Swimming With Seals
I couldn’t believe it when I ended up swimming with seals. Near me is a beautiful little cove. It is at least twenty minutes walk and since the path down the cliff at the end of that is very steep with hairpin bends it is usually deserted. At high tide it is just rocks but there is a small beach when the tide has gone out. There are old worn steps carved into the slate rock helping the descent. Who created them a long time ago? Smugglers, maybe?
When I haven’t been working this year I have been busy in the garden so I haven’t been swimming once in the sea. 21st September, autumn equinox and the day was as hot as summer so I decided to take the afternoon off and go for a swim. As you can see others were there before me. By a lucky co-incidence I had my camera with me.
I went swimming, always hoping I could get closer to the seal. One stayed nearby but every time s/he rose out of the water too close s/he dived instantly and with a great splash to re-emerge at a safe distance. I got well out of my depth and it was difficult swimming one handed, reading specs on my nose to see the photo I was taking, camera held high as the waves bobbed me up and down so in the end I gave up with getting really close and swam back to the beach to leave my glasses and camera so I could have a proper swim.
It was only as I was leaving the water I saw the little one. I knew there would be one somewhere at this time of year but I never dreamed that it would be on the beach. Quiet though the beach is it does get regular visitors. I felt ashamed of having disturbed them and left immediately. Hard to think of a greater privilage than to end up swimming with seals.
