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!

The was a huge crowd swimming last night between 5.30 and 7.30, but Siobhan took a night off to enjoy her own swim – so the only picture was the one below of the Chatting Cashell sisters.  Apparently they could be heard from the beach all the way to the Dutchman and back again. They had twelve days of news to catch up on, after Carol’s winning trip to the Swim around Key West.

Eleanor & Carol take a break from chatting.

Nice to see Eleanor displaying a Myrtleville hat in the picture.  Carol took one to Florida with her – but forgot to take a picture with it, so she sent on the one below which she claims is Key West.  Anyone can see that it’s the wall by the campsite in Owenahincha, with a couple of trees photoshopped in.  Nice try, Carol 🙂

The Hat in Keynahincha.