December 2025

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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 09:31 pm
This day we are going to the North of the Maddalena Archipelago, where "The water here could be described as closely resembling a swimming pool as the sea is enclosed on most sides by the three islands"

The islands being Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria.

And yes, the water...



... is 15m / 45 ft deep here.

We're doing island hopping and - v important - touching all islands
(for openwater competition regulation reasons, apparently there are a bunch of movies about women who's swims aren't recognised for not being according to the rules of whatever org is in charge of that, but *SHRUGS*)
((that's the reason for all the screaming and cheering after a crossing as well))
(((but I still think it's an American thing, I've been on swims with mainly Brits and there wasn't any of that... *cough* anyway)))

We did pass the famous 'pink' beach of Budelli, but... tourists and enterprising locals have carried of the pink sand by the bucket before the islands got turned into a national park and protected, so it's not really visibly pink any more.

Far more entertaining is... Crocodile Rock!



First swim is Santa Maria to Razzoli (the island in the background is Corsica) and along Razzoli's coast



After lunch, the wind had picked up, so we didn't do another crossing, but swam in the protected waters 'behind' the island



Was our last swim with the boats, and we had to say goodbye to Captain Luca!
(and clear out all our swim stuff, there's diving to do on the diveboat!)


That night, the others had a 'goodbye dinner' in a very good local restaurant together, but the location had 4 walls and a roof, and while those were see-through and people insisted they were sitting outside... no, that is not outside, so I did not go.
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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 11:11 pm (UTC)
I'm stunned with admiration for this, I could never have done it at my fittest!