Our last day! Woke up early to watch the light come. In the night I’d heard rain on the roof, hammering at the covered skylight, but by the time I was sat by the window the day was dry. The world was blue black and slowly, the light trickled in, sky lightening first, then water. The mountains were last, holding their hulking blackness the longest, till all the rest was grey. I went out for a final swim from the steps. The tide was at its highest and the white boat that had appeared the day before, seemingly marooned on the rocks, was floating innocently at anchor. The water was cold. The seaweed, mustard yellow, clumped beneath the surface, bubbles breaking as wind formed waves rocked against the sea wall. I went down the steps till the water hit my waist, counted to three and kicked off. Though the sky was grey, in the water the world was blue. Steel and indigo slipped and slid against each other in shifting shapes as the water moved, dazzling, dancing, never still. I swam out to Jeff, buoy 2. For the first time, rather than just tapping him, I swam right the way round him. I waved to Emily 2, resisted the urge to swim to her too – I didn’t have as long to warm up post swim and I was alone, so I didn’t risk the extra time in the water. I swam back toward the steps, cricking my neck to watch crows stretched against the sky overhead. Before I got out I kicked a slow circle, took in Barmouth bridge, the hills, the upstream tide flowing to the distant mountains, the bay, the trees, the crescent where we’ve been so inspired, so fulfilled. I swam back, got out, jogged around the kitchen to warm up.
We walked through the rooms saying goodbye to them. It was so hard to leave but we hoped we’d be back. We said a sad goodbye to our hosts, who made us so welcome, then drove home, through ragged mountains in rain drenched shades of green and gold and amber.
Bonnie Radcliffe 