All mouth & trousers

Hushed conversations on Tuesday night.  Should we? The forecast is bad you know.  Perhaps best to stay abed and recharge the batteries.

However, the inevitable happened.  Joan announced that the grotto would be open for business at 7.00 sharp.  No more indecision.  Bags were packed for multiple activities and then an early night.

Pete began his day with a run along the undercliff.
Joan began hers with a run on the overcliff.

Running along the bottom, Pete could hear crashing and see a distant foaming.  The tide was right out but making its presence felt.  The undercliff however was strangely calm, very little wind and just a tiny drizzle.  The main obstacles being the shingle and puddles left over from what looked to have been a wild night along the front.

Arriving back - Joan and Sara soon appeared and so did dawn.  Almost flick-of-a-switch quick.  The sea was calming now to gentle playful waves but it was still a long way out.  Pete raced down the beach, hoping to get to a swimmable  depth asap but Joan and Sara dawdled, enjoying the moon and the first fly past of cormorants.  Shoulders under and Sara was off straight out as is now her style whilst Pete & Joan frolicked.  Pete swam a little way back with Sara and then, no clock watching required as Joan gave her signal and began the long wade home.

A few widths on the sand are a great way to generate heat again and changing was accomplished shake free once more.  All agreed that the sea had warmed and estimated it to be around 6 degrees with an air temp of 8 degrees.  More cormorants passed along with some gull which Sara readily identified.  the grotto becomes more convivial with each passing week and we will all be truly sorry when Joan has to hand back the keys in the Spring.

Swimmers:  Joan, Sara, Pete
Missed swimmers: Emma & Hildi

Sea temp: about 6 degrees
Air temp: 8 degrees
Weather conditions: All mouth & trousers - fine in the end

Snowbound but the flag is flown

Wed 23rd Jan

Just a brief note to record that Emma, Joan & Sara braved the ice, while Hildi & Pete were both incapable (due to snow).

S'now or never!

This swim had been trailed about as much as Cameron's speech on Europe. But in the event proceeded with far less fuss and was more satisfying.  The wires had been buzzing for days regarding the possibility of an elusive "snow swim" and today, all those disparate variables came crashing together. It was Saturday, the snow was lying nicely, Emma & Hildi were available and Pete could get the car out of his road.  The excitement mounted as Pete, Hildi and Elsie the insatiable sledger waited cold and impatiently on the beach for Emma to appear.  

When she did, it was with a photographer in the shape of Richard, her partner.  The combined photographic skills of Richard and Elsie were going to ensure that the event was suitably recorded. Just after this, we were pleased to see the arrival of more spectators in the shape of Paul & Helen.

We first had to pose on real snow just to prove that it really happened and then the run down to the sea which was considerately on it's way in and so not such a long trek through the icy stuff to get to a swimmable depth. In fact was there just enough water available to record a width?   Pete did a quick calculation and concluded that gangrene would probably have set in before he even got to the flagpole today and so all decided on a leisurely splash, crawl, breast stroke and float instead.  It was whilst we were floating that Hildi pointed out something that we were unlikely to see again - people sledging on top of the cliffs as we were lying luxuriating in the sea.

With no Joan available to tip us the wink that we had done enough, Pete was the first to suggest that we had had our fun.  Emma, in a world of her own (or a world of pain?), seemed oblivious and had to be instructed to come ashore.  Changing was completed with due haste but without undue shakes. Tea was enjoyed with the satisfaction of a goal achieved.

Swimmers: Hildi, Emma, Pete

Photographers: Richard, Elsie, Paul assisted by Helen

Air temp: minus 1 degree

Sea: No Joan, No temp taken

Conditions: Just widthable

  

S-NO-w go for Snow Swim

Snow was forecast.  Mixed feelings about this among the SSF crew.  Sara wanted it to hold off so she could work, Hildi wanted a Gold swim, Pete no doubt hoping no white stuff would dump onto Saltdean beach on a school day, in fact he went so far as to try to twists the 'rules' to say that Gold swims are not permissable on Fridays.

In the event there was only a white sky as the dawn broke on our torchlit antics. A mid tide and a strong swell and wind meant that only the wetsuited and experienced Sara was able to enter the water for a proper swim, while Hildi 'did a Joan' and Joan... well, she shone the torch keeping check on Sara, while paddling and enjoying the morning.  Back to the hut for Sara to try to hold off the shakes with honey sandwiches and hot tea.  Hildi opting for hot chocolate and Joan vegetable broth.  Hildi sped off to school (stupidly leaving her swimming kit) and left the others (sorry) to lock up.  And, guess what?  Almost as soon as she returned home, those white flakes began to drift from the sky.  By the time she reached Brighton and work there was a winter-wonderland and her facebook feed was all about trying to get a snow swim at lunchtime.  But unfortunately not possible.  It tantilises us another day!

Swimmers: Sara (wetsuit)

'Joaners': Hildi, Joan

Conditions: warmer but rougher than of late

Joan demonstrates cold water etiquette

Something wrong with the windscreen.  Scrape off the frost but still opaque.  Yes, another layer, frozen on hard.  Permafrost removed and nicely warmed by heated seats, Pete arrived to a scene of utter quiet and stillness.

A 4x4 descending gingerly announced Joan's arrival with Emma soon after.  The grotto took longer than usual to open up - frozen locks and once open, the thermometer on the door stood at minus one.

There followed a piece of co-ordinated undressing, so slick that it really could become a demonstration event at Rio.  No-one wishing their fellows to be exposed for a second longer that necessary, we were all ready for the off.  Joan and Emma sped off on their horned heels with Pete and his delicate soles treading gingerly after.  However, exclamations of pain soon alerted Pete to the state of the beach - it was frozen, presenting a field of petrified dips and hillocks which all negotiated carefully and so to the sea which wasn't where it has been for a while.

The tide was out, making the bid for deep water a deliciously tortuous walk though squelchy muddy sand with languid waves breaking over knees and thighs delivering a fresh cold dousing each time.
Enough - Joan was in and so all had to follow.  Bearing in mind Paul's definition of a "proper attempt at swimming", all had shoulders under and with the absence of Ollie, a quietness descended.  Swimming, floating then sighing as the initial pain subsided, the night was turning to day and the rosy glow this time came from the heavens.

But how long to stay?  What constitutes a decent amount of time at these temperatures?  The problem was solved by Joan who decided that she had had enough and began sprinting for the shore.  Dry land reached, the thermometer was lowered into the sea, there now being sufficient light to read by and double checked and confirmed as 3.5 degrees.

The beach was climbed carefully again and  this time the dressing was distinctly un co-ordinated, with everyone for themselves, thanks to Joan once more for the warm shower - lending an alternative meaning to the term "fill your boots".  Warm tea and conversation - a wonderful start to the day with a fly past of cormorants to complete the picture.

Swimmers: Joan, Emma, Pete
In: 7.15
Out: 7.20
Water temp: 3.5 degrees
Air temp: minus 1
Sea: Dense, lazy and out

Another birthday?

The darkness is lit by bike lights, torches and car headlamps. It's as if the kings have arrived bearing gifts to worship. The beach hut even has the feel of the stable in a Christmas tableau. All have come to wish Sara the water weasel a happy birthday.

Twin limericks from Jon (read by hildi) and Joan. Then into the sea! Sara enthusiastically heading out with Joan and paul. Hildi, Ollie and Emma more reticent but then Ollie deciding to dive in. Unfortunately almost as quick out but we know that sleep deprivation and stress affects tolerance to the cold and he is a new dad. A few widths and some swimming and watching the sunrise. Could have stayed in all day.

Out, via the pebbles for those of us knocked over by rogue waves, and then cake and hot drinks. Tea bread from Helen and nutty fruit cake from Sara.  Discussion about the temperature and the predicted drop in it. Maybe a chance for a gold swim next week? Then off to school and work and a weekend of birthday celebrations.

Swimmers (suited): paul W, James, Sara

Swimmers (au naturale): Emma, Ollie, hildi, Joan

Spectators: Helen, domino

Limerick 1

An artist whose first love was water

Was not fond of the songs of cole porter.

She preferred to hear Lemmy,

Or Moore, Gaz, not Demi,

Or Maidens, `Bring your daughters to the slaughter`.

Saltdean Cougar Loveshack

Emma and Pete met up by the lido and both remarked on the mildness of the day, it was also still and so a leisurely swim was anticipated.

Only a few steps were needed however before the sea announced itself through the megaphone of the tunnel.  No wind but a playful surf with tide almost in, changed the anticipated activity upwards on the scale to that of "challenging".

Arriving at the hut, Sara was already disrobing in eagerness before Joan had fully opened up shop.

It was at this point that Sara spotted the chaise long at the back and wondered at the carpet on the wall, Emma commented that a chandelier would be appropriate since surely this was a cougar's lair.  Having said that, the photo shows something more akin to a down-town Delhi haberdashery.

Enough of the accommodation, it was still dark and in spite of Pete's worry about the return of the ghostly legs from Anita Jones' Locker, all rushed down the beach with Joan in charge of the torch.
The waves reared up and crashed and sucked, Exocet Sara spotted a gap and was instantly heading due south. The beam of Joan's torch following her until the blackness swallowed her up.  Pete, unwisely abandoning goggles took a bit longer to find a temporary lull then an unexpectedly large one took him ready or not.

Squeals and giggles from the shore indicated that the others were thinking twice.  With no sign of Sara, Pete decided that widths or at least one was a possibility but approaching the groyne was a tricky business.  Doing heads up breast stroke was difficult but necessary without goggles, it took longer than usual to reach the other side.  Meanwhile, the girls continued to run in and out of the surf - this must just constitute a swim(?) and Sara arrived back with croissants for all.

Pete was preparing for a frolic in the surf with Sara but was upended again and sucked back - time for discretion and, dumped further up the beach on the next wave, legged it away from clutching fingers.

All agreed that it was "uncommonly mild", the sea didn't feel at all cold and there were no post Yoda shakes either.  A really short, vigorous and pleasant outing.

Swimmers: Joan, Emma, Sara, Pete

Time in: 7.10
Time out: 7.20
Air temp: 9 degrees
Sea temp: 6.5 degrees

Reality bites : 04-01-13

Pete "ambled as a snail unwillingly" etc. towards the hut.  7:05 and no lights.  Perhaps it had been called off - how long is a decent wait?  Such thoughts were unworthy but nursing a hangover (at least the Chrismas booze had now been seen off) and really wanting bed, Pete was caught by Emma and then the flash of Joan's torch told us that it was very much on this morning.

Torch?  yes torch, it was still night!  There was a distinct recalcitrance in shedding clothing this morning which although not really cold, held about it - a menace?  The moment could not be forestalled and the three picked their way to the still invisible inkiness.  Once in, cold chubby fingers grabbed at us and drew us in.  The light was just now starting and we could just make out each others' figures.  We really should give it ten minutes more but what's this?  A sneaky width?  Emma was already making her way to the eastern groyne in order to make the necessarily contact prior to starting a full width.  Pete followed, doggy paddling, sculling, head up crawling anything to avoid ice cream on the brain - but it happened anyway.  Water appears to turn to treacle at these temperatures and this morning it really wasn't our friend.  Joan's figure disappeared in the dark and it became a bit scary.

In fact she had got out - Pete & Emma, now width-committed had to finish the business, Emma sprinting up the beach on numb feet, Pete picking carefully around the larger stones, strange how cold affects the physiology differently.

Joan is always right, she had complete faith that the dip would restore our spirits and it did so fully.
See, Joan the mackerel, always bright shining and lively!

Swimmers: Joan, Emma and Pete

Sea: black, cold, chubby

Widths: One apiece for those competing - watch out Hildi!

New Year's Day Swim 2013

Weather and family commitments conspired against a big swimming turnout today.  Tug 'o' War was out but Welly Wanging was very much in.

A large number of the public turned out to see a somewhat reduced field in silly clothes dive into the briney.   The sea was playful, nearly in with a mean rip near to the ledge.  Pete set up the BBQ and had to move it twice otherwise the sea would have reclaimed its fish crate.

In keeping with the theme of "Creatures from the Deep", Ollie was resplendent as Neptune complete with gaffer taped trident.  Emma took the  trouble to dress as a nymph (?), Sara, a nymphet I think and Pete as the Bagmonster  (possibly an environmental comment).  Joan came as a mackerel (well actually, she always comes as a mackerel in everyone's view - that's a good thing Joan!  Alex came "au naturel".

Other notable appearances were from wet suited Brian (who said it wasn't so bad) and Andy making another appearance.  There were several other dippers both suited and not.  Activities were supervised by Steffan from the shore (who outranked the attending police officers by virtue of the fact that he was apparently the only qualified life saver present!).   Thanks to Sharon, Anita, Teresa, Barry, Alison, Domino and Lesley (sure to have forgotten someone now) for on-beach support. The BBQ was appreciated and Sara's scones were as ever, glorious, the sun came out and had it not been rough, widths would have been in order.

Apologies from the Mitchells who were otherwise engaged on the M1.

All resolved that 2013 would see more swimming than last year simply because the spring and summer will be fantastic and the autumn will just go on and on with lovely rosy golden sunrises and balmy seas.

Here's to us and another year where  SSF provide entertainment for the early morning commuters of Saltdean.

Swimmers:  Joan, Sara, Brian, Andy, Ollie, Pete, Alex

Sea: playful and 6 degrees

Welly wanging was won by Ollie with an amazing 21.53metres