How accidents happen

So - yesterday I cycled some 40 miles to the coast, had a quick bite to eat, then met up at Brittas Bay with the youngsters who had come by car. Their first action was to jump in the sea. After resting for 5 minutes or so I thought I would join them and show some solidarity. The sea at Brittas bay gets deep slowly and they were far out by this time - I supposed on a sand bank. Oh, and I forgot to say, I have hurt my chest - maybe a bruised rib or wot-not, it is better than it was but still not 100%. I found I was up to my shoulders on my way out and still no sign of a sand-bank. Anyway I got to where they were, almost out of my depth, and swam around a bit like one does, then decided it was too cold and made for the shore (the others soon followed, it having started to rain). But it seemed like it was only getting deeper. I could not swim well because of my chest and I am not a strong swimmer anyway, and I could not propel myself by foot and, worse still, I was getting cramp. And I now know that the tide was coming in, so I guess it really was getting deeper. I have to admit that I started to panic. But the others were nearby and one had a float which I requisitioned and another helped tow me back until I was well within my depth. By the time I got to the shore my cramp was so bad in both legs that I could not stand. So what would have happened had I not had friends around? Of course it is unlikely that I would have gone so deep on my own, I am that frightened of water, but I might have.

The feeling of panic was scary because it reversed all the self-preservation adrenalin reactions that should have kicked in. It was as if something was telling me "that's it, chum" and was urging me to agree.

And the succession of circumstances - I should not have gone into cold water so deep, so soon after strenuous cycling, or so soon after eating - I was in fact not being careful.  That's how accidents happen.

Bike to coast

First whole day bike ride this year and I ache!  One of my favourite routes: Blessington, Manor Kilbride, Sally Gap, Roundwood, Wicklow town (a brief swim), Brittas Bay where I met up with my daughter (who drove there) and had a longer swim and suffered bad cramp, Rathdrum, Larragh, Wicklow Gap and home again. Distance 81.9 miles, Maximum speed 43.3 mph (descent from Sally Gap - awesome and scary), average speed 11.5 mph, total ride time just over 7 hours.

Morning sun on Sally Gap road 

Resting, half way up to Wicklow Gap 

Bike ride and seals

Today I cycled to via Annamoe to Wicklow town, then to Brittas Bay, then back via Rathdrum. Total distance 71.5 miles, maximum speed 41.9 mph. Reason? A free Sunday and reasonable weather possibly the last chance of a long bike ride this year. Destination? I hadn't been to my favourite sea location this year so I thought it was about time I did. And where is that? Possibly Wicklow's closest guarded secret! But I will show some pictures...

Wicklow's closest guarded secret

How many seals can you see?

There was a whole bunch of them just here
 but they took to the water before I could snap them

All except this old codger...

Old codger closeup, growled when I got close

And on the other side of the bay this young chap...

who, it seems, I woke up

and then he humped himself into the sea

Showing the deliciously clear water (and a seal)

More seals

So then I had a short swim. In spite of its proximity to Wicklow town one can usually get away with swimming naked here and so I did, not wanting to get my shorts full of sea water which would cause blisters when cycling. The swim was very short because I was a bit cautious of the very nosey seals.

On the way back to my parked bike

First view of Brittas Bay

Brittas Bay beach

There were too many people at Brittas Bay so I could not swim, not wanting to get my shorts wet, and anyway it had become overcast and a bit chilly. So after a short promenade I ate my lunch and started the long return journey. The climb to Wicklow Gap is long...