SSF Revelation

Well, we have been guessing and surmising for months now but on the day that the Lido Champions got the go-ahead to resurrect a paddling pool, Joan and Emma unveiled the fruits of their labours.

Joan pulled back the drapes at the back of the Hut and showed us the excavation in it's entirety.  It goes back many metres into the cliff and several metres down.  Just where they put the spoil is a mystery but it might explain why we can also get out a bit better over the rocks at low tide.

A wonderful Greco-Roman confection greeted our uncomprehending gaze.  Joan has spared no expense on this.  The tiles, an exact replica of those seen in recent digs in southern Greece, the statues, Roman to a nose.  The girls were certainly not messing around here.

Joan says that her next project is a link tunnel upwards to meet the endless pool in her house further up the road.  "It's a summer project however" she said.

Tango anyone?

More prosaically, Hildi posed in her tangerine bikini to demonstrate that she can at least think warm thoughts as the alcohol in the thermometer continued to sink steadily.  Low tide meant that we trod gingerly and although the sea temp was a smidgeon into single digits, Ollie was keeping his girlish squeals under tight control.  However, that all fell apart when he hit the quicksand - honestly, you never heard such a fuss, we all expected to see his writhing hands disappearing under the briney leaving nought but a pair of well used (and seldom washed) board shorts floating in the limpid sea.

In the event, the "quicksand"  sunk about six inches and was more of a squidgy inconvenience than an life threatening experience.  Pete boldy strode out in search of deep water but was forced to return unswum after about 100m.  Together, All settled for convivial dipping and competitive backward skulling that is until Hildi & Pete managed to clash heads at full speed - honestly, what are the odds?

In all, a fun and satisfying time with plans for a refurb of the Hut to bring it in line with the wonders behind the wall.

Swimmers: Joan, Hildi, Pete, Emma, Ollie
Swim time: 10 mins
Sea temp: 9.5 degrees
Land temp: 10.5 degrees
Sea: Limpid surface, treacherous underfoot

Fairlight Swim

Pete's latest adventure suggestion was a swim at Fairlight Cove near Hastings. A pretty walk was promised before a swim on a secluded beach, so secluded that it's a haven for naturists! 'Skins' for us just meant going without wetsuits (except for Jon) and Hildi was for once over-dressed in her bikini. Richard, Cat, Jon and Pete all clambered over the rocks but Hildi and Emma chose to sit on the rocks mermaid style (concerned about being able to get out without being dashed on the rocks). In the end Richard and Cat both sported barnacle grazes but a picnic of soup, a few treats and we were happy to walk past the naturists to go home. Unbelievably the weather meant we actually wore fewer clothes after the swim! Heavy rucksacks but enjoying the sun!

Joan & Emma - what's going on?

"Sham Camp"? The plot thickens

Apologies for the absence of blog last week.

It was very wavy.  Ollie & Pete got in and frolicked, made a proper attempt at swimming a couple of widths.  Joan & Emma opted for pebble exfoliation in the surf.
Temp down to 13 degrees, we were in for 10 minutes only.

This week, numbers were bolstered to the tune of Alison and new(ish) boy Matt.  Ollie is on his hols darn Deben way. Hildi replaced him.

Well, where to start?  Joan and Emma have been running the "sham" boot camp for months and months now.  This morning, they put on a display, yoghurt mats and dum-bells the lot.  It was only when Joan opened up the hut that she realised her error.  The clutter which usually covered the rear wall of the hut had been hastily shoved back but enough of the rear of the hut showed through to indicate the true nature "boot camp".

Anyway - it was raining quite a lot, Alison ran off to do her homework whilst the others made a dash to water.  It was a very wet sort of sea today, little pin pricks of rain bouncing off the big fat waves as they lazily broke over Pete's head.  Hildi and Matt went further out but Emma, Joan & Pete stayed in the splash zone and enjoyed the sensations of squidgy sand punctuated by the occasional big rock impacting toes and shins.  A few widths were completed and the groyne jumped from a few times whilst the serious swimmers churned out 10 widths.  Pete made dreadlocks from seaweed and decided that if he had hair in abundance, it would be safely stowed for swimming, the drag being noticeable.

All - not as advertised

Back on land, pieces began to fall into place, the chalky hands and stains on their clothes, coupled with a general air of dishevelment which boot camp alone could not possibly impart.  Then there were the picks and that old wheelbarrow which had been hanging around for months.  Something was definitely afoot. Joan is away next week - further investigations will have to await her return.

Swimmers: Joan, Emma, Hildi, Matt, Pete
In: 7:08
Out: 7:27
Air temp: 12 degrees
Sea temp 15 degrees
Sea: Fat, lazy with tiny punctures
Cormorants: 3
Other black birds, not blackbirds but unidentified by this ornithologically challenged contributor.
Best wishes to Matt who begins his bi-monthly commute to Korea next week.  See you for Christmas Carols.

That perfect sunrise

A well deserved break from the trusted blogger, hiwheeler. I thank him for many thought-provoking and witty lines.
This morning i woke to a dark sky.  Gathered my swimming things and tried to locate my goggles and hat without waking the boy. But sadly to no avail. Like the proverbial cockerel that he is Jasper woke the house and demanded milk. I prepared coffee in a flask, hot water and 6ozs of full fat. Only the latter for baby J, the rest for me, i was headin' out to sea!  I knew a hot water chaser to getting dressed today would be pleasurable.  The week had threatened a chill with damp and it did not deny us.  After preparing baby boy and handing over childcare duties I made for the beach. I knew Pete was going to be there but hadn't at that point seen emails of emma too. Also Matt, a friend of friend and general good egg so I'm told was making an appearance.  Parked up, pete was at his car. We made tracks for the beach. A rubberized figure was limbering up...must be Matt....it was! Greetings done we went to the ground. Emma and Joan were there, so nice to see them!  We quickly got ourselves organized and headed into the sea. What an amazing red sky. We were all a bit struck by it. But as it does, it quickly came and went :(.   By the time I reached the lapping water pete had already taken an official reading, 13 degs...its all downhill from here.  The reality hit.  But actually the scary onset of winter, scolding from shaky hands, restricted driving from too many layers, somehow seems normal fayre now for the winter gloom, and in some strange way I guess we would all be lost without it.
13 regs isn't, I found, that bad actually and I headed off, only in shorts with a rather slick Matt for several widths. Pete and emma enjoyed widths also and joan made a quick in and out before the next leg of her keep fit regime for the day.  We headed back to shore after some decent swimming, about 20 mins, not bad given the temps, just as richard joined us for a quick dip.  Exchanged tips on keeping warm and horrors of deep midwinter then went our separate ways.  Although we are four years in and look set for our fifth winter, I still feel a sense of pride telling people I meet throughout the day that I have been in the sea.  They always mock a shiver and say "you're mad! ". Well I ask you, what's wrong with that? It does you good.

Ollie

Mullet Recce

Ran the route today at low tide.
Tables say low at 07:44 but it was still going out an hour later.
So, working on the principle that the same is replicated at high tide, it looks like swimming around 09:50 but we might want to get there a little earlier.

No underwater problems really, it seemed very clear except for one section with a fence on the eastern bank which goes down into the water, there are posts either side for about 50m.  Posts to the north only about 40cm above the mud, posts to the south are about 1m high, slanting east (out of the river).  The position of these are easily found so no problem.

The river spills out over a shingle bank.  This is the only area where things may be unpredictable.
If we come ashore on the eastern side, it is gently shelving so easy to get out before it gets interesting.
Pretty much all the way along, you can easily get out on the western bank.  There is one outflow from a ditch.  I don't anticipate that with the flow of water and lack of rain, there should be any problems.

We do need someone to walk the path and pull the trailer with our stuff.

Return of the Blog

No, not a cheesy B-movie but this marks the month when SSF get back into their stride.

It's been a generally crap year for all sorts of reasons ranging from weather and rocks to illness and injury.

Now things are approaching what passes for normal hereabouts.

Sept 9th was the day selected for our inaugural night swim. Ten frolicked in the inky but perfectly clear and calm waters, illuminated by glow sticks and a big fat moon.  Perfect conditions were enhanced by Ollie's swim up bar, serving hot amaretto chocolate.

Sat 20th saw the second edition of "The Saltman" (Saltdean's Premier Middle Distance Triathlon). Another perfect swim for the competitors, aided this year by not one but two safety boats.  The swim from Our Beach to Rottingdean and back was hotly contested this year but Pete upheld tradition by bringing up the rear - time for the award of an aquatic "lantern rouge"?

Hildi models the SSF winter uniform
although Pete was concerned that pink might
clash with his skin tone

 This week we said au-revoir to Anita Jones Locker, The Devil's Claw, The Devil's elbow, The Lost Buoy and everyone's favourite, Pike.

Yes, the buoys have gone away for the winter.  We'll make a point of visiting every time we run past Black Rock over the coming months.

Meanwhile, New Girl Ruthie joined regulars Emma, Hildi, Pete and would be regular (if it wasn't sooo cold), Cat.

It was decided that winter Yodas would be permissible after this week.  Hildi brought hers down to remind us all how cosy they could be.

Although the tide was low, there is now enough sand to fill the gaps in the rocks and it was easy to get in by the eastern groyne.

Ruthie and Emma nattered and splashed whilst Hildi and Cat swam round the Imaginary Buoys. They were followed at a never closing distance by a spluttering Pete.

The water temp has dropped a couple of degrees as if to remind us that our balmy days are numbered.
Joan, fresh from the "Happiest Kingdom in the World" will be opening up the winter facilities so all will be looking forward to trying the newly improved Jacuzzi (last year's wasn't quite big enough).

Here's to a successful SSF winter season.

In October:
Oct 5th - The Mullet
Oct 27th (ish) - Au Naturel in the Fairy Glen
                          at Fairlight

                      Pete

Splutterings of success

The blog has had a rest whilst Pete has been off sick.  Today saw the return of both.
A decent, middling tide tempted Emma to broach the idea of a Rotters run.  However, lack of take up stalled once again, any SSF forays west.

In the event, just Emma & Pete arrived for a lateish swim.  The sea had a little chop but not too bad.  Both were in wetsuits.  Emma to get some neoprene conditioning before the Arun swim and Pete because he had absolutely no idea how the dip would turn out.

The beach temp was 14 degrees and incredibly this was matched by the water, although to Pete, it felt like midwinter: icecream head, freezing hands and toes, the works, with even a bit of hyperventilating thrown in.
How easily coldwater conditioning is lost.

The buoys were there but a long way out and Both felt like hugging the shore today so widths were commenced.  Amazingly after only one width, Pete's discomfort evporated and widths two and three with Emma in charge and shouting encouragement were dispatched without incident.  Discretion proving the best course however and after three, Pete felt a bit woozy so decided to walk back with Emma completing another solo.

Back on beach, tea and chat were had as the two swapped news.  Pete was back, fish box and all and he felt happy but knackered.  Tide looks good for next week.  SSF will get to Rotters this year - eventually.

Swimmers: Emma, Pete
Beach temp: 14 degrees
Sea temp: 14 degrees
Sea: Welcome back with a little nip

Prettymuch Perfect

The new arrangement underfoot has meant that recently, SSF swims have had to mesh with the tide and for the past few weeks, this has meant either all or nothing.  Consequently, when Pete scanned the tables, consulted Yahoo Weather and Magic Seaweed for today - it looked prettymuch perfect for an attempt at Rottingdean.

Emma was feeling a little under trained for the event. Ollie was silent on the matter so it left just Hildi & Pete to give it a go.  In the event, after both having just completed the Brighton Marathon, fear of cramp and uncertainty about water temp prevailed and the pair decided  to do an out & back instead.  Whilst Joan, Emma & Ollie did the normal SSF thing in cossies, wetsuited the remaining pair struck out west.

After the usual initial shock of cold water on the face, things settled down, Pete worrying about marathon tiredness, clung to the shore whilst Hildi went for croissants.  You'd think that not using legs whilst swimming would mean that the rest of the body could get on with the business at hand but both felt the effects of the weekend in their bodies and after a little over 10 mins, decided to turn back.  The rising sun on fogged goggles made navigating the return leg somewhat problematic with Pete almost swimming into the rock groyne but both made it back without incident, the tide level being perfect for Pete to exercise his first groyne dive of the year.

Back on land with  hot water showers outside and tea inside, all felt at ease with the world and resolutions made to get to Rotters on the next high tide.

Swimmers: Joan, Emma, Ollie, Hildi, Pete
Swim time: Joan, Emma, Ollie - 10 mins  Hildi, Pete (wetsuited) 21 mins
Air temp: 7 degrees
Sea temp: 10 degrees (double figures!)
Sea:  Welcome back

Ice Bath

The day dawned perfectly.  Little wind, calm sea and a big tide.  The tub was full at last.
Regular numbers were resumed this morning with Hildi and Ollie making welcome returns, fitting in the all important session between children and demanding jobs.

Pete was kidding himself that he needed to swim a long way this morning, perhaps even to Rotters, that's the excuse he made for donning the wetsuit.  It's difficult to remember just how different the suit makes things, you feel divorced from your regular environment, the cold only making its presence felt slowly as boots and gloves fill up, then the trickling in through the zip.....

That all goes to hell of course as soon as the face goes in.  After so many weeks of trying to get in, one forgets the full reality of that first five minutes of burning before the delightful numbness sets in.
There were manly squeals apleny from Ollie as usual whilst the girls just got on with it.  There was a bit of swimming today, around two widths from Ollie & Pete followed by an impromptu race to the groyne between Emma, Hildi, Pete & Ollie, adjudicated by Joan.  Or was it just Pete who was racing?  With leaky goggles, Pete had abandoned all hopes of a long one this morning.  On the way back to the hut, Zoggs Brand Ambassador Hildi had already hooked Pete on the idea of  a pair of Predators.

"No really, who would want to hoover a whole house anyway?

Back at the hut, Hildi put on her Dyson hat and tried to persuade Ollie to switch hoovers, extolling the virtues of a battery powered device that would guarantee to run out half way through, thereby saving time on housework.  The hut is a lovely sanctuary.  Quite why the men get to change inside on thick carpet whilst the womenfolk make do with breezy concrete is one of those strange traditions whose origins no-one can remember.

We all drank to a season packed with convivial swims.

Swimmers:  Ollie, Joan, Hildi, Emma, Pete
Time in: 6 minutes or so
Sea tamp 8 degrees
Air temp  4 with wind chill
Sea: A big icy cuddle

Rocky times ahead

This is getting silly.  The tide is low and now reveals the full extent of the damage.  The rocks which at low tide, we previously just poked through the sand, causing us to stub our toes, now form a veritable mountain range to be clambered over.  The same trio of Emma, Joan & Pete assembled as usual, full of hope for a swim.  The rocky vista greeting them putting paid to any such fancy.

Pete, ever the optimist, felt that the rocks couldn't extend too far our, so, armed with sturdy footwear and a grappling hook, set out to investigate.  At this low tide, the water is even below the level of the groyne foundations and as a result, alarming bits of metallic hardware protruded in a threatening manner.

Pete picked his way and to his delight, 50m out found sand!  He turned to the others and gave a thumbs up.  Immediately afterwards, he disappeared from view with a full length soaking - a big hole was lurking.
Pete picked his way a further 50m out and still stumbled so eventually, getting cold, he returned a picture of dejection.  One thing is clear there'll be no swimming at low tide for the foreseeable.

The fickle sea 26-02-14

The sea looked OK from a distance, it really wasn't too rough - until you actually got to the beach.  The new beach profile meant that the waves would advance towards you in leisurely fashion and then at the last minute become monstrous.

Emma, Joan & Pete entertained the notion of a nice swim but the fickle sea meant that it was really hard to even approach.  Pete studied the waves and took his chance.  He got in and managed to get away from the surf.  It was a bit scary and after a few minutes, he thought better of it.  Trying re-entry was fraught with difficulty and he didn't time it well, getting tumbled and losing his goggles to the sea in the process.  They now join the sundry odd gloves, weed and bits of exotic turtle among the detritus which line the beach every low tide.

We continue to learn about the new beach and hope that things settle down soon.

Tales from the topographic ocean

All Change!

The weather promised the first dip for ages and although the tide was low, Joan, Emma, Ollie, Hildi & Pete arrived full of hope only to discover a scene of utter devastation. This was no longer our beach, strange dead creatures from 1000 fathoms littered the shore, some had arranged themselves into fantastic and macabre still life on the groyne.  What was initially taken for spume at the water's edge revealed itself to be fresh chalky rock outcrops.  Mud and seaweed masked the entrance to the water and entrance was made with some trepidation.  Joan & Ollie quickly reported that the winter beach was too difficult an access route so all decamped to the "Big Beach".  Here, we could at least get in a few metres and get the shoulders under in a semblance of swimming.  This lasted until Pete trod on something which moved.  Not only did it move but he felt it sliding up his right leg.  Girlish yelping was permitted but Ollie manfully bent down and retrieved... a section of clinker from what was  probably a 1930s Antiguan fishing vessel (Ollie's interpretation).  It bore rusty pointy fangs so Ollie threw it back to attack another unwary swimmer.

Ollie also spotted an albino saltwater anaconda half washed up.  The boys grabbed the head and hauled it up the beach, Ollie guessed it to weigh 100kilos.  Both thought about taking it home in order to grace the garden but even coiled, it would fit in neither car.  We left it where it lay, its tail twitching in the surf. The final oddity was revealed as Pete returned to the hut only to find that the sea had swallowed up another pair of his underpants...

The beach has changed and felt a little odd, a line on the groyne indicates that we have lost around a metre of shingle and all of the sand.  It'll be a while before we can once more call the beach "home"

Dippers: Joan, Ollie, Emma, Hildi, Pete
Air and sea temp: 7 degrees
Sea: Mysterious and no longer ours

Like a stoat up a drainpipe

The "Stoat" surveys his playground

A topsy turvy sea, half way in with a vicious little uplift over the shelving shingle greeted Joan, Emma, Ollie & Pete.

It was cold, windy and decidedly uninviting but true to SSF form, the four faced the channel and with a united wimper decided to bask in the surf instead of a "proper" swim. Unnoticed however, Ollie spotted a gap in the surf and like the proverbial stoat, was in and halfway to a width before the others had noticed the yellow SSF cap ploughing its lonely furrow.

Pete made a game attempt to follow but was pushed back by the mighty surf.  Ollie did well to complete a width and a half and once in, basked in the glory of the only SSF that week to make the cut.  The warm water shower was barely needed this morning and the discussion was mainly how early the first Rotters swim could be made this year - surely, the sea is even at 8 degrees, unseasonably warm - maybe mid-March?

Attendees: Ollie, Joan, Emma, Pete
Swimmers: Ollie
Air temp: 8 degrees
Sea temp 8 degrees
Sea: Suitable for stoats

Widths Fantasy League

After a change in job, this was a rare appearance for Hildi and Ollie aiming to bag the January swim.  Conditions were perfect. Widths were swum: 7 for Ollie, 14 for Hildi, substantially altering the leader board, I believe. Both Joan's and Emma's bikini bodies were on display, complete with six packs. When dawn came unseasonal sunshine bathed the beach and temperatures soared. Boot camp Marco was even tempted, although he was without swimming things and so was forced to go in naked.... A great advert for the boot camp!  What a day to miss, Pete!

And as we left the beach, pigs were observed doing a fly past with the cormorants... 

Corrected log reads as follows.


Swimmers: Hildi, Ollie, Joan, Emma.
Conditions: playful with a strong undertow. Accessible for frolicking and casual swimming due to low tide.
Temperatures: air about 8, sea about 6/7 (estimate).
Widths: none.