Tangaroa

So it’s getting colder in the air and colder in the sea. In lifeguards we have resumed pool training where I unfortunately suffer with chlorine sensitivity but with my local swim group we carry on in the open water. 🌊My duration in the water is reduced but I do actually prefer the buzz and euphoria when it is cold. 🥶What I do struggle with is my hands and as much as I enjoyed a short sea swim at sunrise this morning my hands really hurt on exit. Time for the neoprene accessories I think.

People do stop the open water when it’s colder but I suggest carry on dipping rather than quitting. The benefits are still great both mentally and physically. It is advisable to check with a doctor first. I also recommend a sauna on the beach to try contrast therapy. Luckily for me I live near Môr a Sawna on Jackson’s so this was a perfect end to my working week.

I was so relaxed and chilled and my skin was glowing afterwards. We also had a body scrub to use and a plunge pool if you didn’t fancy the sea. I feel great and highly recommend using our local well-being amenities.

A lovely autumn equinox retreat with Christine in the Dare valley today. The return to balance activities were for me very much overdue.

Hatha yoga, yoga nidra a sound bath and then a freshwater dip in the Dare country park.

Christine is super knowledgeable and despite not having much free time to practice yoga lessons I will be practicing some movements at my second home the beach. 🧘‍♀️

All or Nothing Events 5k Rhoose to Whitmore the big ‘R’ swim ✅

Wow what an experience, a tough swim with an unexpected speedy tidal assist at the beach I know so well Whitmore 😳and a safety boat rescue ride to help me get into shore as the current was too strong! The sea won this time , respect the sea🌊 Events always with safety cover! 🛟

Felt truly superhuman for finishing and super proud of our nyad team! Discussed over wine only!! 😳🙈

Thanks to Simon, ( please can we have a medal 🏅) the Whitmore and Vale lifeguards, especially Daniel!

Only just recovered!! 🤣

🏖️Gower Peninsula this week visiting three cliffs, the blue pool and the sunflowers at Rhosilli Bay. 🌻

🏡Back home to training and bodyboarding one evening, a dip in the rain at watchtower, dog walking at Jackson’s and our usual shenanigans at whitmore on a Sunday morning. 🧜‍♀️

Wish every week was like this. 💖

Wow what a great event the Swansea shark swim 🦈

The team did brilliantly, Jim doing his first event ever and a few of the distance group doing this particular sea swim for the first time getting some amazing 1st, 2nd and 3rd place times! 🏅

Like last year it was a tough swim, I doubted I would increase to the 1500m but there was no drama booking and accepting this challenge a couple of months ago. Sea swim confidence improving! 🤩

My tiger shark swim was a challenge🤢however all so worth it as I came 3rd in my age category which was a complete surprise seeing all the triathletes around.

My goggles unfortunately failed and I did find it tricky sighting the course so I really don’t know how I got to the finish line, turning left at sausage buoys and right at triangle buoys water in the eyes making it impossible to see, going the wrong way😳Well, actually I do, the amazing support with me and the great medal waiting for all finishers made me determined to finish !! 🏅🥰

Fab memories, shenanigans, great fun, cake and champagne! 🍾💖

Another point swim Jackson’s to Whitmore Saturday with Swim Wild Wales and a first for the rest of my team. Lovely to do it all together and well done, what a great line we swam🏊🏻‍♀️🏊🏻‍♀️🏊🏻‍♀️🏊🏻‍♀️

Thanks to Bryce for being a great swim guide and to Osian for board cover and also a big thanks to National Coastwatch Institution - Nell's Point for being extra vigilant when we whizzed by. Thanks for the photos by family and friends too. 🩵

Getting more confident and feeling more prepared for my biggest sea swim challenge yet the ‘Big R Swim’ with All or Nothing Events in a couple of weeks
🧜‍♀️

Also enjoyed watching the tide coming back in many hours later in mor_a_sawna too! Lovely company 🥰

What a swim today. 2.2k from Jackson’s Bay to the Old Harbour Wall. Partly to gain more knowledge and understanding of where I swim regularly and partly to see if I just could.

Organised by the All or Nothing Events team we had great safety knowledge and cover.

The safety boat took us first out from whitmore to Jackson’s Bay where we were literally chucked into the deep end. That’s was exciting enough! The white water visible on these headlands and that was our first obstacle. We were rolling in these waves and despite it being extremely difficult to site I knew the boat had eyes on me. Passing the choppy waters on the headland we then swam further out into the current line to gain a bit of speed. This was thrilling, still very bouncy but at least we were going a good distance. On quickly reaching Friars point a decision was made to continue around into the old harbour and my god this seemed forever to get in however, a smile did not leave my face knowing I just swam the two points.

I was Billy no mates today hence no pics as my fabulous team of swimmers raced at the Cotswolds (I had other commitments) but reflecting back on a year of challenges, I was actually excited rather than nervous to be taking part in an event today. The open water swims are just £15 a session and cater for all abilities. Strongly recommend and for me that was an epic swim! Thank you I will sleep well tonight 🧜‍♀️

🧜‍♀️Loved swimming this week in beautiful Barry, quite a few swimbles just me and the pooch early mornings 🐶 too.

Whitmore for a strong swim against the current one morning and a swim to the buoy and back in Jackson’s today. 💖 Perfect weather too ☀️

Shenanigans as usual 😊

Thank you mor_a_sawna for your pics too, can’t wait to come back! 🥰





the sea

Finishing the school term with some amazing experiences from Barry wellbeing businesses this week. 🥰

Local sea swim group free, a taster yoga session at Watchtower Bay free and a beautiful sauna on Jackson’s for just £10 for the whole hour

A big thanks to mor_a_sawna and Mel from Karma Beauty.

Thanks to All or Nothing Events today for a fun guided swim around Friars point . Despite choppy conditions and thunder due on exit, the safety team made us feel confident and we did it. 👊1.6K swim with big waves on the point it was magical to experience. Loved the pink cap too! 🌊

I used to look at the event in awe wishing I could do it and a year on and it’s been possible 🥰Well done to my two brave wader ‘nyads’ 🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️

Fantastic experience at Cardiff Bay Tri swim today with the Waders. Some of us increasing distance on last year and some trying it for the very first time. 🥰

I absolutely loved the day, the camaraderie, laughs, amazing support and the huge hugs. I’m so thrilled to be doing these events and getting support from some of the best people I know and also encouraging others to start knowing that their journey will be the same. 🧜‍♀️

Be brave, give it a go. Join in. 💙

Highly recommend this new business, a stunning sauna design looking out onto our beautiful Jackson’s Bay. 🌊

A new Barry business that deserves a follow.

🧜‍♀️For me personally the sauna will be a regular part of contrast therapy, a method that provides so many health benefits; physiologically and mentally. 🥰

Home | M R A Sawna At Môr A Sawna we believe that every once in a while it’s good for everyone to not only disconnect from technology, but also from their autopilot status. Open your heart, unleash your spirit, and join us down at the beach. With breathe taking views over looking a secluded sandy cove, backed by cl...

Where has the week gone? A truly magical week for my birthday celebrations, the best weather and the most clear seas I’ve ever seen. 🥳☀️🌊

It started with a visit to a new exciting addition to Barry’s beautiful beaches Môr a Sawna . What a beautiful sauna design, situated close to our gorgeous Jackson’s Bay. Katherine was super professional, pricing was great and I loved the whole experience of contrast therapy. ( Hot and Cold water benefits)

A few waders also met on Jackson’s on Monday evening, some for coaching Swim Wild Wales and some of us to swim
to the buoy and back, and back again. Conditions were perfect and the sea was crystal. We of course had cake ☺️

My lovely hubby and son worked hard on my garden and surrounded me with gifts of plants, a garden dinner and sangria. 💕

On Thursdays evening, knowing a few of the Nyads were resting for the Tenby swim I joined on to an All or Nothing Events to unexpectedly learn I would be swimming around the point. I was sooooo excited 😃 Once again the water was super clear and I felt so very safe with the team.

This evening, mum, sister and I had a road trip out in the camper van. Rain came but it was lovely to spend time with them and we of course managed Prosecco and a chippy tea. ❤️

I love my swimming adventures, there is no end goal, there are just opportunities to progress, be braver and have the best time.

Fantastic weekend at the RNLI Festival of the Sea on Barry Island. Being part of the ceremony for Barry Dock RNLI honorary freeman and freewoman status award. Proud to be a part. ☺️

My voluntary role with the RNLI is water safety messaging and I talked to many dog walkers on Saturday about the dangers of rescuing your dog if they get into trouble in the water. I was accompanied by my pooch Jackson. 🐶

On Sunday Su and I talked to many families on the main key water safety messages and the float to live campaign and this was successful and much appreciated. 🙏

I even managed front row seats during the RNLI boat display as the were dipping. 🧜‍♀️

We had a close up display of the lifeguards in action on the jet ski too!Thank you for that. 🌊

Huge thanks to everyone for such a successful event.👏

Living so close to the beach I’ve managed plenty of open water swimming during half term.

A break out the bay is planned with knowledge and safety cover from Swim Wild Wales next week, a very big challenge for me and a guided swim in beautiful Pembrokeshire with Wild Swim Wales. Looking very much forward. 🏊🏻‍♀️

Love the open water. 🧜‍♀️

😳What a fantastic weekend of anticipation, nerves, excitement and pure elation for my teams achievements and with some bloody great medals. 🏅

🏊🏻‍♀️Some taking part in their first open water swim event and some of us increasing the distance hugely from last year. Distances completed were 750m and 1.9k at Swansea Bay yesterday. One of them also taking part in her first ever triathlon on Barry Island too with SO PROUD. 🥰

🙏I recommend trying events no matter your ability, the feeling is addictive and the best bit is being part of a team.💙

Swimevents

🧜‍♀️With swim events approaching with the lovely waders the weekend involved lots of training.💪

Personal bests at Cardiff outdoor pool, sighting practice and a mammoth sea swim in Whitmore Bay yesterday with the All or Nothing Events. Highly recommend these activities if you plan on entering any open water swim events. Experienced sea swimmers in convoy and safety cover enabled me to relax and swim out my comfort zone. 🏊🏻‍♀️

So proud of the team, what a journey 🤩

or Nothing Events

☀️Stunning evenings on Barry Island this week. 💪Strength training and cold water therapy, a swimble and cake 🍰 and some lovely evenings walking the dog too 🐶Lucky to live so close to the sea 🧜‍♀️

🏊🏻‍♀️Lovely fresh open water venue this morning at Cardiff International Pool and Gym. Sun was shining on us but I was still cold attempting the distance. 🥶

🥐Great croissant’s and bacon baps whilst warming up in this beautiful sunshine.☀️