Lots of people on their travels and a great picture below from Siobhan Russell in the UK.  Looks spectacular.

Siobhan Russell with her holiday hat at Man O’War Bay, Lulworth Cove, England.

Thanks to Breda Maguire for this fantastic picture of our beautiful swimming location, as a group heads around the corner towards Fountainstown on their early morning swim.  Several of the group went over and back – it’s becoming fashionable now!

Good luck to everyone heading to the swims in Glengarriff and Ardgroom this weekend.  Forecast looks kind!

It’s great to see an ever-growing group of swimmers doing their first 2km swim to or from Fountainstown and others moving on to 4km as well.  Breda Maguire did her first swim to Fountainstown last week, guided by local Swimming Sherpa, Denis Condon.

Denis has got very fancy with his gear and he mapped the swim.  Unfortunately, his little secret was exposed by the map.  Denis has what might be called “a minor fear of Jellies”.  Or “a terror-filled phobia”, if you prefer.  As you can see from the map below, he spotted a few over near Fountainstown, exited the water sharpish until he was sure he was past them, then hopped back in again before Breda noticed he was gone.  Technology – it always catches you out in the end.

Denis & Breda’s swim, complete with quick exit and return by Denis.

Well done, Breda and I know Denis is in demand from other swimmers stepping up their distances.  Jokes aside, he’s a great source of encouragement for everyone.  Good man, Denis – here’s one for you 🙂

Some of the regulars had good results in the Little Bo Peep at the weekend, with swim times coming down fast.  Well done Niall & Steve.

Busy swim – July 21.

They’re not just competitive in the water….

Carol wins the ‘I can fit more hair in my white one than you can in your yellow one’ competition.

Tom McCarthy was back after a week ferrying CBS camera crews around Ned’s Distance camp.  It sounds like an incredibly professional operation.  Can’t wait to see that programme!  Siobhan decided to jump into this picture, but didn’t think through her positioning.

Breda Maguire, Sean O’Farrell, Tom McCarthy, Damian O’Neill and Siobhan Russell.  Years of practice getting people to pose in the right places and Siobhan picks to stand in a hole on a sloping beach. Her description – a hobbit among giants!

With the water temperatures heading up beyond 16, Jellies were very much in evidence on Saturday morning.  In what might be considered a slight overreaction, emergency services were called when one swimmer got four stings.  These particular emergency servants were, however, immediately distracted by the sight of a camera and only made vague shapes to find the stricken swimmer.  Left to his own devices, he resorted to dousing himself with vinegar and being chased by dogs who thought he was a chip.

Emergency? Count on us! Oh, look Audrey, a camera – cheeeeese!

Diligently searching in one direction for the victim – while posing, of course.

And now the other direction….A thoroughly complete, professional response and lovely clean uniforms.

A new swimmer got hooked on the sea on Saturday.  Maria from Almeria came down with Myrtleville regular Roz O’Brien.  She went in with a wetsuit on, came out and ditched it after 5 minutes and did another 40 minutes in togs.  We told her it’s this warm all year round.

Maria del Mar Ruiz Martinez, Carmen Burns, Roz O’Brien & Anne Sheehy.

6pm today, Monday.  06.15 tomorrow, Tuesday morning.  Swim Safe!

Lots of groups in on Monday night, even with so many away on holidays or at Ned’s camp.  Sea temp is hovering around 14c, which we’d be delighted with if we hadn’t had 18+ a few weeks back!

6pm group on Monday night.

Some people, though, they’re just a cut above all this rushing out to the Dutchman.  If it’s not 8km or so, they just don’t bother…

Too cool for this short swimming lark – Denis catches some rays in Myrtleville after his Loch Allua 8km on Sunday.

Swimming 06.15 Thursday and Friday and 08.15 Saturday.  Swim Safe. Swim often 🙂

We had a visitor from Edinburgh during the week, over to see Paolo Nutini in the Marquee and looking for a quick fix of saline.  Sarah Morton swims with The Wild Ones, a year-round group based on Portobello Beach in Edinburgh.  Compared to the North Sea, she thought our 13c was very pleasant.   They have access to showers in a local pool after their swims and have had unsuspecting newcomers faint, coming from the sea and into the hot shower.  That’s the advantage of having no facilities at our swimming spots here in Cork – no fainting!

Husband, Geoff Earl, is chairman of Tri Scotland but he restricted himself to the beach in preparation for his big night out, which ended in the bar with Paolo himself.  Successful trip to Cork 🙂

Sarah Morton from the Wild Ones, who swim from Portobello Beach in Edinburgh, takes centre stage on Myrtleville beach.

On the travelling front, James Slowey sent provocative pictures from Florida.  Really, though, the Keys are sooo last year – everyone seems to be there : James, Carol & five more etc etc. It’s like Crosshaven at this stage.

Only 31c in the water on Siesta Beach for Mr. Slowey. Chilly.

Fair enough, he’s holding up the Hat, but it might as well be two fingers – ‘I’m on the beach in Floriday, Nah, Nah, Na, Na, Nah’.

Good luck to everyone in the Lee Swim today!