Lost Buoys & Baby Steps

The arrangement was timely, Emma & Richard trying out their wetsuits, an invitation to Pete to step back into the water was too good to pass up.  On the morning, the weather was co-operative with a lovely calm, mid-tide, the sun poking through shallow clouds and no wind.

The buoys had been out for a couple of weeks but were clearly still to find their summer formation, there were buoys in all the wrong places.  A call to the Council is in order.

Pete, in a wetsuit for the first time since.... well last September actually, took about 10 minutes to one-handedly coax the reluctant neoprene over an unfamiliar body.  But it was done and then out  into the welcoming waves.  The shock on the hands for Emma & Pete was immediate and precipitated a dash back to force on a pair of gloves.  Richard seemed quite happy with the arrangement

Gloved and booted, Emma & Pete went straight for a full stroke and got for their trouble a full ice-cream head.  Emma muttering that it had got colder again. We put that all behind us and settled down to the task of swimming widths.  Pete was pleased with the anaesthetising  effect of the cold water on his gammy hand although this was short lived and after one width, reverted to one handed swimming in large anticlockwise circles.

Emma & Richard plugged on, Richard pleased with his progress and Emma now quietly confident about the impending Arun swim. Out on the beach, the lack of wind and an emboldened sun made for some lovely and unexpected basking. It was good to be back!

 All in all a satisfactory outing for all concerned.

Swimmers:  Richard, Emma, Pete
Time in: 8.45
Time out:  9.00
Sea temp: Colder than of late - approx 8 degrees
Air temp: 12 degrees
Conditions: Cold bath, millpond