My 503rd Bluetit Swim - by Andy Briggs (South Pembs Bluetit)

As somebody who found the swimming pools on holiday abroad cool, I was surprised to find I have now been with the Bluetits for over 4 years. Having moved to Pembrokeshire in 2021 my wife was keen to join, so in May 2021 I happened to tag along for a brief and cold swim in Tenby. The following month we were very warmly welcomed at a group swim in Freshwater East and received what must have been one of the last Bluebell badges. During those early days we picked up various tips on where to swim and how open everyone was in welcoming people to join their swims. I had been through a couple of winters before actually doing my first post for a swim.

So here I was four years later, a few days before August bank holiday, wondering where to fit in a swim after completing a few basic checks. Firstly, what was the weather forecast – good, it was looking sunny. Right, where to go that wouldn’t be busy and where there would be somewhere to park easily. It was a spring tide period so Lydstep Caverns would be a great place at low tide. This is one of my favourite beaches after my first Bluetit friend took us there in  April 2022. But what about the wind? An incoming storm wasn’t due to that evening so it was onto Surfline to check the sea forecast and tide times for that location. A bit of swell but no really big waves until that evening. Once I had posted the swim on the Bluetits Facebook page there was the usual wondering whether anyone would come along. Time passed but then relief as people started to comment that they would be coming along.

On to the day and it was a short bike ride over to the meeting point and a few people started to arrive. To my surprise we were eventually up to 23 people, from around the county, so we made our way down the steps and over the boulders onto the beach. Once everyone was ready we managed my largest group shot ever and then we were into the sea to enjoy bobbing around in some manageable waves so the forecasts had been correct. Some of us made it around the far corner to the other small beach and large cave. All in all a very enjoyable swim and my 503rd since joining the Bluetits.

I always enjoy trying out the different beaches and meeting and chatting with the varying mix of whoever happens to join. If you are ever contemplating whether to post a swim then just do it as somebody else usually joins. Out of all the swims I have posted I have only been on my own twice.

Andy Briggs - South Pembrokeshire Bluetits