Joss Bay

Stayed for a few days in Prospect Tower and whilst there, went off for a day to Joss Bay.

Joss Bay is just north of Broadstairs and one of a series of lovely sandy bays with Blue Flag standards. Also worth checking Botany Bay (see the recent ads for Kent), Kings Bay and the odd seawater lidos in Margate.

Kate and I swam one way and then the other and spent quite a bit of time just floating and laughing.

last members day

The lido was again cool, refreshing and swimmable without a hat. Feels good to strip off another barrier between me and the water. Just did a km and some stretches. And can feel myself getting back into it. Off for a romantic weekend in a tower with Kate this weekend, but we're going to check out some of the beaches north of Broadstairs - one's called Joss Bay; and eat some seafood at Whitstable.

going with the flow

Another lovely morning at the lido. Had a chat with Elizabeth (author of the wonderful Unusual Love Affair in London) who unfortunately can't swim due to an ear infection. I also saw Alex speeding up and down in his orange hat. I got in with the idea of swimming for half an hour. I swam slowly focusing on my stroke and did a couple of lengths of 5/4/5 stroke breathing. A mile took me 34 minutes. Which is about 4 slower than usual. The only mild irritation was a triathlete who got in close to me, but didn't seem to be able to swim in a straight line - "sort your sighting out fella, or you'll swim further than you need to!"

Log - 1.65km at 17 degrees.

lively lido

Back in Tooting Lido! Yippee! An amazing 17 degrees C. My back still being a bit tender I decided to stay in for just half an hour. It was also a little busy (or as busy as a 100yd by 33yd pool can get) and I had to alter course a couple of times.

After two lengths I realised I was in danger of losing my new wedding ring, so hopped out to hide it away. Then back in for another few lengths before I thought my head was getting too hot - so off with the cap. Thankfully I'd covered myself with a one application suncream earlier in the morning, so my balding skull stayed pale and ginger.

Looking forward to tomorrow and what happens as the air temperature drops this week.


Log - 30 mins at 17 degrees. Wasn't counting lengths, but roughly 16 to 18.

heaven in the Teme

Kate and I are in Ludlow to get married, but couldn't resist a trip out to a nearby village for a swim in the river Teme. It was cool, clear and full of fishes and overhead there were clouds of midges. But they didn't bother us one bit. Then off to a nearby forest for a picnic.

back to swimming

I put my back out after the last swim - getting off the motorbike. I have only just got back in. I went for a warm swim at London Fields Lido with the wife - who will not do cold water unless we're on holiday, she has a wetsuit on and the sun is shining. But my main excuse is that I thought warm water would be better for the muscles. So I had a very langorous half an hour of what to me was slow crawl, but clearly to my lane companions was more than medium. I concluded that many swimmers interpret 'fast lane' to mean that their limbs move quickly, rather that the speed by which they travel through the water.

Back to TBL soon.

cold

Got in blithely thinking I'd do 22 lengths, only to find it was very much colder in Tooting Bec Lido than it had been last week. Got to 12 lengths and thought I'd go on to the mile, but after 14 decided to pack it in and shower. I am still cold two hours later. WTF?

Log - 1.28km at 9/10 degrees?

wild(ish) waters

Two contrasting swims this weekend. More accurately three swims. Two twenty minutes swims in Dover Harbour at the start of the Channel swimming training season and a lovely 2.5km meander along the River Cam from Byron's Pool to Newnham Swimming Club.

Dover beach was filled with over 100 aspirant Channel soloists, relayers, veterans and assorted supporters. At 10 o'clock the massed swimmers where sent into the harbour for a twenty minute swim at 9 degrees C. For those SLSC, Serpentine and other seasoned cold water swimmers we got out with a mere shrug of the shoulders, but among the less hardy there was a whole lotta shakin' going on. After an hour to stop shivering and stuff yourself with a bacon sarnie, it was back in for another swim. Feeling ridiculously confident, Carl and I, stopped several times to chat, float and spout on about the the wonders of being in the sea. And for the first time in a while, found myself chilled after getting out.

I thought a day at home with Kate might be prudent, so didn't go off to Oxford for a swim in the Thames in Sunday. But Monday saw me up at Byron's Pool on the Cam with 30 other Outdoor Swimming Society members to celebrate the poet's crossing of the Bosphorous Straits 200 years ago. A lovely 2.5km meander through fields, overhanging willows; being brushed by silky weeds and ending at the naturist Newnham Swimming Club. Where I felt I had to take a naked dip. Not a lot on show though after the hour in 10 degree water.

May 1 and 3rd log - 2km at 9 degrees and 2.5km at 10 degrees.