Waterblogged

A Double Dip Day to Start 2012

2012-01-02T12:15:00.002Z

And we have got off to a flying start on the outdoor swimming - sans wetsuits. Not sure if the economy is heading for a double dip this year but we were not satisfied with one dip only and went back for seconds on our New Year's Day 'Dash and Dip' yesterday at Mablethorpe. Thankfully the weather was kind to us, unlike last year's freezing conditions, and it felt bearable to run down the beach to the inviting brown surf of the North Sea. And this year we had a 'Third Man' - that is James the 10 year nephew who supported us by getting in too. He is now committed for every year to come.

Either I'm getting more climatised to the cold water and standing around in the elements almost undressed, or it really was mild for the time of year, but I managed to hold on to a cup of post-swim coffee without shaking uncontrollably.

We should have some good photos from Kevin on camera duty - and will post up here once we have them. Belinda's video attempt didn't seem to capture us - rather more sand than sea - but it is on our You Tube link.

Here's to 2012 and some great outdoor swimming.

Last Gasp of 2011?

2011-12-27T21:13:00.002Z

Haggard pic says it all...it's been a tough "festive" season for this summer loving waterblogged sister...

...but, got a chance to get out today and bask in those 10 degrees air temp, made me a little stupid and before you know it I'm standing in four layers looking wistfully at the lake wondering if I'm brave enough..

The decision was made for me in 2009 and 2010 - the lake was frozen solid by mid Nov for the last two years. This year I'm looking at double figure air temps, gawd knows what the water is registering, but it looks clear, calm and I know I'll feel ready to face anything after a quick dip

Toughest thing is getting all those bloody layers off, but then I'm standing like a loon ankle deep in leaf litter in my kind of superfluous cozzie ... now there's no time to contemplate, just commit and go for it!!! Ouch! Bloody cold, circulation struggling between shut down and melt down !!!

Hey ho! December 27th....my latest swim of the year so far - and has gee'd me up for NY Day in the North Sea avec ma souer d'eau xx

Is this the first Lido Swim of 2012?

2011-12-26T17:00:00.001Z

Hathersage Pool in Derbyshire have posted up their Spring Swim - Saturday 31st March http://www.facebook.com/events/287315037972134/ that's Early Doors and very welcome too. In fact it's only (almost) 3 months away so start those countdown clocks. Forget the distraction of the Olympic countdown, it's the Lido Opening Dates that are the focus here.

And breaking news from Joe at Jubilee Pool (that's Jubilee, Lincs not Cornwall!) first day of opening is
5th May.

Time to source some new swim wear I think.

Stormy Seas

2011-12-15T18:54:00.000Z

Photos taken last week on a visit to Mabo. The waves were thundering in and a bitterly cold wind was blowing. Looks set about right then for the New Year's Day Swim. Perfect conditions.

: )

Getting up a Crowd for Winter Dip

2011-12-01T17:59:00.000Z

http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=events&s=&id=81

He, he, somehow I don't think the Waterblogged Sisters' New Year's Day Dash and Dip will attract the same numbers that the OSS's Winter Swim at Parliament Hill is likely to bring in - 200 last year?! Ah well, start small and slow is my motto thankfully.

: )

NYD Dash and Dip

2011-11-19T18:12:00.001Z

I've changed the event name from Dash and Splash after someone pointed out that sounded a little bit like an emergency 'wee' stop. So we are 'committed' to our customary New Year's Day Swim - this time at Mablethorpe Beach (Handy RNLI lifeboat nearby). The event is open to Blue Sky Swimming members only - it is not a public swim - but anyone can spectate and be there to hold towels, fetch hot drinks, take photos and have generally have a laugh at our expense.

Here's Mabo looking rather fashionably retro - just not intentionally.

Where's the Wild Winter Weather?

2011-11-14T22:37:00.000Z

Well it's not landed yet - not like this time last year. This weekend was more like late summer - sunny and mild and not at all like mid-November.

Luckily for me I had a scheduled meet and walk with friends at Gibraltar Point on Sunday so there was the chance of a late dip in the sea. I almost passed though when I saw how far out the tide was - but managed to wade out far enough to get a quick swim. I reckon it was about 12 degrees C so fairly chilly in the water but by all means bearable and it was really balmy once out - absolutely no shivering at all .... a first!

Now, let's just hope that our New Year's Day 'Dash and Dip' will be just as pleasant. I have 'commitment' from Linda, Lois and Jane and am building up momentum so we may be more than The Two on the First of Jan.

Out-of-Season Maintenance

2011-10-23T16:27:00.000+01:00

It's good to see that work is underway at Woodhall Spa's Jubilee Park during the Swimming Pool's out of season. Here is a picture taken last week of the pool - drained of water (it took 6 days apparently) - and work underway to install a new pumping system, secure the pool sides and tile in a mosaic around the edge.

Can't wait .... only another 6 and a half months to go!

Late Summer Sun, Sea and Swimming

2011-10-07T15:59:00.000+01:00

I'm a week late, I know! But what superb late, late summer weather that was last week and into the weekend. Both Waterblogged sisters headed to the coast, but without planning, logistics and mobile phone signals, we landed at different points on the Lincolnshire coast.

I haven't seen so many people on the beach all summer - all the days put together. And what superb timing that heatwave was for 1st October - Lincolnshire Day - see below for a special Lincolnshire scene.

I managed almost half an hour in and not too un-nerved by the absence of the RNLI lifeguards.

Lincolnshire Scene - Sheep Droving on the Caistor High Road - stop the traffic!

Big Skies, Wide Beach, Shallow Sea

Let's hope the sea keeps some of its warmth for our New Year's Day Dip!

Lessons in Life

2011-09-10T21:17:00.004+01:00

Here's me looking a little pensive after a SUPERB stolen afternoon swimming at Gibraltar Point. As usual, all that cool salty water slapping me in the face cleared my thoughts and I came up with 3 conclusions for the day:

1. Philosophical - it's ok to go with the flow rather than fighting against the tide.

This thought came to me when I realised I could swim down the beach on the tide and enjoy a sunny walk back along the beach - instead of my usual approach to try and swim against the current!

2. Quizzical - why wasn't I born rich and idle?

I'm so good at lazing around after all!

3. Geographical - I WANT TO LIVE AT THE SEASIDE!!!

Landlocked Leicestershire is just TOO FAR from the beach....

EEEhhhh Yorkshire Water!

2011-09-07T14:43:00.000+01:00

Big Sign, Small Person very Small Head!

Is cold, ffffffreezing cold - well that's Yorkshire for you I suppose - all that 'up northerness'?
16.5 Degrees C was the water temperature at Ilkley Lido last Saturday. That all important half-a-degree didn't stop me feeling the burning sensation I get in cold water - like my chest is on fire - which of course it isn't - it's just my body going into shock I suppose. I was determined to put on a show of true Lincolnshire Grit and dived in without a shriek or squeal and managed to swim for half an hour. There was no danger of the water temperature rising thanks to a constant stream of cold water gushing into the pool from a massive tap on the pool side. My 30 minutes done I then spent 15 mins under the hot shower in the indoor changing rooms, but still couldn't control the shivering.

Ah, perhaps a cup of nice Yorkshire Tea, made with Yorkshire Water, boiled on Yorkshire Electricity would have helped?

It really is a lovely spot Ilkley Lido and a unique pool - 'freeform' is the description of its shape. You can't do lengths as such because it is a strange sort of mushroom shape pool, but that only adds to its appeal and quirkiness. There's a lovely wedding cake fountain - working - and a deep 'end' section of 2 metres depth. I took a couple of sneaky photos but was told off for doing so. See the Friends of Ilkley Lido for some great pics here http://www.ilkleylido.co.uk/Photos/Photos.php

On a sunny, warm day it must be a heavenly place to go and swim and sunbathe, with the cafe and lots of grassy areas for lounging on. On a blustery cool early September day - the last weekend of the Lido's opening - I was glad of those hot showers.

Cafe with a rather nice pool attached

sneaky snap over the hedge

One for 'Special Signs' album. Yorkshire folk appropriating Lincolnshire's best brewery? Bar t'at?! Misselling of goods?!

Brown is the Colour ....

2011-08-23T17:22:00.000+01:00

... of the North Sea. But it is only churned up sand; I mean, who needs crystal clear water anyway? It was a spontaneous decision to visit the beach at Sutton and try for a sea swim. The RNLI Lifeguards information board listed a balmy air temperature of 21 C but a more robust 16 Degrees C in the water and with a ENE breeze off the sea it was less than tropical. The tide was going out at a pace but the Aussie Lifeguard assured me it was 'pretty safe' - pretty relaxed sort of advice. There was certainly loads of room on the beach as well as in the sea. I managed a couple of immersions of twenty minutes and only mildish body shaking and finger numbness. Fab place to sit afterwards - out of the way of 'that wind' in the 'Palisades' well the sun terrace overlooking the bowling green. See my arty photo below.

I'm surprised I didn't hear Sandra and Sharn's voices and cackling laughter booming out across the wash from their Day Out on the Norfolk Coast. There's two girls who need no amplification. : )

Where is everyone?

Sutton's Sun Terrace

Lazy London Day

2011-08-21T19:51:00.004+01:00

A few snaps and a few thoughts to preserve my lovely escape day to the Big Smoke for a couple of swims, lots of solitude and peace, a bit of sunshine and lots of mooching around.

Parliament Hill Lido has been on my hit list for a long time - and she certainly did not disappoint! That shimmery steel liner is gorgeous - and even helped me over the fear of slipping on the lip on the dive in as I was so tempted by the cool calm water. The trick (as expertly coached by a lovely friendly local Irish man) was to fall back to my teen years and pull off a running dive with the dismount from the tactile stone tiles instead of the slippy lip - have to say, it felt FAB!!!

You'll no doubt be enthralled by my uber lido geek shot of the jolly changing rooms and pleasing 1930's windows framing the fluffy clouds in the sky....and what about that expert framing of the famous view of City centre skyline from Parliament Hill - shame about the fat finger!!

I enjoyed a good few hours swimming and lolling around at this great pool and felt very lucky indeed to be footloose and fancy free in the Big City...

I met lovely Alex from Buckinghamshire here too and was pleased to share her fun company on the hike across the Heath to my favourite (so far) London pool - Kenwood Ladies Pond; a real gem of a place and a beautiful soft happy making swim

And here's another of those comedic signs so beloved by the Waterblogged Sisters....

...and one to giggle at - the fen girl with her manky map wending her way through Kentish Town back to the train home...

Another lovely London trip to add to my memory banks and keep the smile on my face on those sad swimless days ....

Green is the Colour .....

2011-08-21T18:09:00.000+01:00

... of the lakes and rivers around Lincolnshire at the moment. This is a lake near to Sainsbury's, Lincoln (I dipped out of the shopping experience and researched the potential for swimming here). The water was bright green and notices posted about blue-green algae. Not sure about the blue but it was certainly green and not at all inviting.

I had to take a picture of the warning sign too - in Polish I think well an attempt anyway - but to Sandra this will be a literary link with the Mablethorpe Baaasin / Baaasen perhaps? Love it!

Swimming with Pike - 15th July

2011-07-16T12:20:00.006+01:00

First swim in the River Witham (keeping it low profile so as not to alarm the authorities) at last on Friday night. Thankfully the weather was hot and humid(ish) so a refreshing dip was inviting. And it was pretty cool water - guessing 17 centigrade maximum. Interesting that the gravel lake was much warmer earlier in the week. There was quite a bit of weed but there was a handy, rusting rake / manual weed cutter left on the jetty - or maybe it was an art installation featuring heritage Lincolnshire tools?

After a small hesitation I followed Sandra's dive in and then went back to the jetty to retrieve my glasses - so many bends and creeks to get lost in aren't there on this stretch of water?

A bit spooked when the chap fishing off his narrowboat pulled in a large 'baby' pike. If that is the size of a baby then I don't want to meet the parents. Seems they are attracted to shiny surfaces, including paited toe-nails - eek! Formidable teeth in large mouth - some might say that could be a description of me. No dead deer floating by though.

Yeh, the spell is broken, the river is conquered this year and we'll be back for more.

Gravel Hills to Gravel Lake

2011-07-12T15:24:00.004+01:00

Seemed appropriate, having grown up in Gravel Hills, Billinghay Fen that I try a swim in a gravel lake. Last night found me at the gravel pit lake on Thorpe Lane, South Hykham thanks to an invitation from Jack to try the waters here.

Well it was a bit on the 'industrial' side - lots of bricks and mortar to navigate getting in. But the side slopes really quickly so you're soon in and away. Water was a balmy 21 degrees C - now that's considerably warmer than the River Cam and the sea recently and even some of the 'heated' pools I go to. It was really rather nice, once I blocked out the sound of the traffic on the by-pass! There's acres of space and nothing to get in the way of a leisurely back stroke - fabulous.

Monday night is 'Tri' club night so I was a little out of place as a strictly leisure and pleasure swimmer with my two-piece costume rather than the uniform of wetsuit and swimming hat. Hard core training activities going on for the wetsuited group but Jack and I had a relaxed swim (head up and glasses on) out to the middle of the lake. Apparently it's 12 metres deep (really?) Crikey what's at the bottom of that then.

Wednesday nights are for leisure swimmers so I'll be getting a group together for a re-visit.

Seems I need some practice with the self-portrait - a bit grimacy:

Nothing new to report...

2011-07-11T21:38:00.003+01:00

Just more of me ranting on about the uplifting effects of a cool solitary swim ... anyone who suffered one of my grumpy messages last week will be pleased to see that the swim under stormy skies did the usual wonders for my mood...

...then I went and watched Terms of Endearment - AARGHH! Toxic film - don't go there unless you're feeling 1000% emotionally calm - a place I rarely visit of course!!!

If This Were the South Coast ..

2011-07-04T23:27:00.010+01:00

Then Cleethorpes would be more like Brighton. Yep - what does Brighton have that Cleethorpes doesn't? Cleethorpes has a pier with lovely wrought iron work oh and original 1905 roof - in the affluent south there would be a 'save our pier' campaign raising money to restore this truncated pier back to its glory days. There's a promenade, boating lake, sweet little paddling pool (with anti-vandal, anti-climbing security fencing surrounding it; but, oddly, no water in it); chippies by the hectare; tatoo parlours; tatoo removal parlours; dogs lots of dogs; fabulous sunsets.

Sunday night, and finally a warm summer evening, found me in Cleethorpes enjoying a stroll in the refreshing sea breeze. (I'm sounding all lyrical here like Sandra.) The tide was in; so far up it was lapping up to the promenade. And there were kids swimming in the brown murky water:: how great is that? I didn't have my cossie so couldn't join them: secret relief. The sea container shipping and P+O ferries in the background just added an edgy north-east Lincolnshire grittiness to the scene. Ah - you don't get that in Brighton.

But what you do get up the road from Brighton is the beautiful - and now Grade II listed - Saltdean Lido. I've yet to visit it but it's on my list of must do's.

Of course Cleethorpes at one time (until the 1950s?) had a MASSIVE outdoor bathing pool. The biggest in Europe I've heard. How sad that it's gone. There was no obvious sign of its whereabouts but I have my suspicions about the indoor 'leisure centre' 1980s ugly box of a place on the edge of the sea and could be built on the original bathing pool location. It's just the sort of humid, noisy, chlorine-smelling place that Sister Sandra so loves.

Now if this were the South Coast there would be a campaign to 'Resurrect Our Lido' .

But then if it were the South Coast it wouldn't be Cleethorpes and the cup of tea with my fish and chips would cost more than the 60 pence I paid.
How inviting does this look? What a loss.

Yep it really was big.

The Paddling Pool - but no water? : (

A Soppy Solstice

2011-06-28T22:31:00.002+01:00

Ooh! Midsummer doldrums seem to have hit...it's been a week since the Solstice already and I haven't got around to recording my oh so not triumphant swim across Lincolnshire a la Deakin plan.

The die was cast before my head even hit the pillow on the 20th - in my heart I knew that this waterblogged sister was never going to drag herself out of bed at 6 for a pre work lake swim to kick off the "planned" lake, river, lido, sea route across the county.

So, as it turned out, my swimming solstice celebration totalled just one lovely half hour half mile in beautiful Bourne, stretching out in the sun and letting go of my wildly over ambitious ideas....

...followed by an overwhelming feeling of bittersweet happiness, nostalgia and slight anxiety about the summer passing by...overall, a lot for Sister Sandra to feel good about on the longest day....thanks all xxxxx

Thames Water

2011-06-22T16:18:00.002+01:00

Monday saw me and fellow BSS friend Lesley in London for the day.

Big day out in the Capital for two girls up from the provinces in our 'country fashions'.

The luxury and 1930's deco of Uxbridge Lido is for another trip and all the better to savour as a future treat. In the meantime we had a look at the viability of a Thames crossing. Here's some steps down to the water; yep it's as easy as that and if Matthew Parris can have a go then I'm not ruling it out yet.

Midsummer Day passed with a relay swim in Bourne Pool - I arrived late afternoon followed by Sandra slipping in before the pool closed at 7.00 pm. Sandra's ambitions of a 3-way lido, river and sea-fest fell by the wayside - just not enough time to get across the (potato) County.

tra, la, la! : )

Lessons in Life for the Waterblogged Boys

2011-06-18T20:49:00.006+01:00

Ooh, you can SO tell that Daddy Moran is away from home at the moment...we slept in until 9.30, stayed in our 'jamas until 12.30, and finally got out of the house at about 2pm...

I was outvoted on my suggestion to go for a swim at Bourne Outdoor Pool (maybe something to do with the black skies, heavy downpours and cool breezes....???) So we set off to Bourne, but to the indoor Leisure Pool instead aka Hell with Water to this Waterblogged Sister.

Sure enough, it was worse than I remembered ... boiling hot, suffocating chlorine fumes, eardrum battering echo of kids screaming, fountains splashing, engines thrumming ..... AAAAAAGGHH!!!

To top things off the pool staff Gestapo snapped at us for having the audacity to try and buy an icecream in our cozzies .... you have to get dressed, get super hot and irritated, shout at each other and resort to sign language to try and work out whether the boys wanted Original or Sours Skittles....AAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

It was bliss to escape out into the cool showery day...and look, the sun is coming out to play...why don't we take a look at the Lido and see if it calls to us?

I played my Italian glamour trick with Ferrari/Lamborghini/Alfa/Maserati mad Felix and explained that Lido's were Italian swimming pools.

Leo was more easily bought with the promise of an ice pole from the poolside cafe!

So we tot up the scores for indoor vs outdoor swimming:

For indoor = wave machine, warm (I would say bleeding boiling!)

For outdoor = friendly staff, peaceful, lots of space, talking dustbins, ice poles, gorgeous sapphire water, sunshine on our faces, Abbey Road chippy opposite for post swim tea...need I say more?

So, my lovelies, follow me on the path to a childhood of sweet outdoor swimming memories in our lovely empty Lincolnshire xxx

A Very Jolly Jape Indeed!

2011-06-14T19:51:00.010+01:00

Yep! The silly face says it all...I'm on The Jape and couldn't be having more fun! Lucky me got to drive over to Snowdonia with Big Kev and Keepers Luke and Trig - a girl couldn't ask for better company - if I got bored of the bloke chat about.... (actually I'll keep this out) ...then there was always the "who farted?" game to play, lots of missed road photo shots to enjoy, and having a giggle at Luke falling asleep at the drop of a hat. Not to mention the dodgy choice of CD, scoffing all the travel sweets before we'd left the Estate, or the sweaty cheese....

By the time we arrived at Pen y Gwryd (and "negotiated" two camp beds into Kev's room .... but that's a whole other story Hammy Hamster) we were all revved up (well, I was revved up -the boys were distinctly ambivalent) for a pre Jape jump into the heavenly cold river fed swimming pond - hurrah! The boys acquitted themselves with honours - manfully jumping into the clear icy water.....wondering what had happened to their manhood when they got out again to dress!!!

We enjoyed a couple of civilised beers in the bar with fellow Japers Peter & Patsy before turning in for the night to get ourselves in the zone for the challenge ahead....

Look at this! I'm well accustomed by now to the slightly blank looks on people's faces (or the slight look of panic) when I start ranting on about outdoor swimming and silly adventures.....so imagine how surprised I was to find SIXTEEN other loons standing behind me waiting champing at the bit to tackle The Jolly Jape Challenge!!!

This, perhaps, should have made the trip a little more formal and organised than the usual me + Nic or me + Sharn swim trips of legend....but why spoil a winning formula? So "No Plan Moran" it was as usual as all The Japers appeared at the appointed time from various routes to crack on nice and promptly....shame that 9 of us were still happily troughing our big preparatory breakfasts at the Pen y Gwryd...

Anyhow, we all rendezvoused at the insanely busy Pen y Pass carpark and set off just one hour late at 10am....straight into a hail storm and, to be honest, more bloody steep rock steps than I personally had been hoping for in the first few hundred metres!

The "team" quickly established their various levels of fitness, competitiveness and ability with George, Rob and Luke sprinting up like sprightly little goats in an impressive 1.5 hours....meanwhile me and hypoglycaemic superhero Kev battled our way up in 4 hours. I had cleverly preset a Jolly Japers text group on my phone - the vague thought was that I could text the pick up point when we scrambled mountain rescue...this No Plan Moran backfired a little when my texts to the team about Kev's heroic struggle were greeted with a response from the Big Man ..."I'm behind you!" ... after that I had to delete him off the group text messages!!!

However, the staple foodstuff of previous Waterblogged expeditions did not fail us .... the famous Lincolnshire Plum Loaf and Cheese did it's wonders and propelled a very wobbly Kev across the summit (there was a very strange point at which I found myself hand feeding dates to Kev.....never mind the moment when he found himself too weak to chew a Rowntrees Random and walk at the same time...quickly beccoming one of the trips catch phrases!)

The team had done us proud by waiting in wind chill with no food other than 1kg pasties to sustain them and waited at Glasyln for us landscape gazers to finally join them...

So, here we go, for me the absolute highlight and raison d'etre for the trip - to swim in icy Glaslyn under the summit of Snowdon. All credit to enthusiastic George and Rob who waited patiently at the gabbions - they were first in and their screams of ecstasy (?) at the cold water filled the cwm as the rest of the team descended to join them. Luke and Trig were super chilled by this point after waiting for over 2 hours for us to catch up - thanks SO much for your loyalty and support xx. Thanks too to George for motivating me to prove I'm tougher than boys in their 20's...I felt happy to swim across to the opposite lake and enjoyed the amazing feeling of super achievement to be swimming under the shadow of Snowdon's summit in crystal icy water - a true life experience. Thanks to all the Jolly Japers for helping me get to this swim. Megz, Will and Kev also put on a beautiful display for the passing walkers as each of them made their own impressive entrance - I hope you feel so proud of what you did;so few others would be so brave.

So. we're towelled off and head downhill to Llydaw where Luke gets the chance to road trial his revolutionary new swim socks design on the slippery rocks- very helpful for slippy me when trying to stand up on the infinity pool effect rocks....we crack off a width of the llyn at the narrow causeway point as trailblazed by Barney and his group a little earlier in the day

No sooner are we half dry-ish then we're headed off to Llyn Teryn to complete the Swim Back Down....once again, the advance party of George, Rob and Luke forge ahead and enjoy a lovely loud swim as we amble along in the late afternoon sun. Megan, Will and I are sufficiently fired up to take on the trek downhill through bog and thistles to contemplate a third undressing within the hour...and we're in (again) Teryn is a different kettle of fish to the other 2 lakes - much more unpleasant access but also much warmer once in...I lay on my back to watch the clouds, circling buzzard, and Snowdon summit in the crystal skies,,blissful. I spot the zen look on Will's face as he falls in love with outdoor swimming - welcome to a whole new watery world Will. Megz is swimming in great if slightly idiosyncratic style in a Gunners shirt over her cozzie and leaves a tribute to the lake in the form of her bog captured flip flops ("at least they have each other for company")

wow! Check out that post swim hair!!!

So. we wend our weary way down the track back to the pub for one of those beers that last about 30 seconds...very Ice Cold in Alex!

A bit of food, a bit of drinking, a bit of laughter, a bit of groaning, a bit of snoozing - that sums up our our lovely post challenge evening in fabulous company and all of us rightly feeling great about what we'd achieved during the day - Hurrah Jolly Japers!

Now there's just the massive discomfort of a 5 hour rain lashed trip home in the rain...oh well, chance to catch a few winks.....check out the pics of my snoring face on Kev's facebook!

And lastly, here's to absent friends... Lisa with tonsillitis, Justin with a very new baby, Danny with Jack to look out for, Sharn with JLS...we look forward to your company on whatever half arsed plan comes to fruition in 2012

Best Laid Plans

2011-05-31T22:19:00.002+01:00

Well, we're probably never going to win prizes for planning...but that famous waterblogged sisters joie de vivre kicked in to give us another fabulous swim trip this weekend across the Fenland Lidos...

Jesus Green was calling loud and clear through the sunny breaks in the Sunday evening clouds so we heeded the call and jumped in to this most beautiful of Lidos. Blooming cool water - 16 degrees posted up on the board - there is something about the physics of this pool that give great great swimming; you really cut up and down those long long lengths. The sun lit up the water from time to time to add to the magic of this special and long awaited swim - can't wait to come back for the day to bask in the sun.

This put us ahead of "schedule" so I decided to keep Nicky awake all night in our luxury Travelodge with a little light snoring (apparently!) - must have been all that exercise, or the wafer thin pillow! After a full and frank discussion on the Little Chef breakfast menu options we're headed back to pretty Cambridge to rendezvous with Ted the Treasurer at Newnham - the highlight of the trip; to swim in the heavenly Cam.

This swim is too good to sum up adequately - needs to be experienced as a sublime mood lifting dream rather than trying to describe clumsily....ooh, Pseuds Corner awaits! 13 degrees, Earl Grey tea and ginger biccies post swim in the sunshine, warm hospitality from genuine gents John and Ted, weird post swim hair, diving in again and again....pretty tough to beat this one.

A special thanks again to the lovely Judith who invited us here last year and introduced the fen girls to the delights of river swimming....looking forward to catching up with you over the summer Judith xx

Reports from "back home" suggested this warm sunny start to the day might not last...

.....and we ran into the sheets of constant cold rain halfway to Peterborough. It's really not so tempting to get undressed and dive in to a cold gloomy pool - with no other bathers braving the elements despite the promo free entry for opening weekend. However, we had a plan to stick to (?) so persevered and managed half a mile each in only 17 degrees despite the apparent heating. BUT - this IS a fantastic Lido that needs support and TO BE USED and we'll be back during the season to pay our fees and enjoy the sunbathing terraces.

Dropping air temperatures and persistent rain where having their effect by the time we set off up the A15 to Bourne - my thoughts had turned to an Indian takeaway by the fire after a hot bath - our steely resolve was wavering.

I kind of hoped the pool would have closed early due to the bloody cold rain but they had valiantly stayed open to entertain a couple of hardy young fen girls....just not these two! We did feel a bit disappointed to have given up on Lido swim 3 but that is the essence of Blue Sky Swimming - we don't feel any gung ho need to prove anything other than having a bit of fun!

I will be making my regular post work speed dash to Beautiful Bourne during the season to catch a few lengths and a few rays.

Another perfect start to the season...Come on in, the water's lovely xxx

How Many Metres in a Mile?

2011-05-28T20:37:00.007+01:00

Here we go again .... getting the conversion chart out to work out how many lengths I will need to swim in each of the lidos on Monday. So here's my working out:

1,760 yards in a mile; 1,609 metres in a mile.

Cambridge - 17 and half lengths
Peterborough - 32 lengths
Bourne - 33 and a half lengths

Now the only question is whether we share them out and if Sandra ends the day in negotiations with young swimmers at Bourne, trading her lengths for a portion of chips.

All we need is for the sun to shine on Monday. All ready for a dip in the Cam on Sunday night for our appetiser.

Sadly the train running times in 2011 are not what they were in the days of LNER, with no Sunday service between Peterborough and Cambridge and Bourne having lost its station years ago. So, we'll be taking the A1 south tomorrow and enjoying a Little Chuf breakfast to set us up for the day on Monday.

Yeh!

Lovely Lidos here we come!

2011-05-25T17:12:00.002+01:00

Only 4 days to go before Sister Nic and I reprise our traditional (well, we did it last year too...) THREE LIDOS in ONE DAY extravaganza.

I'm SO looking forward to it...we've even got a bit prepared and booked a luxury £30 quid Travelodge for Sunday night so we can plunge into Jesus Green bright eyed and bushy tailed (after a big Little Chef brekkie of course!)

Hoping to get in a magical River Cam dip too ... SOOOOO excited!!

Come along and join in to celebrate these magnificent and precious Lidos xx

The Covers Are Off

2011-05-20T19:37:00.005+01:00

Yeh! The season started at Jubilee Park, Woodhall last Saturday. Sandra braved the chill wind and took back up supporters Felix and Leo for a few choppy lengths.

I waited for a warmer day on Sunday and enjoyed my first lido swim of 2011. Lovely pool and great to see it in good shape for the season. Sad news that the cafe has gone and to be replaced with a 'white van' type of burger bar - not quite the same nostalgia as the retro formica tables and chairs (where did they go I wonder?).

Here's a sneaky shot taken from outside the pool after a peaceful swim on Thursday night.

ww.jubileeparkwoodhallspa.co.uk/pages/swimming.html

3 Lidos, 3 Miles, 1 Day

2011-05-12T16:20:00.000+01:00

Only 2 weeks to go until the next long weekend, hurrah!

No doubt you'll be scratching your head wondering just how to fill yet another Bank Holiday after the glory that has been sunny April 2011 downtime?

So what could be better than a cooling dip and lots of energizing activity in one of our fantastic open air lidos??

Nic and I will be setting out on MAY 30th to swim a mile in each of the GORGEOUS pools gracing our lovely fenland counties:

12 noon : Jesus Green Cambridge

3 pm : Peterborough Lido

6pm : Bourne Outdoor Pool

8pm : Abbey Road Chip Shop in Bourne!

Why not come along and join in the fun....contact marshallnicola@rocketmail.com or sandram6665@yahoo.com for more details.

HERE COMES A SUMMER PACKED FULL OF LOVELY SWIMS!!!

One Afternoon of Solitude

2011-05-02T22:13:00.002+01:00

Ok, so it's not quite up to Gabriel Garcia Marquez standards, but my blissful afternoon of solitary swimming and sunbathing was PERFECT! A big thanks to Steve for giving me this brill treat on Sunday while he entertained Felix & Leo.

Cool water swims, sparkling skies and lake, warm sun, fresh breezes ... heaven for a lazy pootler like me. The perfection of the day was topped off with supplies of chilled ginger beer, a good book and just my thoughts to entertain me!

Spring 2011 has been a corker hasn't it?

Here's to many more stolen sunny afternoons this year ....

Solo or Sociable?

2011-04-27T15:17:00.004+01:00

Now, I'll be honest....and this is a bit of a shocking revelation perhaps for a waterblogged sister...but I'm a bit unsure about social swimming!

I guess I am a bit of a loner, a bit of a moocher, a bit of an old grump but recent tales of crowded swim spots has made me glad to be a lonely Lincolnshire lass pootling about on my solo dips.

Don't get me wrong swim mates out there - I love having the company of another like minded cool water friend from time and have some precious memories of shared swims. I also love to make a big splash from time to time with a big gang - check out The Jolly Japers http://jollyjapers.blogspot.com/

So here's to lots of lovely Lincolnshire lonesome times again this summer - time to reflect and ruminate!!

Swimming and a State of Mind

2011-04-19T21:49:00.005+01:00

Once again a cool swim comes to my rescue...

...have been distinctly blue today and have called on the heroes to lift me back up - Thanks again!

Isn't weird how lack of self confidence translates into dithering on the water's edge? On a cocky top of the world kinda day I'm in the water like a otter (ok, not a very flattering analogy, but go with me on this one!)

On a less ebullient day I'm standing up to my knees looking at the water, worrying about fishy friends, wondering what the f*** I'm doing even thinking about a swim...

....but I always get in, and I always quickly feel so much stronger, more positive, happier, all that good stuff. On a really good evening like today, the happy effect spills over into a bit of a zen calm and that brilliant calm and happiness takes over - very lovely!

Only downside was the dead fingers and toes an hour later - zen trance all very well but at some point logic and reason has to kick in and tell me to GET OUT!!!

Not all days are sunny...

2011-04-03T10:49:00.002+01:00

Friday evenings after work became a bit of an unintentional ritual for me last year - a swim in the lake to restore my enthusiasm and perspective always works...

.... have to say though, the water was NOT calling to me this Friday evening - choppy and a bit murky; I was too hesitant to get in at my usual launch spot so mooched around looking for a more appetising location.

Superstition makes me think that if I bottle it one time then I'll lose the will to ever get in cold water again. I stood like an idiot up to my waist for a good ten minutes superchilling the lower half of my body before I finally managed to go for full immersion and hasty swim out to centre of the lake. The wind was gusting across the surface, got a face and mouth full of wave which spooked me a bit - still relaxing into this year's swimming!

Anyhow, honour is restored - no long walk of shame back to the car with dry hair and dry towel!

Sun is shining for Mother's Day - maybe a little dip later?

The Missing Link

2011-03-30T21:33:00.014+01:00

Monday sees Fen Girl grumpily falling out of bed at 4.30am for an unnaturally early start up to Cumbria for the day. Business for the day done and dusted by 11.30; the real purpose of the trip kicks in...seeking an antidote to my horror of the Lakes (Wastwater hell on Three Pools trip with Sharn last September - urghhhh!)

WHAT A SUBLIME DAY!

The weather was stunning; just got clearer, brighter and warmer as the day wore on, and glorious sunshine right through to sunset at 8 ish...what a treat.

Unusually for me, I had a bit of a plan in mind. Even more unusually, I'd done a little preparation and borrowed OS map of Western Lakes from library (what a great British institution that is!) I had it in my mind to swim in Buttermere with maybe a little side hill climb to burn off a little energy.

Braving my innate fen dweller vertigo I climbed up a bloody steep hill on path up to Red Pike etc. Got some serious wobbles when I made the mistake of looking back down and some serious worries about my ability to climb Snowdon in June - eek!

Anyhow, I'd certainly recommend Bleaberry Tarn as a suntrap spot to rest your bones and catch your breath. The shallow little lake was crystal clear and calling loudly but sadly pretty rocky for my tender feet (forgot to pack the river shoes of course!) I did manage a quick dip but it was all very inelegant; wobbling on the slippery rocks, doing a great interpretation of our transition from web footed amphibians to upright land lubbers....

Of course, I was really keen to continue the climb to the summit - but I wasn't sporting the regulation goretex, alpine sticks and huge rucksack combo's that everyone else seemed to have. Just an extra jumper, a bottle of water, and a fab mint iced choc crunchie cake from "Lunch" in Keswick (basic survival kit surely?!)

So it's back down (havoc on the bloody knees, creaking like a good 'un), reaching the lake side by late afternoon all pooped and clammy - perfect for a refreshing dip! Of course, it takes me a good 1/2 hour and trek 1/2 way around the lake to find the perfect launch spot - a little pine clad promontory on the north side, soft slatey pebbles and a quick drop to deep swimmable water. Only trouble was lack of cover for changing into cozzie, so in the end I just went for it and the poor hikers had to look away! Thanks for the round of applause as I inelegantly (I know - again!) stumbled on the stones and ended up sat down in the shallows with a big splash! The water was bloody cold; toe crunching temperature, I would estimate 5 or 6 degrees.

HEAVENLY SWIM! SO beautiful to be in the clear calm sweet water surrounded by sunlit fells and a crystal clear sky overhead - lucky me; I felt so alive. The post swim glow kept with me all evening as I walked back to the car and set off for the long trip home.

A special day for me, rounded off by meeting this lovely couple of native yellerbellies now exiled in Wiltshire. Jan & Les Pailthorpe are my kind of people - enjoying a nice glass of red in the sunshine after a day's walking. We had a lovely chat and they make it on to the waterblog hall of fame of special people I've met on my swimming adventures. Enjoy your trip to Scotland Jan & Les; I hope you get in the water with all that lovely seafood you're looking forward to!

If this brilliant day sets the standard for my 2011 waterblogged adventures I'll be a very happy sister indeed!

BST Quickie

2011-03-27T21:30:00.004+01:00

Bloody parky at the beach today, but brief spell of watery sun so I took my chance and got in a quickie on the rapidly ebbing tide.

No idea of the temperature since sinking my high tech £2.50 fridge thermometer in the lake earlier in the week...judging by the colour of my legs (orangey purple) after I'd estimate 5-6 degrees - tres bracing 3 miles south of Skeggy!

Grizzled self portrait says it all really....

Boys just ignored their mad Mum completely - but then they were very busy with their civil engineering project en sable....

Two Lovely Treats

2011-03-24T20:41:00.003Z

Ta da!

Too too nice to go to work this week - so I didn't!

Two blissful days at home, mooching around in the sun, soaking up those first rays, and...

... TWO very chilly dips in the lake!

It was actually really scary to get in for the first time since November; felt pretty weird to strip off and wade out into the clear cold water.

The Canada geese were honking in encouragement (or derision?) and it took me a good five minutes to get in past my legs, so they had turned an attractive mottled orange by that stage.

Anyhow, it was a massive relief and massive high to find that the familiar cool water endorphin rush and overwhelming sense of wellbeing pinged straight back as if there'd been no winter break. I felt on top of the world enjoying mint tea in the sunshine afterwards, soaking up the solitude and peace - PERFECT!

Dip # 2 was today with intrepid Justin along for company - he launched himself in bravely with the minimum of fuss, kindly clearing the goose poo which had collected a little from my traditional launch point. I, on the other hand, adopted a more cautious of approach - basically standing there like a wimp up to my waist whinging "I can't do it..!" (Nic will recognise this pattern all too well!!!) Poor Justin was getting super chilled while I prevaricated but eventually I launched myself inelegantly out into the lake. Once past the painful part we both fell into silly smiles and trademark "oohs" and "aahs" as we enjoyed the sun on the crystal clear water and beautiful surroundings.

So, I've broken the winter break and feel SO MUCH BETTER FOR IT!

By the way - temperature recorded 9 degrees before I rather stupidly managed to sink the thermometer - hope it didn't scare those snoozing carp too much!

Couple of pics to follow tomorrow when I find my USB cable thingy....

The Bairson at Mabo

2011-03-10T14:44:00.004Z

Oh Yes!! The Bairson (Basen / Basin) at Mablethorpe really was a swimming pool - see the splash. Apparently there were displays of high diving from a one-legged WWI veteran.

It's now the boating lake.... shame!

http://www.visions.org.uk/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=14&page=6

But it looked like fun all the same .... Here's comment from someone who was there (love the spelling of Basen).

"The Picture shown is of the old basen opposite the Fulbeck pub, just up the prom, as a kid we used to play up there, I was about ten when they emptied it of rowing boats so it was about 37 years ago. Apparently at the turn of the Century swimming lessons were given there. I was born in Mablethorpe, down Waterloo Road, it was a nice place to grow up in".....Wayne O'connor, Germany (Wednesday, August 17, 2005)"

Counting Down the Weeks

2011-03-09T21:25:00.002Z

Anticipation is mounting as the opening season draws nearer. The stores have the new season swimwear in already. Minus 4 Degrees C and a frost yesterday morning but hey - it's only 2 weeks to the spring solstice. I've been showering with the bathroom window open in preparation for the cold and I'm scouring the internet for opening times: Brockwell Lido is still leading the way with their Early Doors April start. Unheated in April? But after that everything would feel lovely and warm.

Who's joining us For

Lido No 1?

Early Doors - Brockwell Lido - Hurrah!!

2011-03-02T20:37:00.003Z

The longest season in its history at Brockwell Lido: in 2011 the season opens on April 4th and goes all the way through 'til 31 October. Wow! That is impressive. Freezing cold water but we're impressed. So how many trips to South London will we make this year? This has to be the earliest opening Lido this year. Well done Fusion who run the Lido and who are doing good things for lidos around the UK.

Yeh, Yeh! Counting down - under 5 weeks away. Yippeeeeeee

Jubilee Park Pool - Opens 15th May

2011-02-24T18:47:00.003Z

I know .... it's still almost 3 months away - but hey here's the start date of the tropically warm Jubilee Pool at Woodhall Spa. Good luck to the parish council who have taken over the running of the pool from East Lindsey. Let's hope we have a fab swimming season in 2011.

http://www.jubileeparkwoodhallspa.co.uk/pdf/Jubilee%20Park%20Pool%20Opening%20Times%202011.pdf

Hurrah for the Environment Agency!

2011-02-17T10:52:00.005Z

The plan for a 'super dairy' at Nocton has been withdrawn. The Environment Agency stated their concerns that groundwater (from which drinking water is taken) would become contaminated. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-12485392

Nocton is up-river of our swimming spot on the River Witham and we'd been concerned about the potential for water pollution affecting the quality of the river. This is good news for us and good news for those cows too. Thank you the EA. Let's hope we can now look forward to swimming in the clear green water of the Witham again this summer.

Is It Still There?

2011-02-14T11:15:00.002Z

I'd love to know if Butlins still has their outdoor pool at Skeggy.... or has it been incorporated into their overheated, indoor 'fantasy island'?

Another to add to Sandra's list for this year?

And it seems that Mablethorpe used to have an outdoor swimming area known as The Basin (or is that Baaasin?!)

When can we get started?

2011-02-09T17:54:00.003Z

So many lovely ideas for 2011, starting to get anxious about fitting them in around those pesky real life commitments like work, money, bla!

So far my wish list looks like this .... (in no particular order other than how they occurred to me)...

swim Little Ouse in Thetford Forest

Snowdon climb + lakes descent + perfect Pen y Gwryd

Northumbria beach trip

Lido's opening celebrations x 2 - The Fens (Peterborough, Cambridge, Bourne) and The Peaks (Ilkley, Hathersage, Derwent side splash?)

London lidos reprise from 2010 perfect day

Anything in Scotland....

Holkham Beach for long walk and picnic and swim before masses arrive for summer

Cambridge duo - Jesus Green and lovely Newnham if we can find a friendly member again

Stonehaven heated saltwater lido Aberdeenshire

Turkish Spa in Harrogate

River Bure in Norfolk

PLUS all the "regulars" - lovely local lake, Gib Point seaside, Bourne pool, naughty River Witham ....

AAAAGHH! Why can't Spring come a little earlier and Autumn stay a little longer?

How many will I fit into 2011? Go on, issue me a challenge - you know I can't resist it!!!

Plotting & Planning

2011-02-04T16:40:00.003Z

Well, we've made it through the wilderness (as Madonna would no doubt say) and can now look the start of Spring square in they eye.

Plans and daydreams for the longer lighter days are coming thick and fast - even have a special wall map to plot all those lovely watery spots!

It's been three weeks since my last little dip in the bracing North Sea and it's fair to say I can feel the call of the cool water again. I drive past my special local lake every morning on the five mile detour I take to extend my commute and enjoy a little uplifting music in my ears before the trials of the day in the Castle. I can only catch glimpses of the water through the trees but I can hear the siren call loud and clear.

Maybe this weekend?

Downtime and Daydreaming

2011-01-27T17:28:00.005Z

January 27th finds me unable to shift out of daydreams of glittering days past and hopeful anticipation of lovely treats to come.

It's just that tough barren spell over the next couple of months to get through...

...still, we have vital signs here - snowdrops, aconites and birdsong are all here to gladden a sad heart.

Funding Update

2011-01-21T15:18:00.003Z

The boxes are in and counted and the tally is £111.86. Thank you from the Leicester Children's Holiday Home.

Saturday 15h January - 27.7 Degrees Centigrade

2011-01-21T15:03:00.007Z

C'est Tropique! Waterblogged Swimmers Nic and Lesley rendez-vu for a warm swim outdoors in London's Oasis Swimming Pool. Adrian the Lifeguard informs us that the water is 27.7 Degrees C - very precise and a damn site warmer than the 3 Degrees of the North Sea at New Year's.

Up from the provinces (Kent and Lincolnshire) we then swim the wrong way round in the slow (clockwise) lane and then move to the middle lane only to find that is anti-clockwise - more information from Adrian the Lifeguard.

A bit of incident with Nic's goggles falling off and landing in the deep - very deep 12 foot - deep end. Attempts to surface dive and a helpful swimmer who jumped in feet first (?!) to try to rescue them for me. Adrian informed us that vertical dives are not allowed - only shallow dives (What!!!! in 12 foot of water?). I was tempted to tell him that we used to dive in 6 feet of water standing on a chair, on top of a table - but that was Billinghay we do things differently there. Anyway, Adrian and his rod saved the day and the goggles were rescued and a secure knot tied in them.

Fab day out so nice to swim outdoors - in warm water - in the middle of London. You can't miss this one!

Doesn't look much from the outside .....

High carb breakfast on the train.

1,1,11 !!!!!

2011-01-01T18:55:00.004Z

Auspicious day for a bracing North Sea dip - very bloody bracing at only 3 degrees!! Strong incoming waves and downcoast pull prevented the long swim we were hoping for to break the inertia of frozen December, but....we DID IT! Thanks to Mum and Dad for beach side support and hot soup after - PERFECT x.

2010 was bloody brilliant (on the whole!) - what delights await the waterblogged sisters in 2011?....

Nanny State?

2010-12-20T13:07:00.003Z

As a freaky freak who enjoys swimming outdoors without a wetsuit I'm well used to the bemused reaction of passers by and bank/shore side experts. This is one of the main messages that sis Nic and I have been promoting this year through Blue Sky Swimming - understanding and judging risk, taking personal responsibility, enjoying the strength and confidence gained from pushing yourself a little out of the sanitised safety strangled world we live in day to day....but this weekend, I experienced a new set of disapproving reactions!

When sisters Belinda, Nic and me were young fen girls we used to skate (without adult supervision) in hard winters on the Carr Dyke at the top of our field. There is a noble tradition of fen skating - just look at the passages in Waterlog recounting tales of races in the Cambridge fens. Belinda will even tell you how she was skating on ice BEFORE birth!

So imagine our delight when we went out in the sparkling sun yesterday to test out the canal at Redmile behind our house. This is a walk we often take with our young boys enjoying the wildlife and change of seasons. Because of this familiarity and knowledge of our local environment, we knew that the canal is clear, slow moving and only about 3-4 feet deep. By testing out a core drill (cutting off the top of an immersed plastic bottle and extracting!) we could see that the ice was a minimum of 18" thick across the canal. So, safety checks complete, we set off to skate up the canal enjoying this once in a decade or two phenomenon. I see this as an important lesson for my clever little boys in understanding the difference between thin ice danger and how moving water causes the ice to thin at the edges. Felix and Leo will never be unprepared or expose themselves to stupid risks because they have grown up exposed to real life and the potential dangers of outdoor life.

How sad that the other children in the village were not enjoying this special treat and how sad that the reaction we got from most was disapproval of our obviously highly irresponsible parenting!!

OK, rant over!

Here's the pics

Awards Night November 11th 2010

2010-12-07T13:03:00.002Z

A bit late in the day but finally managed to get my pictures uploaded. Here we are with supporters at the Sports Awards on 11th November.... who needs to win? We do!

Finalist in Sport Award

2010-11-16T13:20:00.004Z

Ah - there's always next year - sadly we didn't scoop the award but we were in the 3 finalists for Participation in Sport award with Lincolnshire Sports Partnership. We did our best to promote ourselves at the event last Thursday http://www.lincsphoto.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=5215100450&ppwd=pd8347gn and John Inverdale now has a Blue Sky Swimming business calling card.

Saturday at Anderby Creek with Hannah and her crowd for an 8 degrees C swim - here's me with mild hypothermia setting in; Sandra just cooling down after 20 mins in the water and shaming the wet-suited men to abandon the rubber-gear.

Competitive, moi?

2010-11-15T16:15:00.003Z

Tee hee!! The waterblogged sisters triumph again!

Lovely long uplifting sea swim on Saturday at Anderby Creek, 8 degrees in the water and heavenly.

We met up with the lovely Hannah & Robert and serious swimmers gang - thanks for the friendly welcome, tea and biccies x.

How us Blue Sky Swimmers love to shame those big beefy boys out of their rubber - and yep, we managed it again! After all, what serious self respecting athlete could be out done in the cold water by a couple of girls, tee hee!!!

What a perfect day! Thanks for the company, the sunshine and lovely post swim picnic for me and Nic at Huttoft - a day to treasure through the gloom of November.

Warm Duvets and Cold Lakes

2010-11-08T15:31:00.005Z

What do they have in common? Both impossibly hard to get out of once you're in...or is that just me again?!

A gorgeous autumn day yesterday, seemed churlish not to get in one last swim...the water was crystal clear and first for me, warmer than the air temperature! Air @ 7C, Water @ 10C so SO easy to slip in to the calm waters for a 10 minute scull around as the sun set and golden leaves settled on the lake - PERFECT!

How much longer can I brave the water this winter? I felt brilliant after the swim and would love to do again - NOT TODAY!!! It's like the apocalypse out there today; dark, cold, lashing rain, whistling wind - YUK!

Here's a dry shot to show off my beautiful swim spot...and footprints for evidence of getting wet shot - too dark and cold for post swim snap!

Zen and The Art of Sea Swimming

2010-11-04T12:16:00.003Z

What a beautiful day to mark the end of British Summer Time - glorious crystal clear skies and air bursting with ozone at the seaside.

We set off for a day at Gibraltar Point to soak up the last low rays of this amazing summer.

The sea swim was the best of the whole year in terms of pure pleasure ... cool clear water, little swell, sun sparkling off the waves....

I slipped into the wild swimming zone - calm, happy, alive, SO reluctant to do the sensible thing and get out.

A brilliant day, a real treat, a memory to treasure and polish in the darker months ahead.

Pure serendipity - my waterblogged pal Sharn was having a similar uplifting swim at the same time across The Wash in Norfolk - committed Blue Sky Swimmer sans wetsuit of course!

The Last Gasp?

2010-10-28T18:10:00.004+01:00

You know how it is on holiday...you get to the last day or two and worry that you're still looking too pasty faced to convince your colleagues back in the office you've enjoyed a tropical idyll? So you go all out for The Panic Tan...

...Well, I seem to be in End of Summer Last Swim Panic!

Look at this beautiful photo I took to record the gorgeousness of the lake last night after I'd enjoyed 10 minutes of cold water immersion. So peaceful, so lovely, so damn cold!

Then, we're on to Panic Swim #2 today with this lovely man - superfit superswimmer Justin Mumford! Look at him huddled in his fetching Lockhart Garratt (forestry management experts par extraordinaire!) fleece, cleverly concealing his chattering teeth!

We'd been talking about a lakeside meet up all summer and this seemed like it could be our last chance, so we skived off the office for a very early lunch break and toddled off for a quick dip.

Water temperature was only 8 degrees today but the air temperature and GORGEOUS autumn sunshine made the water very appealing.

A bit of oohing and aahing on the get in, but we managed a good 15 minute scull around with the grebes and a couple of bemused anglers for company.

I'd been a complete grump before the swim; bogged down in silly office trivia and irritations. We both emerged with trademark silly grins, and have enjoyed the glow all day of uplifted moods and rebalanced perspectives.

Thanks Justin for joining me, great to have your company and be reassured that there is at least one other person who thinks this is all a good idea!

What a brilliant treat and a perfect way to (perhaps?) end my summer swims for 2010?

Then there's always the beach at the weekend......

Still hanging on....

2010-10-22T11:38:00.002+01:00

8 degrees air temp, so the 9 degrees in the water should have felt more inviting in theory if not in practice.

I've trialled a new access strategy to cope with the rapidly cooling water - where I used to go for a quick committed plunge, last night it was more of a slow immersion to try and soften the blow of the icy water.

I felt pretty scared of this new phase in my outdoor swimming adventures, so I also felt pretty triumphant and capable after managing to survive a 10 minute pootle about in the dusk with bats for company instead of kingfishers.

The lovely warm glow afterwards felt magnificent and I walked back the long way to the car to enjoy this brilliant clear cold air and bright moonlight we have at the moment.

PS. Thanks to Malcolm for goading me into the swim - there's nothing more likely to get me to do something than someone saying "you'll never do it" - I do so like to prove people wrong!!!!

London 12 Degrees x 2

2010-10-19T10:24:00.003+01:00

Saturday 16th October
Gorgeous Blue Sky for our first visit to Parliament Hill Lido - I've been wanting to swim here for years. Not put off by the 12 degrees water temperature Lesley and I bagged a few lengths. The stainless steel liner is shiny but the deck-level water line meant I had to slide in rather than dive - still kept my head dry for the next swim...... It's a beautiful pool and I can see why it's so popular - even in Autumn. And nice hot showers too.

Over the Heath - round the Heath - getting our directions all about yet again - but eventually arrived at Kenwood Ladies Pond for our second 12 degree swim. Lovely spot to swim and we both stayed in too long but it was worth it. (Next time I'll bring a second swim costume - buerk - having to put on a wet cold two piece.)

No pics - battery dead after this one!

Skegness is SO Bracing...

2010-10-18T12:42:00.003+01:00

...and Gibraltar Point was pretty invigorating too! What a GORGEOUS day for an autumn quickie dip. Really lovely swimming in the gentle rising tide, boys on lifeguard duty and sandcastle patrol on shore - a perfect treat on such a crystal clear day.

How long can I make this summer last?

2010-10-14T14:37:00.007+01:00

Chilly dip last night, 12 degrees in the lake, left me shivering and teeth chattering...but I'm SO reluctant to give up the cool water for the year. So I'll keep on a little longer, just need to keep adding the woolly hats and thermal vest layering - and maybe a flask of tea?

Only trouble is, that will take so long to get all the gear together that it will be dark...and the gloomy spectre of GMT is looming on the horizon - how I do hate leaving the Castle in the pitch black after work, YUK!

Somebody used the W word with me yesterday, but I'm holding on to Autumn for a few weeks yet before succumbing to the dark, swimless season...

Heavenly Hampstead, Lovely Londoners

2010-10-07T15:33:00.002+01:00

How is it that life can come at you full frontal in one concentrated 1/2 hour?...

....slipping into the cool calm waters of Kenwood Ladies Pond was transformational yesterday.

Copper oak leaves and sulphorous willow carpeted the surface, parting as I passed and reforming behind me.

The setting sun cut through the trees to illuminate the water in shafts; my skin shining golden as I sculled around with the moorhens, customary silly grin on my face.

But where were my waterblogged sisters with their much needed good sense to tell me to get out of the water? I slipped into my usual lone swimming trance and just couldn't be sensible enough to get out...but hey! I'd come all the way from Lincolnshire, sneaked out of an accounts review meeting in town, trekked across London by tube, Hampstead Heath the wrong way in the wrong shoes....I was DETERMINED to get this sublime swim into my day!

I still have the silly grin on my face, scaring the regular East Coast commuters. Hey ho, back to the fens country girl, your city adventure is over for another day, your life a little enriched.

Postcript thanks to all the lovely Londoners who helped me on my odyssey across the Heath - Man in Newspaper Kiosk, Woman with Dog, Spanish Man on Bench, Young Mothers with Babies in Buggies, Builders on Viaduct Bridge, Dogwalking Scottish Man, Mum & Daughter on way to Kenwood House, Local Couple Disagreeing over Direction, AND Lovely Staff at The Pond.

So, how many people does it take to navigate a country girl across a mile of London .... FOURTEEN! Now I see why I usually travel with my waterblogged sisters!!!

The Full Story

2010-09-28T20:45:00.011+01:00

And we’re off....after a light supper of pasta bake with salad and crusty bread, and cherry pie with cream we set off up north for the long trip from the Midlands to the Highlands. Like all good women, we launch into a deep and meaningful conversation about our lives and dreams; by the time we draw our first breath and take a look at the trip meter we’ve already clocked the first 100 miles, ta da!

The journey through the night goes spectacularly well; thanks to Steve for the sensible suggestion and persuading me away from my stupid idea to set off at 4am in order to hit the Glasgow commute rush hour perfectly! Instead, we cross an empty Glasgow at 4am and make our first stop at the friendliest petrol station north of Erskine Bridge. Two lovely Scotsmen obliged us tourists with a quick lesson in rolling our r’s ...as in Loch Morrrrrrarrrrrr

However, we are perturbed to read in The Scottish Sun the shocking story of industrial unrest shaking Scotland ... imagine the horror if the nation’s supply of Tunnocks teacakes were to falter...

So, marching onwards in our supercharged Ford Focus hire car (thanks again to lovely Lisa and delightful Debbie at Northgate Vehicle Hire http://www.northgateonline.co.uk/ for their support and sponsorship) we arrive in Glencoe at 6am and opt for a quick snooze in the car before dawn breaks.

I have an ulterior motive for suggesting the rest up and sneakily pull into a side road off Glencoe. I’m trying to look innocent and unbothered whilst knowing that this is the start of Glen Etive where I hope to get in a breakfast plunge to start the day in style. Sure enough, despite all my moaning about not being able to sleep in a car we’re soon snug under the duvet and snoozing away happily for a good couple of hours. We wake up to breathtaking scenery of the mountains surrounding us and the Etive thundering past us in the valley below. After scoffing the Danish pastry stocks we set off for a bracing dawn walk down the Glen to stretch our muscles and fill our lungs with Highland oxygen.

Sharn & I both get our way – I get a river dip, she drags me off for a good walk....the scenery is stunning and the Glen incredibly peaceful; a perfect start to our adventures.

After this break we’re reenergised to complete the first leg and head off to reach Morar at midday. As we get our first sighting of the loch I’m inspired by the great Rabbie Burns to utter a few lines of my own which quickly become one of the trip catchphrases ....”S**t, it’s ****ing massive!!!”...I can always be relied upon for an eloquent and refined bon mot to suit the occasion.

I get a bit overexcited too when we arrive in the village and see those famous white sands that I’ve dreamed of for so long. After chatting to the only two locals we can find – lovely girls in the petrol station – we head off to the recommended swim spot on the loch.

First close up of the loch is pretty daunting – it IS massive, and there are pretty big waves sweeping across the western end. However, we press on undaunted to the end of the track, distracted but not diverted by the lure of a sign advertising JAM and RUGS. We procrastinate badly with a visit to the Craft Shop (great Loch Morar mugs) and tea brewing rituals but the time comes when there is nothing for it but to face the swim.

The shingle beach is beautiful, the sun shining a little through the clouds, the water is clear and calling to us ... so, not TOO bad and distinctly do-able. Sharn shows her true mettle by joining in the Blue Sky Swimming manifesto and dons her cozzie for first cold water without wetsuit – BRILLIANT! Thanks to the lovely couple who took all the crucial evidence pictures for us.

Water temperature came in at 12c; better than I’d dreaded but still pretty breath taking! We have a really good pootle around in the crystal clear cold waves, feeling amazing and loving the sensation of swimming in such a remote, stunning loch. Usual trouble of course is the getting out part; very reluctant to leave the water, but we have the perfect post swim cuppa and warm up walk to look forward to....

We even stop talking for a while at one point as we feel so peaceful and blissed out by the water, air and peacefulness of the loch. Or is it just that we had run out of energy to even speak?!

Day One ends at the slightly strange Morar Hotel – fantastic location, lovely front of house staff, little bit uncomfortable dining room experience and ok food, kind of poky room where you keep tripping over yourself....but, AMAZING views across the bay and those stunning silver sands.

Day Two dawns on a more soggy note, but at this stage we’re upbeat and undaunted by a drop of rain or two. It’s now that we start to realise just how far we have to travel and how long it will take to get to Wastwater. Travel anxiety starts to set in a little but I am ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED (ie bossy and stroppy as hell) that we will get down to the beach and get in for a sea swim. I’ve dreamed of just that for 20 years after first seeing Local Hero – one of my favourite all time films http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u14-eIaFoLg&feature=related

Luckily Sharn is relaxed and easy going (or she is scared by the manic look in my eye?!) and so we head off to “look” at the beach. By now, we’re quite nicely attuned to the concept of water “speaking to us” and sure enough, I can hear the calling loud and clear. So we pull into a caravan park with a derelict cottage in torrential rain in order to get into our cozzies, get soaked in the rain in the walk across the beach, get into 12c sea for a swim, then try to get dry and dressed in the car – Why exactly? The pictures tell their story; this was a fabulous experience, a sensationally beautiful spot, tropically white sands and clear water if not temperatures.

8 hours later, when we’re trying to recover from the horror of Wastwater and camp pods, we’re doubly pleased of making the effort to enjoy this extra swim as it turns out to be by far the high point of the day....

So off we trek, retracing our steps with sadness to leave the bonny bonny banks of Loch Morar and the beauty of God’s own country. On the map, I’m encouraged to think the trip will be scenic and enjoyable, but we’re soon deep into Withnail & I territory – another of my favourite films, but not an inspiration to visit the sodden bleak fells spending miles trailing behind a succession of beat up old tractors - even the sheep look miserable.

So we hit The Lakes around mid afternoon in apocalyptic weather; pretty much dark by 3pm. Sharn comes over all determined (and downright bossy!), stops the car at a particularly unappealing spot and declares that we're doing the swim there and then. I actually feel phsyically sick at this point, a fen girl overcome by mountain claustrophobia and slate induced gloom. The sky is black, the ground is black, the scree slope filling our vision is black, the water is black, the car is black, my mood is black...you get the picture.

Sharn cleverly points out two wetsuited men swimming in the Lake and successfully appeals to my sense of competiton - a chance to show how tough we are in our cozzies, no wetsuits for Blue Sky Swimming girls! So were in, 13 degrees and deeply horrible, no sense of joy coming from this one sadly. Thanks again to the lovely (honeymooning?) couple who obliged the mad idiots by taking photos for us, and sorry for spoiling your peaceful afternoon!

So we're back on to attempting to get dried with wet towels in the rain...why did I think it was a good idea to wear jeans? Hot tea and giant Toblerone (thanks Sue x) lifted the mood a little but the dreaded campsite was figuring strongly in my mind. Sharn could not be persauded to waver from "the adventure" of camping so I grumpily tagged along to find our luxury camping pod.

Camping pods must look very picturesque on a sunny spring day with lambs gambolling ouside but the reality on a torrential dark evening in September was that we were going to sleep in a glorified shed for the night - with no torch, surrounded by mud, with NO WINE!!! What idiot arranged this trip? But hey, campers are a friendly bunch! Within half an hour our lovely Australian pod neighbours Matt & Sarah had furnished us with a torch, and two friendly fishermen had gone off to the shop for wine - now why didn't we think to let them know how to find us again?! Hey ho, turns out you can't beat jasmine tea when you're holed up in a mouldy insect infested shed for the night. I spend the first half of the night texting anyone I can think of to come and rescue me and the second half snoring loudly apparently - sorry Sharn!

Suffice to say, we're both pretty grumpy by the time a very wet dawn gradually emerges on Day 3. We're packed and in the car as quickly as we can manage and heading off away from the unlovely Lakes.

As ever, an opportunity to eat cheers us up no end as we tuck into the best ever poached eggs on toast at the Bridge Cafe somewhere on the road out of the Lakes. Is it wrong to be so happy to be leaving one of our country's most popular tourist areas?

Hours and several inches of rain later we arrive at the end of the rainbow - lovely Llandudno. Our legs are ready for a stretch, our lungs are ready for some seaside ozone, it seems to be clearing a little...so we pack the bag and head off into the next rainstorm for a walk around the Great Orme. First contact with Welsh locals is fisherman chap cycling past with a great big fish hanging off his handlebars - "are there any good swim spots along this coast?" I casually enquire. Turns out yes there is - a slippery rocky descent down the cliffs to a tempting looking plunge and swim spot. I'm VERY keen but Sharn adopts the sensible approach and dissuades me ... she IS determined to get me hiking up a hill!

Refreshed and refuelled with Chocolate Brownie (Sharn), Cherry & Amaretto ice cream (me) we set off on last leg of the day to Snowdonia. As our route takes us past one possible access route to our third target lake we decide to "have a look".

The map shows a road leading close to Llyn Cowlyd from Trefriw but if we knew how steep and hairpinny it was I doubt we would have attempted it. Anyhow we set off in blissful ignorance and in 1st gear up the track, Sharn assumes the skills of a top rally driver and somehow manages to haul the car up the hill. I contribute by digging my fingernails into my door handle and opening the livestock gates - very risky activity for a woman who is liable to fall inside a cattle grid (still got the scars from that one!)

Eventually, the track peters out, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. The pipeline leading from the reservoir makes an ominous landmark for us to follow along the sheep track. It's still pouring with rain at this point and most of our clothes are already soggy and gently mouldering in the car. We head off towards the scary dam gradually filling our field of vision as we get closer to the hidden lake. Then it's just a short climb past all the warning signs to the lake shore and relief that the water is actually calling ... a little. Well, we here now, and very unmotivated to repeat the trip again tomorrow so it's strip off in the rain and leg it into the water. Sadly, my feet are so pathetic and my balance so poor I have to put wellies back on to get down to the water. Now there's a glam sight - skinny dipping with wellies - tres Lincolnshire! Once in, it's a great swim - big smiles on our faces and an amazing sense of achievement. Temperature comes in at 14 degrees according to my very scientific £2.50 fridge thermometer.

It's a pretty long walk back to the car in damp jeans but we set a good pace, encouraged by the lure of the Pen y Gwryd Hotel for the night. Arriving at 7pm, I'm instantly in love with the place - all open fires, cosy rooms, hot baths and total lack of pretension. The staff are instantly likeable, friendly and incredibly helpful - the sense of wellbeing was growing by the minute. Lovely George rustles us a up a truly fab meal, exactly what we need with a couple of glasses of wine - yum!

One of my main reasons for choosing this excellent hotel was the promise of the natural swimming pond - it certainly didn't disappoint! George was a true star, turning on the poolside sauna and making me a cup of coffee while I nipped out into the rain (oh yes!) for a pre brekkie dip. The pool is truly AMAZING, and gave me one of my biggest highlights of the trip - a cold clear pool fed by a mountain stream - I was in heaven, couldn't drag myself out, jumped back in for second go...I would recommend this as reason alone for staying at this jewel of a hotel http://www.pyg.co.uk/

So, the 3 Pools conquered, we contemplate a spare day in Snowdonia. Sharn's attempts to persuade me to climb Snowdon had persistently fallen on stony ground and even she had to admit defeat when the rain closed in again. So, what do all good women do in these circumstances? Of course, Shop! Trip to Betws-y-Coed for us to treat ourselves to jewellery and to complete the 3 regional cake box - Scottish Snowballs, Kendal Mint Cake, Bara Brith.

After this interlude, we finally got around to setting off for a last day little walk. Started at 2pm, looked a breeze, had a lovely picnic and swim at Llyn Crafnant, got horribly lost on peat bog mountain top, half an hour from scrambling mountain rescue, finally made it back by 7pm just as light was fading and knees seizing up...but, as Hammy Hamster would say in Tales of the Riverbank, that's another story.....

First Pictures and Thoughts

2010-09-20T13:19:00.005+01:00

What a brilliant day it was on Saturday. Mind you, I don't think the the Coastguard Manager was thinking that at the time, with the surfing waves and a strong current. So - hats off to us all who plunged in the cold, brown water and survived - actually we all seemed to enjoy it - I've not heard that much laughing in the water before. We had 50 in the sea and 50 out - so a success.

Thank you everyone who came along and swam, paddled, waded. And a big Thank You to:

The spectators (quite a crowd pulling event it seemed);
Those who raised money and gave donations - in total £820 for our charities;
The RNLI lifeguards;
The RNLI Lifeboat crew with Helmsman Sean;
The Coastguard Manager and Team;
Cllr Gooding for setting us off and cheering us on;
Cllrs Gooding, Howard and Poskitt for their funding of the event;
My lovely Mablethorpe Mermaid;
Our Photographers;
Our Chalet Girls;
ELDC and Festival staff with the 'Insurance Question'!

And now for New Year's Day!

See here for a link on the event from one of our 'Tri' keen swimmers Mark: http://www.barracudatriclub.com/forum.php (click on Events)

The Great North Sea Plunge

2010-09-19T18:15:00.003+01:00

WOW! What a triumph of event organisation for Nicola who pulled off a tremendous day for all involved.

Hockney-esque sea fences courtesy of arty six year old Fab Felix on photographic duties...

Here's me and uber wild swimmer Tina enjoying a big steaming mug of tea after the swim - thanks to Mum, Maureen and Trudie, our glam Chalet Girls!

Tina was one of the handful of stalwarts (not including me!) who managed to get past the massive breakers into sea that was deep enough to avoid being dragged across the sandy shallows. She clocked up the full mile accompanied by the RNLI launch and endured more than an hour in the chilly waves - Good Stuff Tina!

AMAZING! There's more than just me and Nic on the beach! Slightly overwhelmed by the turnout - thanks to all swimmers and supporters, another £800+ raised on the day....

So HERE WE GO!...Three Pools Challenge kicks off tomorrow night with the long, long journey up to God's Country for Dip #1 - KEEP TUNED IN!!!

We're on our way!

2010-09-18T11:06:00.002+01:00

So here we go, beautiful clear cool day for the GREAT NORTH SEA PLUNGE at 2pm today. Sea swim will be lovely today; perfect conditions so far...

...can I take this as a good omen for the 3 POOLS CHALLENGE next week?

In my dreams all lakes will be as placid and inviting as this....

Standby for blog on the go!

Super Sexy Scarborough

2010-09-08T21:10:00.005+01:00

Here's a post combing two of my very favourite things: Lidos and Trains!

I've just been watching a re-run of Coast on the BBC and they were covering the North East Coast from Tynemouth to the Humber and stopped briefly in Scarborough - the birthplace of sea bathing.

Then I came across a super web-site with railway travel posters and here's a beauty for Scarborough with it's amazing sea water swimming pool - 'artificially heated' - rather quaint turn of phrase and funny to think that 'artificial' nowadays would be a negative sort of word to use, but perhaps at the time of this poster it was seen as modern, go-getting and snazzy?

Whichever, I'm mourning the loss of this beautiful pool; and not least from a selfish point of view - being too young (ha!) to have had the chance to swim there.

I'm now forming another of my '3' challenges: an autumn sea swim in Scarborough, Filey and Bridlington? Well that's taken my mind off the terror of 3 Deepest Pools for a little while!

2 Little Boys....

2010-09-06T12:58:00.002+01:00

Watch out world, the boys are loose on the education system! Little Leo is happily excited to be setting off on his first day at school, Big Brother Felix is pleased to have him along ... a landmark day for the Moran household.

On the turn....

2010-09-04T19:18:00.004+01:00

WOW! Have been enjoying the air and light quality this week, particularly in the evenings. As I swam across the lake on Thursday night there were mini rainbows over my head dancing in the cirrus clouds - truly magical and I chose to interpret as a good omen for the upcoming trip....

The Final Countdown

2010-09-02T18:08:00.005+01:00

16 Days to The Great North Sea Plunge

19 Days to The Three Pools Challenge

Am I nervous?

Damned right I am! Just at that "how the hell did I get myself into this?" kind of stage...oh yes, that's right, me and my big mouth again!

In my dreams, all lakes are benign and placid (and not TOO icy) - hope I'm not too disappointed?....

Gloomy Morar

Scary Wastwater

Bleak Cowlyd

Only joking!!! It'll be fine, we'll be fine, we'll live to tell the tale and come back with lots of stories of derring do and campside camaraderie....think of us and wish us well!

The Carnival is Over .....

2010-08-31T08:51:00.005+01:00

Well the lido season is coming to an end at any rate: sniff, sniff. Driving to Bourne yesterday afternoon for a last sit by the pool and swim in the leaf-strewn cool water - listening to 'sounds of the 70's' Tony Blackburn playing top 100 million trillion number ones, including The Seekers 'Carnival is Over' .... sweet nostalgia!

Bourne was hardly heaving - just me and couple of families - and the lifeguards were fulfilling their wide-ranging job descriptions by cleaning the equipment and bins.

Tonight is the last night if you want to catch this beautiful lido before it closes 'til May next year.

There goes the Summer....

2010-08-26T12:51:00.003+01:00

Distinctly backendish here now which fills me with bittersweet sadness for the end of summer and the usual impatience and wanderlust that takes me over in the autumn.

Swimming across the lake last night was bliss - raindrops jumping up my face in front of me, cocooned in my own little watery world, pootling along happily. I noticed for the first time the golden tinge to some of the trees and a few early leaves floating on the water.

All this fills me with excitement to set off on our 3 Pools Challenge - I can't wait to feel the tingle of the cold loch/lake/llyn water against my skin, and hopefully time for a sea dip on those famous Morar sands.....

Entente Cordiale - British Waterways Style

2010-08-20T15:48:00.006+01:00

I'm delighted to report that our meeting with Sean and Andy from British Waterways yesterday was a success: a positive dialogue and exchange of perspectives. Thank you Gentlemen! No 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' metaphors needed here.

I learnt more about water safety - including the dangers of dead deer floating down the Witham .... And I've got some exotic-sounding locations to check out for potential river-swimming spots, including the South Forty Foot Drain (!) We'll continue to talk to Sean and Andy and to other partners about river and lake swimming in Lincolnshire. It's brilliant that BW are helping us with advice and guidance.

Watch this space for a post from our BW guys 'A Day in The Life of A BW Manager'

Now, I can't leave this post without mentioning the documentary on TV the other night about the Slovenian River Swimming Man - Martin Strels - swimming the length of the River Amazon. It was almost unbelievable stuff - and it puts Matthew Parris' Thames crossing into context! The 'navigator' was pretty alarming - an all-night professional gambler and super-market trolley collector in the day - he was prepared with a map and GPS sat nav which he was familiarising himself with .... he seemed to literally lose the plot later on. Watch it again if you can. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/big-river-man/4od It makes all other 'wild' swimming seem a bit sissy sardine. There was a serious message (apart from proper preparation if you are swimming the Amazon) and that was the sadness about the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. See this article for more http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jan/04/swimming

And finally, just to prove that Lincolnshire really is the Potato County - see this potato I spotted whilst out on my walk at lunch time today - abandoned on the path near the Arboretum.

Priveleged to be here !

2010-08-18T14:35:00.004+01:00

Hi Waterbloggers .. it's SJ here .. feeling very excited about being a waterblogger .. watch out for some unusual posts with a Caledonian flavour !

Thanks Chris - Nicola here (and back to your cricket and wicket blog and a post on the Afghanistan game perhaps?!) http://cricketsandwickets.blogspot.com/

But I couldn't let your post pass without publishing the ditty you left on my ansaphone and which is still echoing in my memory:

Come where the hands are clapping,

Come where the toes are tapping,

Come where the Jocks are strapping,

Scotland the Brave!

4 August Swim Across London

2010-08-09T19:52:00.006+01:00

Energy Food

Before the start of the week we'd already reduced our ambitious Six Cold Places to Swim to Five - agreeing that Uxbridge (with its lovely renovated fountains) was sadly just 'too far out' for us to get to.

Usual lack of focus meant that we didn't leave our Base Camp 'til nearly eleven am (and special mention here to Graham our Benefactor and All Round Frog as a Prince for letting us stay in his Pad in fashionable Barbican - so 60's so chic so 'film set'. )

However we made use of our time by preparing some energy food - Lincolnshire Plum Loaf, with Butter and with Cheese .... ooh whopping calorie count! Sylvie the French One was pretty bemused by this 'plat anglais' --- the savoury and the sweet in one dish .... how rule-breaking, how very English.

Base Camp, Speed House

Tooting Bec finally located and found - via a dusty walk on Wandsworth Common - and we then ticked off Brockwell and on to Hyde Park on the No 3 bus. Time for Sylvie to take a siesta - as the French do - and can ...how many days leave is that you get Sylvie in the French public sector - mais oui, sacre bleu - 50 days per year! All that work means you need a nap in the afternoon - ah those Europeans eh?

Hyde Park's Serpentine and another hike over grassland to find the lido there .... mmmmmm ..... a wee bit slimy and goosey for my liking - and the creepiness of near-tame wild birds on the Serpentine - like the heron that Lesley was cooing too ...eeeh that's not natural!

Final destination - and a downpour keeping us dithering at Kentish Town - but Sandra's forthright 'commitment' and general gung ho attitude meant we did it - we found and swam in Hampstead Ponds. Except, errr, no we didn't because due to navigation mix up we in fact swam in Kenwood Pond for Ladies ..... and it really was magical and magnificent.

Merci my lovely swimming sister and special friends - it really was a day to treasure. x

Best Laid Plans ...

2010-08-05T20:24:00.010+01:00

Well, if we'd made any plans for our "Swim across London in a Day" extravaganza we might have been pretty disappointed how quickly they went awry...as it is (as usual) we left the logistics of the day to fate and showed (yet again) our flexibility, pluck and determination to complete the challenge.

Whilst we tucked into Sylvie's wonderful home made french biscuits and jam over a leisurely second breakfast (thanks to Graham for the loan of his superb city centre apartment) we should perhaps have been setting off in the direction of water instead of idling flicking through maps and grappling with the intricacies of the Oystercard.

Anyhow, the upshot is we FINALLY arrive at Swim #1 at 11:45; not quite the early start we'd had in mind! This was after surviving the long trek across the Serengeti/Tooting Bec Common .... half expected to see herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically.....

...instead it was local "character" Douglas who pointed us in the right direction across the Common and entertained us with tales of his 5am training regime ...something reassuringly expensive...

But here we are posing outside Stalag 17, sorry.... the Art Deco glory that is Tooting Bec Lido - if only we had a team of professional photographers and editors to soft focus our day a little!

Anyhow, after all the trekking and griping, this was a BEAUTIFUL swim and it's SO TRUE what everyone says about the friendliness of Tooting Bec. It's such a happy, upbeat kind of place and the swimming was sublime - cutting through the cool clear water with ease and big smiles while the first shower of the day bounced back up into our faces.
I could have stayed here all day happily, but we had a schedule to stick to ... (didn't we?)
Stay tuned for Pool #2....

FEN GIRLS COME TO TOWN

2010-08-03T14:02:00.002+01:00

Watch out Big City, the country fen girls are on the way to hit London en masse.

Now, I must remember not to break the rules like I normally do when set loose in the metropolis:

#1 No smiling at strangers who you pass in the street. They'll think you're insane and you'll get face ache before long.

#2 Don't laugh out loud on public transport when you get a funny text message from back home in the fens. You may get arrested by the anti terrorist police.

#3 Don't start whinging about the heat, grubbiness and noise of the city after only 5 minutes at Kings Cross. You always think it's going to be SOOOO glamorous but straightaway start craving the space and peace of the big Lincolnshire skies.

#4 Pack light. You always end up exhausted by lugging around huge heavy bags of emergency change of outfit, frilly London brolly, litres of water just in case ....

#5 If you really can't resist listening to the other commuters conversations and peeking at their laptops, TRY to be subtle - Oh dear, a tall order all round for me!

Looking forward to meeting up with all the gorgeous swimming sisters as we shambolically make our watery way across London tomorrow!

And my bit...

2010-07-26T18:47:00.002+01:00

Thanks beautiful boys for a beautiful blog.

I had a great time on our little holiday and this is my little highlight to treasure on dull winter days to come....

Waterbabies Blog

2010-07-26T17:47:00.013+01:00

Here we are, waterblogged boys on our big adventure to DEVON....

...we're both pretty excited to be out on the road with Mummy heading off for the South West with most of the contents of our wardrobes and toy cupboards stashed in the boot.

Soundtrack for the trip was Johnny Cash with our own version of lyrics to Fulsom Prison Blues ..." I killed a man in Reno, I tied him to the tracks..." There's something a bit odd about a 4 year old squeaky voice singing along with "Burn, burn, burrrrrrn, that ring of fire-yah!"

Stop #1: National Trust Knighthayes Court near Tiverton.

Great walled vegetable garden with assorted scarecrows including this apt example - Freediver Pete do you recognise yourself?

Stop #2: Daddy's recommendation, Clovelly

Daddy had obviously forgotten Mummy's propensity to come out in a cold panicky sweat on slippery, rocky surfaces as we (very slowly) negotiated the long, long, long descent down the village along the glass like cobbled path - a disaster waiting to happen! Leo earned his goat skills badge by skipping confidently the whole way down while Mummy clung to the wall and inched along - good job the pub at the harbour had a nice glass of Otter beer waiting to sooth her nerves...

Stop #3: Saunton Sands

First dip in the sea, jumping the surf and jumping out of the way of learner surfers. We were surprised by sea water that you could see through being used to the silty flats of our local north sea beach - and JELLYFISH! Eeek! Once we'd established "the jellyfish zone" we had it sorted, no problem.

Stop #4: Lee Bay

The famous glorious SW weather had kicked in by this stage. Good job we've got such an organised Mummy who had prepared for such a rare event as rain on a British seaside holiday. So here's Felix sporting a very flattering headscarf arrangement whilst Leo has the BBQ box for shelter, and Mummy just got wet and weird hair (not for the last time...!)

Veggie hotdogs in the rain on the beach; what could be better?

Stop #5: Dartmoor

Here we go, river swimming! GORGEOUS spot on the River Dart which was perfect for a bit of kagoul based paddling. Mummy was changed and in the water quicker than a quick thing, this was the moment she had been daydreaming about throughout the winter months....

Stop #6: Somewhere else in Dartmoor....

So, it's going home day but we're not ready to go, so we start the persuasion offence ...."such a sunny day, we've come all this way, shame to go home without seeing Dartmoor in the sun, we could have another riverside picnic lunch" etc etc ...soft touch Mummy caves in with the usual amount of stern resistance and off we set for another day tootling around the 25% gradients looking for spots to cool our toes...

The water was BEAUTIFUL - crystal clear, colour of tea, temperature of just melted ice cubes!

Today we branch our sartorially and swap kagoules for fleeces - yep, pretty chilly!

And so back home to Lincolnshire and a new HOT WHEELS track waiting for us - PERFECT!!!

South West Waterways Holiday

2010-07-25T15:44:00.006+01:00

The Train Now Departing .....

And what a holiday ..... Three 1930's lidos - Penzance, Plymouth and the lovely river-fed Chagford and a couple of river swims for Sandra in the River Dart. I've got a way to go before I look this glam but still managed to top up the tan in the sunny south-west.

Here's Dazzling Tinside at Plymouth - a beauty ... cold and salty and very stylish - even though the manager ignored my plea to 'push the button' and turn on the fountains ... boo. Notice there is virtually no-one swimming in this picture - too ruddy cold to stay in long!

And Penzance was really quite AMAZING - and MASSIVE! Oops I seem to have got in the way (even with the smallest head in the world I've blocked out the view of the largest sea-water lido in the UK).

And not forgetting Chagford - River-fed by the Teign - and an absolute gem of a pool - river water was lovely and soft and the whole event was 'soft-focus' through a prolonged heavy downpour of rain .... thank you to the poolside team for their chat and enthusiasm and the lovely mugs too ... a Special Place even in the rain.

And we did get some rain (ooh the garden's soooo dry - we need the rain) - thank goodness for Little Chef and their hospitality - oh and nice touch in welcoming flower arrangements:

And special mention to Lesley's Family and Other Animals on Chard High Street - the Most Hospitable House in Chard ... always 'room at the inn' if you are in need of a hot meal and accommodation. Now if Sartre was right and Hell really is Other People then I think that purgatory must be where they park their cockatoos: Mully the Cockatoo may well be in for an ASBO unless he pipes down a bit. Thank you to Aunt Barbara and Uncle Paul for their hospitality and warm welcome; to Maureen and Shirley too for their company and to all for some memorable moments - quite barking really - in a lovely, friendly way! lol x. Oh and Ben ..... perhaps developing a nervous tic by now.

Special mention to Millie the most Patient Dog in the World I think! x

And we couldn't finish the posting without including my picture of a lovely Orange Train (DBH) at Taunton - yes the Germans have arrived .... nice livery colour though.

Here we go...

2010-07-14T17:49:00.004+01:00

Fantastic footage of a great day jumping, diving, floating, bombing, and lots of laughing too!

In the style of a true Hollywood diva, there are a few thanks in order....

...To all who turned out and jumped in - I think we got 11 plus a couple of dogs? Sounds like a start up gig for a embryonic rock band - you didn't let the dogs in for free did you?!!

...To all the local spectators from The Riverside Inn at Southrey and walkers/cyclists along the lovely Water Rail Way from Lincoln to Boston.

http://www.riversideinn.org.uk/

...to Kat from BBC Lincolnshire for reportage, gung ho jumping and glamour

....to Sarah Payne of East Coast Target for continuing media coverage throughout 2010

...to Rachel Grafton of the Sleaford Standard for photographer and 2nd great article of the summer

http://community.lincolnshire.gov.uk/bluskyswimming/section.asp?catId=29003

...to Felix and Leo who went among the crowd chugging in brilliant style and topping up the collection tins for the Leicester Children's Holiday Centre.

http://www.justgiving.com/Sandra-Moran/

...to Roberto at the European Rivers Network for founding this great event; it felt really good to be part of this European wide promotion and to wave the flag for the UK (and lowly Lincolnshire) for the first time.

http://www.rivernet.org/bigjump/

...to Kate and her team at the Outdoor Swimming Society for coordinating the national participation and all their hard work to date in preparing the Responsibility Statement, event guidance and support to all members throughout the year.

http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/

... to The River & Lake Swimming Association who have also been great for advice and enthusiastic support - merci Yacov!

http://www.river-swimming.co.uk/

WOW! Lots of people and effort involved, but lots of fun and laughter too!

I think Jumper John should get a special mention for symbolising the power of a little group of like minded people achieving a great thing - he lives right next to the river, heard the radio promotion, did a bit of googling, came down to the river and ended up enjoying the start of his river swimming life right on his own doorstep - PERFECT!

There's plenty more summer and more swimming out there - ENJOY!

Big Jump Tease

2010-07-12T14:50:00.002+01:00

Ooh, can't wait for all the photos of our triumphant Lincolnshire Big Jump...

....in the meantime, here's one of "specialist" interest!

RISING TIDE

2010-07-11T21:36:00.003+01:00

Saturday morning saw us setting off determinedly to get to the beach and to get there on good time for a full day at Gibraltar Point. We looked as though we were leaving the country for at least a month judging by all the bags and gear we stashed in the car!

Walk through the dunes was hot hot hot, crossing the panhandle, never easy with enough picnic, buckets, blankets, brolly, spare clothes for the whole beach being carried by packhorse parents. Leo and Felix mooch along nonchalantly carrying just their chosen toy for the day and a spade.

View from top of the hill was STUNNING - sand banks and blue sea (in places) looked positively tropical.

We set up camp half way across the beach and sent a gloating message to Nic and Sue to let them know they'd made the wrong choice not to join us on the coast!

Rising tide was AMAZINGLY strong and fast - I was swimming with all my strength into the tide and at best managing to only stay fixed in one spot. When I stopped swimming I was carried down the beach really quickly - a bit worrying as I didn't fancy wading out of the Wash a mile down the beach!

The boys got straight down to the serious business of wallowing in the shallows where the water was almost steaming hot (and pretty muddy - eat your heart out Turkish baths!)

The speed of the tide meant we had to break camp twice and ended up right back against dunes in time to greet the 5pm high tide (6.1m for geeks!) I got a last swim and came face to face with a (hopefully) friendly seal staring at me from only a metre away. My shriek unsurprisingly spooked him and he turned tail under water, which is even more disconcerting!

Hello to Jane from Edinburgh whose company we enjoyed on her stolen afternoon off work, Josh and his family from Oakham who we chatted with all afternoon, and the swimming couple who joined us today for THE BIG JUMP - more on that tomorrow! Suffice to say, it was a VERY BIG jump indeed!!!!

3 Days in Summer

2010-07-11T21:22:00.004+01:00

Perfect start to an exhausting but brilliant weekend started with post work swim at my fave pool - beautiful Bourne. Only managed a couple of lengths as was still trying to shake off the grumpiness of the week. Still, who wouldn't be cheered by the rustling of the lime trees, sundogs in the cirrus clouds and a cup of tea from the perenially friendly cafe lady?

Mood lifted further by the drive home past Grimsthorpe Castle coming across first harvest of the year - the dust was glittering and dancing in the air, the nostalgic scent always takes me straight back to my childhood - aged 6 or so, burning the stubble with Daddy into the night...

I was wishing I could bottle the bittersweet essence of that moment but perhaps that's the point - you can't predict, pin down or recreate those unexpected moments - you can only smile, let it into your heart and make a new memory for duller days.

THE BIG JUMP - SUNDAY 11 JULY

2010-07-11T09:36:00.004+01:00

Wow - a fantastic afternoon for our first event with ten of us jumping in the water and plenty of spectators - including our mascot swimming dog Olive. The best pictures and videos to follow from our photographers but here's a taste in the slideshow above - all taken before Nicola got in the water of course. Clips of high jumps from the jetty steps (I chickened out!) and our mass jump in the river all to follow.

A brilliant day - thank you everyone for joining in.... including Mum and Dad 'on the other side' and having to drive 20 miles round the road to join us when we only had to swim a few metres to join them ... maybe we should start a campaign to resurrect the ferry?!

Waterblogged Week

2010-07-09T16:40:00.005+01:00

Water filled eyes have been my problem this week, weeping and whining like a good 'un!

Thanks to Nic and Sharn my swimming sisters for pulling me through the other end with a little smile on my face xxx

Anyhow, as we were brought up to say..."I'm too BUSY to be depressed!" ... lots of exciting swim stuff on the horizon to lift my spirits including the much heralded BIG JUMP this Sunday. We've had lots of exciting and slightly unexpected enquiries so wait with baited breath to see if it's just the two of us again!! Felix & Leo have taken to boasting about us being the first UK registration and have renamed the event THE BIG BOMB - they are expecting a good display of pool banned manouevres! (That's where my extra ballast comes in handy!)

Then it's full steam ahead for our SW Odyssey - perhaps I'd better start planning? Nah! Just make it up on the go as usual...

Meanwhile, here's a piccie of my favourite boys getting to grips with the lido lifestyle at Bourne last weekend...

Blue Sky Swimming in Kent

2010-07-02T12:09:00.006+01:00

Lesley getting stuck in.... fully submerged!

Here's our Friend Lesley braving the sea at Sandgate, Kent - how BLUE that sea looks compared to the silty North Sea. And how inspiring to do this on her own - at the Summer Solstice too. Lesley is getting as addicted to the cold water swimming as us and is discovering some fab places to swim in the South - planned trip to Camber Sands in Sussex later in the summer.

And here's cheeky chappie Barnaby encouraging his Auntie from the beach.

Stop Press - Web Site Details .... UPDATE

2010-06-30T13:26:00.004+01:00

Just to say that our web site URL is:

http://community.lincolnshire.gov.uk/blueskyswimming/

The old web site is showing on some of the links - eg RALSA

There are separate pages under Forthcoming Events for the Big Jump and the Great North Sea Plunge.

Joining details for our Big Jump on 11 July http://community.lincolnshire.gov.uk/blueskyswimming/section.asp?docId=88740

Registration form for the Great North Sea Plunge on 18th September http://community.lincolnshire.gov.uk/blueskyswimming/section.asp?docId=88723

Thank you.

THE BIG JUMP - 3pm July 11th 2010

2010-06-29T17:44:00.003+01:00

At a secret (for now) location deep in the heart of Lincolnshire, Blue Sky Swimming will be hosting the first UK event to register for this European Wide Event...

http://www.rivernet.org/bigjump/

If you fancy coming along to join in the fun, take a look at the geography, make sure you're not prone to agoraphobia and send us a message to let us know you're on your way...

http://capture.macaw.world.net/upload/LIN_GB_839_WRW2BardneytoWoodhall.pdf

marshallnicola@rocketmail.com

sandram6665@yahoo.com

...or join in the chats on http://www.swimclub.co.uk

LOTS MORE TO COME!!! Only now I have to break free from the shackles of my desk and run off for an evening swim somewhere...

River Swimming Addiction

2010-06-28T18:00:00.004+01:00

What a beautiful picture of Nicola captured post swim and post heroic dog rescue (see blog below - I was completely ineffective sculling around in the water)

GORGEOUS clear skies stretching for miles across the fens but beware of the web footed natives when you venture this far into deepest Lincolnshire, we can have a reputation for being suspicious of "newcomers"

A Watery Weekend

2010-06-28T14:25:00.013+01:00

Second swim in the Witham on Saturday evening - brave getting braver this time. This time we dived in (well I sort of plunged to start with) off the Southrey side and swam up river and back down several times. We were joined by Olive the black labrador and Nic had to recall her lapsed lifesaving skills to get the dog out and back on the pontoon - note: labradors are heavy and slippery when wet ... I have some nice bruises to show for it.

Sunday and Nic is at the beach 'toute seule' for the day. Made the best of my time with a stroll from Sutton on Sea up to Mabo to speak to the RNLI guys about the boat launch on 18th September's Great North Sea Plunge. I hadn't realised that there had been a big 'to do' about the team losing their land rover vehicle (well not losing literally, but being replaced by a tractor). And Bill the lifeboat manager had resigned after 41 years of service, so sparking a campaign on Facebook. I read all this on the front page of the 'Leader' - And I thought Sandra and I were 'The Story' in Mabo!

Good news: our friend Sara Payne at the East Coast Target newspaper has done us proud again with an update article about our summer solstice swim. I hadn't realised just how much I had rabbited on last time she 'phoned me. Mind you I think I could get some more copy mileage out of the 'Nicola nearly drowned in the North Sea' as a child; especially if I take the 'deprived fenland upbringing' angle - parents' distracted, not noticing the 'middle one' was missing etc etc. I can feel a Misery Memoire in the making.

I think I now win the 'tackiest / strangest' postcard competition with Sandra : found these 3 in a newsagents in Sutton on Sea. Cleary golliwogs are still legal tender on the Lincolnshire coast. An alarming sort of animal cruelty theme running here too.... Still they were only 25p each.

HEADS UP: WATCH OUT FOR THE BIG JUMP - Our River Swim as part of the European River Swimming Festival - on 11th July at Southrey - http://www.rivernet.org/bigjump/ We will be the first in Lincolnshire to do it! We like being first!

Also, we are hoping to join up with the RNLI challenge of Swim a Mile at our Great North Sea Plunge on 18th September.

Topsy Turvy Week...

2010-06-25T15:54:00.003+01:00

What a long week!

Started off brilliantly (if a little disorganised!) with night time summer solstice sea swim on Monday...

Dull at desk, quickie evening dip and bask in the sun at Bourne, tired on Tuesday...

World Cup Wednesday, say no more...

Thrills on Thursday, escape from work for swim in the sun and summer breeze...

Fuggled Friday, daydreaming about getting in the water this weekend....

NICE SYMMETRY!

2010-06-22T15:48:00.002+01:00

We ended up at Huttoft for the midsummer swim in a nice piece of symmetry as this was the spot of our 2010 New Years Day swim - how we love a bit of serendipidity!

In yet another perfectly rehearsed piece of planning, I find myself travelling NW to Sutton on Sea whilst Nicola motors along SE to Gibraltar Point - we probably crossed paths at Partney!

Disappointing start to the evening saw us dithering over our commitment to drive out to the North Sea for a cold, dark dip after both enduring long difficult days at work...
...as usual, it fell to Nic to be motivational and off we set into the East (albeit different locations!)

So, here's the lovely scene at Huttoft at 9pm just before we finally got around to donning cozzies and starting the long walk down to the sea -cleverly, I'd managed to cock up the tide prediction as well!

It took a VERY long walk out through pretty strong breakers and ebbing tide drag to get enough depth for shoulders to get under water and knees off the ground... It was a bit spooky/exciting according to attitude to be so far out with no reassuring presence on shore to call the emergency services should we start to drift out into the North Sea! We're definitely enjoying the benefits of cold water acclimatisation though and bobbed around in the breakers for a good 15 minutes before the customary struggle with lifeless fingers, salty skin and inappropriate outfits to get back dressed.

After all this serious training we felt a little champagne was in order to celebrate the solstice, shame we're such girls that neither of us felt able to open the bottle! Thanks to the lovely Jason who had been hoping for a quiet evening watching the waves for popping the cork straight into the dunes. We were able to cater for the entire beach and ended up sitting in Steve & Chrissie's cosy camper van sharing the Bollinger - GREAT conclusion to the longest day of the year.

Now, where next...?

Down Let the Sun Go Down on Me .....

2010-06-22T09:16:00.002+01:00

Solstice Swim - late setting off, sun disappearing behind the horizon - zipping along the roads in Bertie to get to the beach before dark. Communication failures between me and Sandra meant we arrived at Huttoft (Nic getting there via Skegness) in the dusk. However, we were not going to cop out at this point ... tide on the turn (Sandra read the time table incorrectly - rising tide, not!) and there were some big waves which crashed over me several times bringing back all that childhood fear of drowning again - yes on Huttoft beach once more where - if it wasn't for the attentiveness of parents - I'd have been in the mud flats (mmmm I'm still making the most of the guilty consciences of M+D).

I'll leave it to Sandra to blog about the new friends we met - Jason the champagne cork popper and Steve and Chrissie in their luxury motorhome.

Summer Solstice

2010-06-21T09:35:00.002+01:00

It's an auspicious start to the Summer Solstice here in deepest Leicestershire; crystal clear skies and soaring temperatures as the sun rises on the longest day of the year.

Champagne is chilling in the fridge, jeans are drying off on the car dashboard in the sun (as usual I've prepared with military precision!)...can't wait for this evening's twilight sea swim. tee hee!!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2010-06-14T13:37:00.003+01:00

Probably not quite the birthday treat he had been hoping for, but Dad got the chance to play lifeguard at our first unplanned Lincolnshire river swim. Here's Felix breaking all the rules sitting in the front with Grandad as we bounced along the fen track to Tan Vats - "the end of the line, boy!" Soundtrack in the car added to the ambience - Box Car Willie was giving it some welly!

This is what a 69 year old (looking good!) looks like from the perspective of his 6 year old grandson!

Now, where did those silly sisters go.....

Perhaps it was the pike/eel/shark/killer swan that the boys kept shouting were about to get us!

Ooh! The sweeping vistas, the endless skies, the bumpy roads! We really ARE fen girls!!

First River Swim in Lincolnshire!

2010-06-14T12:02:00.005+01:00

Wow ... we did it! We swam in the River Witham - secret squirrel location - with Dad on lifeguard duty. Nic in first as usual - but tentative and keeping within reach of the rope and lifebuoy. Sandra 'tombstoned' in - it must be 20 feet deep - and then straight out to the middle. Once I got my confidence I felt okay and it was just amazing to feel the cold, green water - managed to keep out of the way of the pike.

Sandra's posting will follow with news of her sneaky reservoir swim too - not to be outdone by me spending Sunday afternoon sunning myself at Peterborough lido - 20 degrees in the clear water - beautiful!

Here we are getting in - Dad's video 'tek-neek' no better than Nic's.

FRUSTRATED...

2010-06-10T17:25:00.002+01:00

Had a long boring day at work, really dragging....swim kit in the car is beckoning me out for an uplifting quickie dip at Bourne. Just called to check they're open and it's looking seriously dodgy for me to drive 40 miles round trip on the off chance that the 3 swimmers currently in the pool are going to stay long enough for the lifeguard to hang around for little old me to turn up for the last 1/2 hour - BOO HOO!!!

New Challenge - Swim Across London

2010-06-09T17:44:00.007+01:00

River Skirth at Billinghay ... swimming spot potential?

Hello! Enjoyed a swim at Bourne last night with Sandra - big raindrops falling on our heads and around us - lovely! I'd had a headache since midday and my drive down to Rutland for a meeting - after diving in the cool water I immediately felt refreshed. Arrived earlier than Sandra so sneaked in a few lengths on my own - heard her before I saw her! We really wanted to get on the inflatable for the under 14's fun night.

Okay - here's advance news of our August Challenge - Swim Across London. Mais Oui! And we will have Sylvie the French Femme to join us so we are going global. I've contacted a choice few wild women who I think will be up for this. Let us know if you want to join in - eithfor all, some or one of the swims - towel holders and tea fetchers also welcome, oh and photo takers too. Wednesday 4th August is the date and it will be an early start and late finish. We'll definitely do Tooting Bec and Hampstead Ponds and we should do Uxbridge since it's just been renovated back to its original glory. Watch this space for the itineray.

Driving home last night I went past our native village of Billinghay in the fens - mist was rising off the fields and I stopped to have a look at the River Skirth for swimming potential - water level high and mud level high too! Ah memories of sitting on the river bank watching the coaches going to the coast ..... wow what entertainment we had ... good job we had the swimming pool - and it's still going strong. Brilliant. http://www.billinghaypool.blogspot.com/ But of course there were the pubs too - Coach and Horses hasn't changed much. Last time I was in there I was asked to leave for 'laughing' (or taking the p*** I imagine).

HOT WEEKEND!

2010-06-07T13:16:00.004+01:00

Gibraltar Point with the boys and friends Pete & Sue - lovely, lovely, lovely!

Everyone got into the water, except the grown up boys who stayed at base camp to "look after the picnic"!

Tide was falling fast during the afternoon so Sue and I ended up on a long hike out across the sands (and mud!) for the last swim of the day. Even then, and despite wading out for miles, I still ended up beaching my knees trying to swim in the shallow water.

We were joined by a fellow swimmer who strangely chose to ignore our cheery "hellos" despite being one of only 3 people in the Lincolnshire North Sea at that point and swimming within feet of us - tres disappointing! Nicola won't be surprised to hear that we think she was the same solo swimmer we observed back in April who upset our bravado by getting into the water before us!!

Sunday by comparison was inland delights - trip to see the Bowland Oak, the largest/oldest specimen in Europe/UK??? Some confusion over claims to glory, but it is a glorious tree ...

http://homepages.which.net/~rex/bourne/bowthorpeoak.htm

Thanks to the really friendly farming family who look after this remarkable tree at the top of their veg garden and let you visit in return for a modest donation to the Air Ambulance.

Mid Week Blues....

2010-06-04T08:45:00.006+01:00

... I was suffering badly from the blues yesterday so decided to conduct a thorough scientific experiment into the uplifting effects of outdoor swimming.

I think the results are clear :

BEFORE:

AFTER:

OK, so I had to drive 150 miles round trip, but never let it be said that I'm not prepared to suffer in the name of cold water swimming!

Sea at Mabo was a bit murky to be honest, still rinsing out the cozzie, but lovely waves to roll around in and wave back to the lifeguards on shore - no idea what they were saying through the loadhailers?!!

Will have to check out the left bank scene one day, never knew Mabo was so arty...

Nicky looking happy too, frolicking on the silver sands....

3 Lidos, 3 Miles, 2 Women, 1 River ...

2010-06-01T17:54:00.002+01:00

...OK, so it doesn't quite have the neat ring that the anally retentive waterblogged sisters were hoping for...but, WHAT A FANTASTIC DAY!!!!!

Clear skies, fresh breeze, crystal clear light quality to set off the sparkling blue water in these 3 great pools:

True to character we had the day planned out to the smallest detail with military precision but still showed enough flexibility to be able to incorporate a big pre swim brekkie at Little Chef and an impromptu diversion to swim in the Cam for an hour or two.

This was my first river swim and something I haven't yet recovered from (in an entirely GOOD way) Thanks again to the lovely Judith who we met at Jesus Green and immediately bonded with - she was the only other swimmer without a wetsuit and with a personality!

We dived in (bellyflop for me, overly conscious of the unknown depth and wanting to avoid getting ditched in silty bottom!) and swam upriver from Newnham to Dead Mans Bend. We coasted back down to the lawns for mugs of tea with our combined picnics - a bit of a weird mix of bread and cheese, cherries and strawberries, beetroot and pork pie! This was one of my best days of 2010, an experience which I will never forget and something I'm craving to do again really really soon..

Ok, so we got to Peterborough 3 hours later than planned, but hey ho, we still pulled in the full 3 miles. I have to give credit entirely to Nicola for this - I was deep into my river reverie and just couldn't be arsed to do my share of lengths at Peterborough, choosing instead to sit like a lizard soaking up the sun to bring my body temperature back up (yeah yeah, I know, thin excuse...)

...my performance at Bourne was even more lacklustre and had to steal 6 lengths of the one local lad who was still in the pool by the time we arrived in lowering skies after 6pm!

Nic just kept going....brilliant stamina, where does she get her energy from?!!!

Now I've just got to get the silt and chlorine out of my cozzie before next dip - when will it be?

Diving in at Billinghay - 28th May

2010-06-01T16:30:00.001+01:00

After our photoshoot with David from the Sleaford Standard! Our technique (Tek neek) is not as good as it was 30 years ago .... poor leg action here - especially from Nic - weak splash effect and neither of us dared to 'run up' in case we slipped. Ahh...

Diving in at Jesus Green - 30th May

2010-06-01T15:54:00.003+01:00

Wow - What a perfect day we had for our 3 Lidos challenge. The sun shone on us all day - a cool wind and a bit choppy at Peterborough but a glorious, fantastic day. This is just a brief post to capture our first lido on Sunday 30 May - Jesus Green, Cambridge. Beautiful pool - 90 metres long and unheated - glorious. Sandra will be here with a more detailed - and bragging post ... Check out the slide show above for pictures and Nic's You Tube channel - link above -for all the video clips.

And we went on to greater things with our new-found friend Judith who invited us as her guests to Newnham Bathing Club on the Cam where we swam in the Cam river - glorious -if a little fresh at 13 degrees.

More feedback on our day soon - we did all 3 lidos and a mile in each - despite being a woman down.

Thank you! x