enjoying the moon and the first fly past of cormorants.  Shoulders under and Sara was off straight out as is now her style whilst Pete & Joan frolicked.  Pete swam a little way back with Sara and then, no clock watching required as Joan gave her signal and began the long wade home.

A few widths on the sand are a great way to generate heat again and changing was accomplished shake free once more.  All agreed that the sea had warmed and estimated it to be around 6 degrees with an air temp of 8 degrees.  More cormorants passed along with some gull which Sara readily identified.  the grotto becomes more convivial with each passing week and we will all be truly sorry when Joan has to hand back the keys in the Spring.

Swimmers:  Joan, Sara, Pete
Missed swimmers: Emma & Hildi

Sea temp: about 6 degrees
Air temp: 8 degrees
Weather conditions: All mouth & trousers - fine in the end