November statistics

The month ends with a beautiful sunny morning but it takes longer and longer before that light hits the water at this time of year. Being clear it was also cold, perhaps not as parky as Monday but certainly down on yesterday. I don't know if it's the water temperature or the fact I set myself a goal of a December mile but I really had to push myself to swim today. Luckily after the first eight length Alfonso joined me in the water, he was only going to do six but stayed in for eight, we had a good pace and it helped the lengths go by. We saw Sue set off with an unwetsuited Ian, he managed two lengths but Sue carried on. She wasn't far ahead of us but going at quite a speed.

I still had a couple more to do to make eighteen. I managed to also get this shot of speedy Sue. The light was now over the pool, the cubicle doors looked amazing reflecting their colours into the water.

See how clear the sky is but the deep end is still in shadow, it takes ages for the sun to get over those trees.

Time for the November statistics:

In November 2011 the water temperature ranged from 13ºC to 7.5ºC

I swam a total of 446 lengths and 2 widths

Which is 44666 yards, about 25 miles or 40 Km

I did 24 seperate swims including the Serps gala

Longest single swim 22 lengths, shortest 2 widths at the gala

Scores on the doors: nine blue, four red, five green and four yellow.

Another mild month but cold enough for the sauna to make a welcome return. I'm glad to still be doing a mile in the water at this time of year and hope to do a December mile tomorrow. This week has already been much cooler and we'll see what December brings.

Tuesday chill

A warmer night, perhaps the water had gone up fractionally but still around 8ºC. An early swim not many in the water. I knew I could do it today, but it still wasn't easy. Length twelve Iain wetsuited joined me in the water, the race was welcome and helped me pick up the pace to stop my limbs going numb. Four length later Sue joined us, we were still going quite a pace and dropped her on the return leg. I'd done eighteen again - here's hoping the weather holds until Thursday.

Carl was just getting in after I'd had my sauna. I don't think we'll attempt the mile together on Thursday but it did really help to have a pace maker like Iain today. I let Nick know his best chance of beating me this year will be to get in on my final length.

Although I had the camera today there was no stopping while I swam. I was hoping Carl might do a tumble turn but all I got was this blurry image. There are plenty of images of today by Elizabeth here and more musings by Carl here, Tooting must be the most blogged lido in the country!

Cold mile

A cold night, perhaps a light frost even. No camera so no new pictures. No official temperature but must be 8ºC at the very most, certainly colder than yesterday. I had doubts about how far I could go, hands were really cold from the start but the rest of me didn't feel too bad. It was nice in the water, not quite as many leaves. Nando was swimming but I left him behind, couldn't break my rhythm if I wanted to do the full distance. Twelve, fourteen, sixteen all okay but really pushed for the last two, eighteen lengths in total. I knew had plenty of time for a sauna. I'm hoping the week is mild enough to do a December mile, we'll have to see.

Sunday sun

Such a sunny Sunday I decided to have a swim. I got up late and saw the dark clouds moving away after overnight rain, it was still rather windy though.

Not a cloud in the sky, just a few pigeons and leaves being blown around. I saw Carl and Nando leaving the car park as I arrived, I had missed most of the Sunday swimmers I knew, Michael was in the water but had left by the time I got in. The temperature was still given as 8.5ºC.

The pool was almost in full sun with a thick layer of leaves on the surface, it was nice to swim through them all. The late season leaves are soft and reflect the light and water beautifully while you swim pulling great handfuls of them down as I made my way through the water.

The wind was whipping the water surface, I love the reflected patterns made. After my usual eighteen lengths I decided to do four more after all I wasn't in any rush to get to work today. I then spent a good 30minutes in the sauna, I had a little shiver to begin with but sat on a low bench and warmed through before leaving.

Go Ape

Dark clouds were receeding leaving the sky pink striped, I knew it was going to ba a beautiful morning. Friday always seems popular at the Lido and today was no different. Carl was already swimming when I arrived and Kate was still catching up on the gossip before she got in.

I set off at quite a pace, I wanted a bit of sauna time. A good picture of Mr Ape, he has quite a deep leg kick don't you think? I'm sure he'll post his musings later.

The temperature was given as 8.5ºC, with the sun out it felt warmer than yesterday to me. Kate was soon in the water swimming up and down, it was getting quite crowded.

Especially when these three started swimming together. I had to put my skates on to catch up with them.

I stopped at the shallow end to take some pictures, Sue and Iain had split to the right, note the sunlight on the bottom of the pool.

Not far behind Pip was shrouded in a cloud of bubbles. Eighteen lengths was enough, giving me ten minutes in the sauna which was pretty full today.

Swimming burp

Same time, same place, same swimmers. I know I get a bit repetitive. Perhaps the door colour changes or I see someone new but it isn't always easy to take pictures of people you don't really know. The water is at a temperature where I don't want to hang around too long.

Alfonso joined me after two lengths, but fell back a bit so I had time to snap this picture. It's almost the same picture as I took of him last Thursday! He got out after ten and then Iain joined me for a good race, eighteen in total. Sauna talk moved on to favourite artist, I've always liked The Hunters In The Snow by Bruegel.

A Bear Called Paddington?

We had been promised sun on the weather forecast but it was misty again. Quite heavy, cold and damp air, the water didn't look too promising when I arrived.

You could barely see to the far end of the pool, we were still allowed to swim lengths though. I was a little later than yesterday and there were a few more people in the pool than usual. The water didn't feel too bad compared with the air temperature.

A little later the sun began to break through the mist, a bit of water on the lens adds to the effect I think. After six lengths swimming I saw Iain set off in his wetsuit anout ten yards before I turned and then five yards closer and Alfonso splashed into the water and raced off. I turned and did my best to catch up. Iain was too far in front but I was soon on pace with Alfonso. Iain rested at the end of his sprint, Alfonso and I went on to do ten lengths together.

Alfonso got out after ten, I think he was late for work. Sue was by now swimming with Iain and I wanted to do two more lengths to make a total of eighteen. I dived to the bottom of the pool when I saw them coming to get this shot.

After they had turned I got this picture of them on their way back and joined them for my final length. Still enough time for a ten minute sauna. Margy was wearing a new metallic blue swimsuit and we were trying to think of our favourite fictional London characters. I always had a soft spot for Paddington Bear although I suppose he was an immigrant from darkest Peru.