the swims of 2011

Lakes and Rivers

River Cam, Newnham Riverbank Club

River Nene at Tansor and Wadenhoe, Northants

River Sava, Slovenia

Loch Lubnaig, Trossachs

Glen Etive, Western Highlands

Ellerton Lake, North Yorkshire

Easedale Tarn, Cumbria

Lake Bled, Slovenia

Lake Bohinj, Slovenia

Lake de Presil, Italy

Cardingmill Valley Reservoir, Shropshire

 

Sea

Calshot Beach, Hampshire

Coldringham Bay, Borders

Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

Madellena Archipelago, Sardinia

Outer Hebrides – between the isles off Barra

Bamburgh, Northumberland

Tenby and surrounding beaches, Pembrokeshire

Whistable, Kent

 

Lidos

Tooting Bec

London Fields

Hampton

Temperatures varying between 0.5 degrees C to 20 degrees C.

down by the riverbank

Gary and Clara came over for coffee before we sped up the M11 to the Riverbank Club in Cambridge. Lots of our other swimming friends showed and some new ones. We all swam between 20 and 30 minutes in the ten degree River Cam, before tucking in to cake and then a roast dinner down at the Green Man in Grantchester.

In contrast to the lido the water felt silky. And leaves appeared out of the murk, rather than being in plain sight for ages. Dark patches below were the weeds that I’m used to seeing in the summer, and the cold felt different. I had a breathing issue for a little while and I felt the cold more intensely on my chest and arms. What a difference a few days and a degree makes to tolerance.

so close, but so far

Set off this morning to swim in the Cam at the Riverbank Club, but got stuck in traffic a few hundred metres short of the Blackwall Tunnel – which was closed due to an accident. Nearly two hours later we arrived at Tooting Bec Lido (having abandoned any hope of going north, after the cops turned everyone around) and swam for most of our half an hour with the pool to ourselves. Shot some more pics with Kate’s underwater Lumix.

pool and river

Kate got told that Ofsted were coming this week, so the weekend was spent ensuring that all is up to date and spick and span. But that didn’t stop us from a quick dip in Tooting on Saturday morning; and a trip up to Cambridge to the Newnham Riverbank Club in Sunday morning – where we caught up with Sarah and Tonia (who’d just done a three person Channel Relay), Julie (who’s very excited about TED asking her to speak and participate in an eight day conference in Edinburgh), Gary and Liz. A swim up past Deadman’s Corner to the fallen willows and back. Followed by a small picnic. Minor drama on the way back with a flat tyre. But all in all, very relaxing and good for Kate to take her mind off the Inspection.

Blakeney and surrounds

the happy couple

Back from Sardinia on Friday night and off to Blakeney, on the north Norfolk coast for a weekend, to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. Had a bracing dip at Cley-next-the-sea off the shingle banks.

the ape emerges from the surf

Otherwise, just steam, sauna, hotel pool and a ten mile walk along the coast.

wrong tide for a swim!

Relaxing.

And on the way home, a dip at the Riverbank Club in Cambridge with mates various, including these fellas.

the naked apes

After six days of blissful sunshine at Tooting Bec Lido we decided to spend the afternoon with friends at the Newnham Riverbank Club. We arrived early for our unobserved, as nature intended, dips.

A Naked Ape

Another naked ape

Then spent the rest of the day swimming several times, drinking lots of tea (thanks to Sam who brought a kettle)

Tea Mistress - The Honourable Sam Winters

, scoffing sarnies, cakes and crisps and chatting with Sarah T, Sarah P, Bryn, Linda, Bernie, Rebecca, Julie, Gary, Sam, Stuart, Lloyd, Tonia, Jess, Lee and others to numerous to mention.

Assorted aquatic apes

Newnham Riverbank Club

On the way back from Shropshire. The sun was out and the River Granta beckoned from J12 of the M11. Just 5 minutes away. We indicated left and went. Out of the car and down the lane

watery way beside Skaters Field

Past the notice board showing it was cool

get in

Thinking for a moment before committing

mmmmm

And finally down the steps and in

access to bliss

Unfortunately there were a few badly steered punts about. Louts it seems are classless.

12 degrees C