I’m delighted to share with you my recent work “The long swim” I created this painting on Saturday and it is the 38th in a continuing series exploring the spirit of adventure in all of us. Distant shores, great voyages, friendships rekindled and quiet moments of joy on reflection of the wonders of our world.
As the the waves enclosed her and she looked into the blue waters beneath, Rayna thought back to her days as a long distance swimmer.
From a child she’d been drawn to the sea and had spent many hours swimming and enjoying the challenge of long swims out into its further reaches.
She remembered that day as a teenager where she’d tried to swim to a small Island a few miles out and had not anticipated the seas restless mood on that day.
She had headed out in smooth weather but after half an hour had encountered wilder conditions as she got nearer to the island.
A strange sea fog also appeared and she could barely make out her destination, but looking back couldn’t see the mainland to turn back.
It at this point she saw a pod of dolphins ahead of her and they gathered around her and encouraged her with words she heard in her mind to swim with them.
She followed her guides and an hour later found the shore dragging her exhausted body up the beach for a well earned rest.
It was nearly dark and as she looked at the towering lighthouse nearby she saw a group sitting round a welcoming fire near it.
She joined them and they welcomed her, sharing with her local stories and listening with great interest as she recounted her experience.
They told her she was special and they would always look look after one of their own.
She wasn’t sure what to make of this but spent an enjoyable evening feeling closer than ever to the sea, and knowing at that moment it would always be an important part of her life.
