a pause

Not swimming has the attraction of not getting cold. But it has the distractions of missing the endorphin kick, the sense of weightlessness, of gliding, and making a steady pulse and then changing up a gear. Of kicking like a dolphin, of swooping, of diving. Of the delight of other swimmers’ company. Of getting warm again. Of resisting the cold with a calm mind; a bracing acceptance of the cold chilling your flesh and bones. Of the altered state that this creates – one of perpetual delight, of grins. And eating cake without it adding to one’s bioprene layer.

The Ape will be back after his back has healed.

a dip and pics

Taking it easy, so just 500 yards. One hundred of which was filming Mrs Ape for her own personal stroke analysis. And then some chat with lido regulars and a sample of various Easter cakes. Thanks to Barbara and Claire for their chocolate and fairy cakes respectively.

Ape – 500 yards, Mrs Ape – 1200 yards, 10 degrees C.

Rio – day 7

Last day, last swims, last blow out meal, last goodbyes to Nando, Claudia, Claudio and Marcia. Back to cold water after my heretical sojourn in tropical climes. Goodbye Rio, you were amazing.

Special thanks to Fernando Farah and Vicente for their generosity and hospitality. I hope to return someday.

Rio – day six

Another day in paradise. Getting acclimatised just as I’m about to leave. One of the simple delights of the beach are the food vendors. My favourite is the Globo cassava starch ring, a deep fried carbo delight. You can also get Kobe, with the requisite garlic or chilli sauce and empadas; a little representation of which Nando keeps around his neck at all times. Our hosts on Ipanema were the smallholder Samuel at his Barraca do Bangu, an obscure football team. He’ll set you up a sunshade and seats and ply you with beers and soft drinks to your heart’s or belly’s content. And when you settle up at the end, you realise what a bargain you’ve had. He looks after you bag while you swim round the headland, bodysurf or meander along the coast behind the surfer’s line, and greet you each day with “Como vai?”.

Then to Marcia’s, a friend of Nando’s, for a cold shower and a dog show; before heading off for an abortive attempt to buy sangu – local swim wear that’s slightly bigger than budgie’s. We then accidentally met Benny for a huge 96 piece sushi barge before returning to Nando’s mountain retreat and a visit to a retired Brazilian ambassador, who had a very noisy collection of hammer frogs.

Rio – day 5

Another early start for a training session at Posto 6 on Copacabana Beach. A series of stretches, followed by a good 40 minutes in the water doing a series of tough workouts. Then fresh coconut before a stroll round to Ipanema for more swimming and bodysurfing. A quick trip to the markets before we had the freshly caught fish wed bought and the waved goodbye to Naomi, Ann, Tricky and Alex. Nando and I then lounged about in the mini-lido and the very cosy sauna, watching the squirrel monkeys and the clouds swirling around the mountain above the house.

Rio – day 4

A lie in after the excesses of the race and party. I had too much sun, caipirinha and food and fell into a stupor well before the party guests had gone. Woke to another marvellous dawn and for once this week didn’t have to be in a cab at 6.30am for a swim session. Once down at ipanema, we swam around the headland from Diablo Beach, then body surfed before hitting Copacabana for some more swimming. A snack of Custard Apple and Mango juice with a steak sandwich before an exhilarating ride on two cable cars up to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain to see the sunset. Unfortunately it was shrouded in cloud. Back down for a fish supper on the sea wall before returning home for a caipirinha lesson. The food here is fabulous. But I guess it helps to have a gourmand and food writer as our host!

Rio – day one

Arrived late last night and was taken straight out for food and drinks. Got back for four hours sleep before we were up for a 7am training session on Copacabana Beach with a bunch of locals who are also doing the Trevisso race on Sunday. Nice breakers coming into the beach and a gentle swell raised us up and down. We took off out along the race route for a kilometre and then back. I put a bit of pace on coming back and then whilst Nando, Tricky, Ann, Alex and Naomi did some synchro swimming practice I snapped some shots. We the spent the rest of the day being tourists and eating…a lot. The back to Nando’s for a swim in his small but cute pool and a sauna. Just like Tooting really!

not the best start …….

 

Mrs Ape reports.

Stuck in dreadful traffic in an early start to make a pre-NUT march swim. Shunted on the South Circular by a careless white van driver (thankfully no damage done) Forgot my camera and wet/dry bag (depending on which way you use it)  Not the best start to the day.  Arrived at the lido feeling achy and wobbly with bright sunshine and the promise of water at double figures.  Downed a quick coffee and chats with Chris, Elizabeth, Peter Ra, Sue, Sue amongst others catching up on the gossip surrounding the big Rio swim (Nando, Tricky and Ann missed their flight!)  The water felt bright and joyful and I enjoyed plugging up and down relaxing into my stroke, stretching out my jolted bones and muscles and feeling the sun on my back.  Sarah kindly commented on how smooth my stroke looked.  I saw Elizabeth taking a couple of shots of me, which she may have included in her blog here.  I almost feel it’s wrong to go into the sauna when the day is so warm and bright, but felt I’d benefit so sat and chatted with Pip the Elegant about holiday’s in various Greek Islands.  Looking forward to the Easter holidays and a chance for longer swims and more time at the lido amongst other places.  Sun-cream on, I’m heading off to support my rights to be swimming every day at 68 NOT working!

Mrs Ape – 1200 yards 10C

hangover cure

Mrs Ape Reports

Hungover, an early start to get my son to a scout event, the loss of an additional hour’s sleep  and facing a grey day,  I was not feeling remotely in the mood for swimming.  Ape kept trying to convince me that I’d feel a lot better if I did, so sat and groaned in the passenger seat during our passage round the south circular.   That was until poking around in the glovebox led to the discovery of Ape’s anti-glare sunglasses.  They turned a grey day into a bearable looking day and assisted in putting me in the “right place”.  The knowledge that there were only a couple more opportunities to get a March mile in, was also playing on my mind.  Decided to take photos through my glasses so that I could share my sun-tinted world, but got lots of comments on the glasses so shared my findings by passing them around.  Ape was in for a long one, so I stood around for the race announcements.  Congrats to cup winners Bob (outstanding contribution) and Kit (winter points).  Then the sun made an appearance.  Feeling the effects of standing around, I went in the sauna to warm up (fully clothed) before swimming.  The cold water immediately cleared my head, but by 8 I was feeling chilly.  Set my sights on a km, but feeling ok again by then, carried on.  Approaching 15 I was telling myself to get out at the end of the next length, but saw Nando, who gave me a big grin and spurred me on to continue to 18 making my March mile.  Cheers Fer!  The “mark of Speedo” is now firmly embedded on my back and now I’m back home, my head is throbbing again.  Give me some more cold water please!

Ape 3600 yards, Mrs Ape 1800 yards  9.5C

Tinted lido

Sunny Pip and Cool Ape

Nicky checks out the shades

Kit and Egg

Bob with his cup

briefly

Mrs Ape had not been in for a week, but managed a 1000 yards. I did some sprints, with 30 second rests – 1600 yards. Water was 8.5 degrees C. Lots of people about. Lots of rain. No photos – again.