log for 2010

Rivers
Tees, Wharfe, Thames, Teme, Cam, Nene, Ulpha Bridge

Lochs, lakes, tarns
Loch o the Lowe, Grasmere, Rydal Water, Easedale Tarn, Coniston, Hayeswater, Buckstones Jump, Potter Tarn, Gurnal Dubs

Sea
Dover harbour, Solent, Croatia Dalmatian Coast, Felixstowe, Man o War Bay, Durdle Door, St Abbs Head, Wells-next-the-Sea

Lidos
Tooting Bec, London Fields, Collingwood (Canada), Oasis, Hathersage

Outdoor water temps from Minus 0.5 degrees C to 20 degrees C.

Looking forward to more in 2011, especially the Outer Hebrides island to island swim and a Swimtrek holiday in Sardinia.

And on a personal note, Kate swimming a mile in the sea with me.

in and out - fast

Last few swims since the 22nd December have been 60m, 120m, 15m, 60m. It's just too damn cold. One of the old lags today suggesting it was minus (yes, minus) 0.5 degrees C in the water. And the sauna, showers and electrics are all off, so it's old skool swimming.

ying and yang

To the lido for a dip at 0 degrees C  - brrrr - then off to Crystal Palace for a longer 2.2km swim. Feels good to be doing distance again, but I was so hot coming out that my coat was unzipped, kept my hat off and opened the window on the bus.

warm swimming

Just back from a leisurely 2.2km in Crystal Palace 50m pool. Not as warm as leisure centre pool, but at 25/26ish felt warm. As I've not done more than 200m for the last month or so, I thought I'd take it easy. A few varied speed lengths to see where my lungs are (need to do more), but essentially 20 minute kms, with four lengths of wind down at the end. Had a good chat with a fellow called Neil afterwards. And there's a direct bus door to door.

swimming in the snow

Could only get in at the deep end this morning; and by the time we left it was really coming down. Feels quite surreal to swim when it's snowing. Water didn't feel too bad though! Kate still braving the cold and doing her leisurely breaststroke.

heat!

So good to have a sauna to get into. Get out feeling like my hands are turning to ice and ten minutes later I can walk around with a towel round me and feel toasty.

frozen pants

This is what happens when you swim in freezing waters...

retreat of the glaciers

So still ice-y today, but much reduced from yesterday. Foolhardily agreed with Carl to do four widths (120m). First two were fine (in as much as swimming in 1 degree water can be), but widths 3&4 gave me the increasing sensation that my hands were turning to ice. Ten minutes in the sauna sorted that out and have felt amazing for the rest of the day.

ice age

With most of the Lido iced over, it's a little difficult to swim in. But the lifeguards are wonderful at clearing a passage between the steps. As it was the deep end the choice was enter down the ladder or jump. I jumped, and surprisingly didn't feel any shock. Unfortunately my goggles immediately filled up with water and made the crawl difficult.

Although mentally it seems I have acclimatised more, I almost immediately lost the feeling in my middle toes. Later in the sauna I was reminiscing about how we used to swim and barely be able to put our flipflops back on because we'd lost sensation in our toes and could don't our trousers up several minutes later. I'm going to have to stay in longer!

a proper dip

2 degrees, 2 widths (60m) - a proper dip, if not a swim. Sauna after and cake. Lovely. Kate still doing two widths without a wetsuit!

can't swim

Can't swim, as it's too far to walk, the trains have stopped working and I don't want to go in a warm, over chlorinated pissoir. Feeling mighty jealous of those swimming in the ice at TBL.