Cold & clear

A Sunday swim was in order. A clear cold night had given way to a beautiful sunny morning. The races were well past and most of the regulars had gone by the time I arrived. Alfonso and Pip were still chatting and Kate let me take a slice of her most excellent cake before she left. The given temperature from the lifeguards was 10.8ºC although rumour had it it was under 10ºC.

Suffice to say people were not staying in the water very long. The water itself was crystal clear, the light dancing through it in lazy waves. I wasn't sure how far I'd manage but it was eighteen lengths again with my prize being the slice of cake.

All three pictures today are of Chris, who will attempt the channel next year. He did a few 'sprint' lengths alongside me and was afterwards timing his swim. Two lengths in three minutes, resting during the undercut. He went on to do a mammoth thirty six lengths! I drank coffee, ate cake and wondered how long before the sauna goes on?

Batch & plunge

Not the sunniest of mornings. I arrived to have a chat with Stephanie who had swam some thirty lengths! Also just out of the water was a chap who swam the channel on Sunday, he said he was having a 'swim down'. He had enjoyed using the lido for training because it was colder than the sea.

I had all but finished my swim when Batch joined Elizabeth for a couple of lengths. Not sure what your leg is doing Elizabeth?

After snapping them I raced up the pool to catch their tumble turns! It didn't quite happen but I like all the limbs.

Batch said I was putting him off by lying on the bottom of the pool in wait. It made him smile though.

Sue was setting off with a lovely glide at the same time, a nice surface reflection despite the lack of light.

I then waited underwater for Elizabeth to dive in, we had to try it twice to get the shot. By this point we were all getting cold, I had done eighteen lengths at around 12ºC.

Race & dive

Not quite such a sunny morning, water cool and heavy. Pip was already doing lengths when I got in.

After about ten lengths Ian got in in his wetsuit and joined me. He's very quick and although I I tried to keep my pace even I could feel us speeding up and my arms getting tired. Luckily he stopped after eight to take the wetsuit off, I then had time to get this picture above.

Alfonso was getting in as I got out. He did the Hampton Court swim last Sunday, 2.25 miles with the tide on the Thames, he did it in about 37:00 minutes!

With that speed no wonder I couldn't catch a decent picture of him this morning.

Elizabeth was also about to get in so I asked if she would dive. 'Only once' she said and we went up to the deep end, She ran and leaped, I think I pushed the shutter a little too soon.

Sangeeta was also about to dive in as I left. 'Can I take a picture of your dive' I asked. 'What if I muck it up?' she replied. I told her not to worry, a very different style to Elizabeth.

Carl & Simon

The sun rose slowly across the lido. It broke through the trees illuminating the locker doors which cast long colourful reflections on the still water. Gradually the light made it's way down the side of the pool and into the water. The water was clearer today as well, a good morning for pictures.

Carl had arrived shortly after me but was waiting for Simon before he got in. Charlotte played her euphonium and eventually Simon arrived. The light not fully acorss the water yet.

Both great swimmers it's intresting to note their differing styles. Carl looks more relaxed but hangs quite low in the water, Simon has a much bigger kick and seems more bouyant.

Almost the same as above, I pictured them each time we passed for my last few lengths.

Turning around I also caught Chris, Sue and Ian off on their swim. Although it was sunny the air was cool and I'm beginning to doubt the 12ºC water temperature posted by the lifeguards.

On my final length Simon had broken away from Carl, they weren't exactly racing though. I was getting cold and eighteen lengths was enough for me.

Swimming alone

The pool seems emptier each morning, just Michael swimming up and down when I got in. He did breaststroke, crawl and butterfly all in the space of two lengths before leaving me alone in the water.

The sun was fighting to get through the clouds. The water felt heavy and slow, perhaps because I swam closer to the edge? It was still 12ºC according to the lifeguards.

Just as I was about to get out I was joined by a pair of wetsuits. Elizabeth and Ian both pushing off from the edge of the pool.

I got one more shot of them with synchronised stroke before I had to get out. Eighteen lengths again today.

The sun was beginning to shine as I changed. Nick waved as he cycled down the waters edge.

Elizabeth dumped her wetsuit for a few more lengths.

As I was leaving Tom, Chris, Sue, Ian (without wetsuit) and Pip were all swimming a length together.

Murky depths

What's that lurking in the murky depths? The hoover was out for the first time in ages. I got snagged in it's hose before I realised it was there. I like the shadowy swimmer crossing the image.

This I think is the same guy. He was doing timed lengths with a friend, they would stop and count off the seconds before rushing back to the other end. You can see how dirty the water and the bottom of the pool is right now.

Swimmer two was struggling a bit more with the timing, he hardly reached the end before ahving to dash off again. The drizzle changed to rain as I started to swim but the air wasn't too cold.

This could only be Fred. He did the Dart 10K a few weeks back. I haven't had a chance to ask him how it went. I did an eighteen length swim, I don't know the temperature because David is away this week but I'd guess it's still around 12ºC.

Leaves & light

It felt even more autumnal this morning, the sun was low and bright but over night rain and wind had scattered fallen leaves over the water surface. I love swimming through them, getting them stuck to my goggles and feeling them scratch my back as I glide through the water.

 

 Vince has taken to wearing a wetsuit as well. It allows him to do more lengths than without, although he does a few non wetsuit length at the end of his swim just like Elizabeth, is this a new trend? The pool was fairly empty this morning, I raced a good length with Angus before he fell away and went on to do twelve in total.

The low bright light looked very cinematic. The water felt a bit colder today but I am rather tired. David confirmed it was just under 12ºC, he's worried about what it'll be in a weeks time when he comes back from Croatia.