The random happenings in life are often my favorites. It’s the unplanned, unexpected moments that create a fun memory, put a smile on my face, and often serve as inspiration. Two random walks, one in Ireland and the other in Fairhaven, led to cold water swimmers in waters thousands of miles apart.
A Walk in Ireland
In 2024, we were traveling in Ireland and spent a night in the little fishing town of Howth. We spent the day walking the town, taking pictures of the views, and eating seafood, which featured the biggest piece of fish and chips I had ever seen. It was springtime, and the 70-degree day was apparently unseasonably warm. The locals kept saying it might end up being the warmest day of the year. I have now learned that Ireland often has jeans-and-sweatshirt weather. As a result of the warm temperatures, this normally quiet town was a bustle with people. The park was filled, the sidewalks were packed, and restaurants were bursting, especially the fish-and-chips place.
We only had one night in Howth, so the next morning we woke up early to go on a walk before heading to the airport. The day of perfect weather had passed, and it was back to a drizzly 55 degrees. We set out at sea level and walked up the road, where a steep bank descends to a gravelly shoreline. As we rose above the beach, I looked down to see a congregation of people along the water’s edge. We paused our walk and watched as big coats, I now know as swimming robes, were shed, and people strode into the water. Watching them step into the chilling water, I instinctively zipped up my raincoat a little higher.
I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing as one after another they swam out. Being from the Pacific Northwest, I have done my share of cold-water dips and have participated in the occasional polar bear plunge, but I have never just swum in such cold water on a cold day. It was clear this was nothing new to these people as they swam out with confidence.
We continued our walk and eventually looped back into town, where, lo and behold, who was walking down the street? Two women in the long, swimming robes. To my wife’s dismay, I walked up to talk to them. What I learned was that this was just a regular day for them to go swimming; it was actually on the warmer side, as far as they were concerned. The group of locals, and presumably anyone else who may want to join, went out daily, rain or shine, but mostly rain, into the crisp Atlantic waters. I also learned that the robes are standard attire for cold-water swimmers.
A Walk in Fairhaven
Fast forward approximately 18 months, and a friend and I were walking from Fairhaven to Marine Park. As we approached the water, I saw the robes that could only mean one thing. Those people were planning on going for a swim on this cool December day. I huddled in my multiple layers as they began shedding theirs. As we walked towards the beach, a woman, whom I now know as Kim Brown, asked if I would take their picture. I happily obliged and then asked if I could take a couple of pictures myself with the idea of writing an article. Everyone approved, and Brown gave me her contact info so I could follow up.
In a later interview with Brown, I would learn that this group of nine women was a part of the larger Bellingham Open Water Swimming group. This group of brave souls swims in Bellingham Bay and the surrounding waters year-round, with time spent in the water varying by season. On the chilliest of days, swimmers are in the water for a few minutes up to twenty minutes. In the summer months, when water temperatures rise, there is no limit on the time spent in the water. The current age range in the group is 30 to 70, and while it’s mostly women who have the constitution to handle the cold swims, a few men enjoy the brisk swims.
While everyone has their own reason for swimming, ranging from just loving the water to health reasons, undoubtedly, friendships, laughter, and baked goods weigh the heaviest for most. If you want to catch a glimpse of these hearty swimmers, you may be able to spot them in stripped swim suits when it’s one of their birthdays, or when their feet are out of the water as they do their end of swim hand stands, but for sure you will recognize them because of their swim robes as they enter and leave the water.
As my friend and I walked back to Fairhaven, I began thinking about what the article could be and how I would tie it all together in the end. Then, during the interview, Brown told me about a recent trip she and her son took to Ireland, where she jumped into the chilly Atlantic Ocean wherever they went. While approaching the women in Howth, I didn’t think to ask for their names or get their contact details. I like to think that someone from that swimming group will find their way to Bellingham, stumble upon this article, and go for a swim in Bellingham Bay.
