Swim Notes – 18/06/2025
I swam in the sea, here are some notes:
Yesterday
I woke up early to the sounds of birds and passing runners outside my bedroom window. My mind and body were on "continental time". I lifted the blind to look at the sky, blue without a cloud. I got changed, packed a towel and walked down to the cove.
The light was bright and diffused, the kind of light that only appears in the morning near the sea. The thatched roofs of the houses below were glowing. Two women sat on a doorstep smoking and chatting quietly in a language I couldn't quite make out, I said hello and continued down the hill.
I arrived at the cove as the fishermen were pushing their boats out to sea. The tractor grumbled over the pebbled beach as it softly nudged the boats towards the waters edge.
I continued on to Little Cove and stumbled down the steps. I changed standing on the flattest rock I could find. A cloud shaped like a bird emerged. I teetered towards the waters edge, trying not to step on sharp rocks. The water was colder than I hoped and was smooth like silk. I stepped tentatively over submerged pebbles and tried to catch my breathe as I felt the lightheadedness that accompanies me on a cold dip. I waded out to waist high water and then fell forward into the clutches of the ocean. Ahead of me, the sun shone between a crack in the rocks, I swam towards the rays of light and trod water as I arrived, my head held towards the sun and my eyes closed.
The grumble of the fishing boat engine faded into the distance as it went around the point, towards deeper waters.
I dipped my head under the water, my ears filling and going quiet. I opened my eyes to the blur of rocks, seaweed and sand and floated for a few seconds.
When I emerged, the world felt different. Cooler and quieter.
Today
My head woke up early but my body refused to follow. Eventually I got up and went down to the cove again, but later. The women weren't there and the fishermen had all left. The sky was cloudier today and the air felt softer.
I got into the water at Little Cove, a sheen of oil shimmered across the surface. I swam out to the rocks, climbed onto them and jumped back in. The oil dispersing as I disrupted the surface of the water
I got out and began the walk up the hill. The women were back on their doorstep, smoking and chatting. I said hello and continued home.