Scilly 360

Aye, aye, aye. I've got to the finish line which I gave myself- st Mary's, Isles of Scilly. I've swum round all 10 miles of it an' all. Through the crystal clear lime mayo coloured waters, that on some bends were as calm as a village pond and some were so choppy I swallowed an entire wave. I buried my head to watch the white sand sparkle and the various sea weeds twirl and waltz below. Little jellyfish blobbed beneath too. Colourful unintimidating boats docked in the modest harbour and although It's peak summertime, the island still seemed quiet and remote. Apparently, it's not changed since Ken and Pearl, who I met on the Scillonian ferry which got us here, first visited in the 1970s. No buildings are taller than three storey and visitors aren't allowed to bring their cars. It's a magical island. It could be mistaken for being Carribean like, if it weren't for the 14 degree water.

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Yesterday, I was joined by 38 other swimmers, some unfazed by the cold temp for such a long duration and endured the distance in skins. The race was split up into 4 legs, and we chatted and chilled eating cake and sweets, whilst waiting for the sound of the horn for the next leg. It was a beautiful and intimate and friendly race. I made new pals and swam into the sunset as I stroked into the final tenth mile, where, of course, I was handed a pasty as I crossed the finish line. Take note-other events!

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The @scillyswim culminates with a party this evening, a lovely touch as it was such a long journey for everyone to mAke it down here in Scilly. For me, it took six months. A wonderful six months of pedalling around Britain, connecting with like minded souls and making new friends, squealing with joy as we all got wet. So where do I go now? Aye, aye, aye. Perhaps, like with most events, I should go for a warmdown. But, first I'm gonna chill here on this archipelago off the Cornish coast, and see what else it has to offer. Well, it did take me six months to get here, it's the least I can do, right?!

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One million thanks to everyone who enjoyed following my journey and helped me raise £2k for @crisis_uk. For ideas on what I should do next, please comment below. Much love, linds x

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dippingtoscotland