A bigger splash

I just got back from a week in Spain with good friends. An excellent time was had by all despite the weather. It hadn't rained in the area since april and they've had their hottest summer in seventy years. We had four days of rain which threatened to over flow the tiny pool in the back garden.

It was still warm enough for us to swim, I could manage four lengths underwater of the oversized bath tub but it was good fun. I wish I'd remembered a pair of goggles though. Apart from the water and trips to Cordoba and Almodovar del Rio we ate, drank and played cards.

I set the self timer to get this shot of me diving into the water, I'm really pleased with it. It did take several goes and helped empty out the over full pool.

This too was taken on self timer. I got quite cold with all the splashing about despite the water being about 20ºC. Winter season starts at the Lido tomorrow, I bet the water there is much cooler. It does mean I can start the daily blog again though.

Montenegro Swimtrek

I've just come back from a wonderful week in Montenegro with Swimtrek. My mate Ben came along as well, here we are in front of the church tower in Perast, the beautiful little Venetian town where we stayed.

We had a great group of swimmers from all over the place: Sweden, Israel, Australia, Germany, Ireland and the UK. A great bunch and very social, a few very good nights out added to the ambience.

I had visited Perast before and always wanted to swim around the church situated on a little lake in the bay, this was my chance.

Some of the group liked to do a bit of synchronised swimming.

And diving off the boat was good fun.

One day we swam at lake Skadar on the Albanian border and then went up a river that had snakes in it.

We also swam out on the coast along cliffs dotted with caves which we had time to explore.

The water was beautifully clear and warm, the lido will be a shock when I get back in next week.

By the end of the week we all had aching limbs and sore shoulders. I got a little sunburnt and my skin feels cleaned by all the salt. This was a really good trip, the swimming varied and the company fantastic.