Channel hopping

The fog was back this morning, but the sun was strong and beginning to burn it away when I arrived at the lido. This made for the most exquisite swimming conditions, a layer of fog on the water but the sun on my back. Unfortunately my camera was playing up, it got a bit damp yesterday and had condensation inside it. For more pictures of this mornings action visit Elizabeth's blog here.
I did an eighteen length swim today and it felt fantastic. After twelve lengths Alfonso joined me, he was only going to do four but stayed for the last six. He says he's out of shape but we went at a good pace all the same, he just needs to acclimatise for a longer swim.
The talk was all about Carl's announcement that he's going to swim the channel in 2014. The man himself turned up later to get some more pactice in. We wish him all the best and hope the water isn't too warm for him. Alfonso said he'd be my support if I ever wanted to give it a shot!

Trashed

Wow! look at the new recycling bins!! Not really sure what the deal is with these but they were rather pretty lined up against the wall by the entrance. A rather grey morning but not as cool as Monday. Carl was alredy in the water cruising up and down when I arrived.

The pool is filling up, perhaps six swimmers in the water at once! I got this snap of Carl and then heading in the opposite direction my goal was to catch him up. Swimming off concentrating on my stroke I bumped into Vince. He swims without goggles so is usually by the wall but I wasn't looking where I was going either. No harm done I carried on.

Fred was soon swimming up and down beside us. He might well be about to stop in this picture but see how low his legs are in the water compared to Carl. I stopped after eighteen lengths (just over a mile) which had taken about half an hour, Carl kept going. I only had about fifteen minutes sauna time left, and I do still need it. There was an awed silence when Carl came into the sauna after his thirty four length swim, partly because his jaw was numb! He seemed to recover very quickly though.

Jonathan and Pip were swimming in sync as I changed. David took the temperature, 'Just about 8ºC' was his verdict. Still a little chilly I rushed off to work.

No swim

I didn't swim today. Yesterday was a double dip, after the morning swim I was taking part in a swimathon in the evening. Although I was a bit tired this morning the reason I didn't make it was because I left my bike at work. With nothing else to report I thought I'd post Elizabeth's first dive picture from yesterday. I don't think I could do that with my leg even if I tried!

Misty Monday

It was a beautiful sunny start at home but as I crossed the river the fog got thicker and thicker. I had to check with Anthony if we were okay to swim lengths. The mist was heavy and damp in the air, a light coating of dew had covered my jacket when cycling.

Underwater was a different world, clear and sharp. Elizabeth and Ian were swimming lengths behind me so I stopped to get this picture of them both. I went on to swim twelve lengths in total, my hands were getting quite cold by the end, the damp air was cool.

The white blob is Ian's hat, I likes the reflection of the wintery trees on the water. The soft misty light was quite different and a real contrast to the clear vision under the surface.

By the time I had finished in the sauna the sun was beginning to show through the fog, a pale yellow disk. Elizabeth was going to dive in so I lay on the pool side to give the image some hight.

It looks as if she dived from the tops of the trees! It was second time lucky though, although I caught her on the first attempt he dive wasn't quite as elegant. See Elizabeth's blog here.

Before I left I saw Carl in the pool no doubt swimming miles, I rushed to the shallow end to get this picture of him just before he turned, I wonder if he saw me? See today's musings here.

Sunday twenty two

The sun was out and it was a scorching 14ºC according to my phone! The lifeguards had posted a 7ºC for the water but I was told it was nearer 8ºC. I arrived at the tale end of the SLSC AGM. Feeling a bit guilty about not being there earlier I joined the back of the crowd and clapped when necessary. Luckily there were way more than the fifty people required to make it kosher. They do a wonderful job with the club and I'm so grateful for all the time and effort people put in.

It was great to Alfonso at the AGM. He told me he hurt his back and had been ill as well, that's why I haven't seen him in so long. He's on the mend now and the water is warming up so I'm sure we will be sparing again before too long. Carl was gesturing at me that he had swam 2, I wasn't sure if he meant km or miles? It can't have been lengths?? I got in and started to swim, it was glorious! My arms were a little achy from digging and cutting the hedge yesterday but that soon melted away in the water. I was pretty sure I could do more than twelve lengths.

When I got to eighteen I decided why not carry on? Twenty two it was, although I felt fine I had a frozen jaw when I got out and couldn't talk for a while. Recovery was pretty swift in the sauna. We are reaching proper spring days now, how long until the sauna goes off?

Tired

Friday comes around again, I was a little late and a little tired. Mild and grey today the water still hovering just above 6ºC, I thought it might have gone up a bit more after yesterday sun. Twelve lengths it was again, slowish pace I felt quite relaxed in the water. I noticed Carl taking some pictures which he has posted here.

No sub aquatic pictures from me today, I'm not sure if Elizabeth took any either? If she did I'm sure she'll post them here. A lot of debate about the Hockney show at the RA, most people love, Batch being the exception and he hasn't actually seen it! Chris came in after his swim and sang the first verse of his lido song in the style of George Formby!! for which he recieved a round of applause.

Jumping

As I arrived this morning Stephanie was about to do her post sauna dive, I quickly grabbed my camera to get a picture. Pip was already in the water, 'I've beaten you today' she said. I changed quickly and got in.

A little bit colder but the sun was shining so it didn't matter too much, around 6ºC I think. here's Pip completing her swim, I could see her smile at me when saw me underwater. I went on to do twelve lengths, my hands getting really quite cold. Elizabeth had been waiting to get a picture of my tumble turn underwater, unfortunately I stopped. See what she did capture and other imges from this morning here. I rushed off to the sauna.

After the sauna, where amongst other things we were making up lyrics for a Tooting Bec Lido song,  Elizabeth said she was going to leap back in the water. I lay on the ground and got ready, I wanted to capture the hight she jumped. I liked the image but she was more of a silhouette than anticipated.

Elizabeth gamely said she'd leap again so I could take the picture from the other side. Which one do you prefer?