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