Pure evil? Steady on Joan!

Darker and darker are the mornings now but at least this is the slide to Christmas with celebratory swims, songs and vittels to gladden the heart.

Just a trio this morning with Emma & Joan still glowing from bootcamp and Pete wrapped up against the 6 degree chill in the air.  With bike parked and table arranged for the ladies' bits & pieces, Pete retired to the luxury of the new shag pile in order to disrobe.

With the tide out, all were contemplating a stony painful walk to the sea and then little to reward the freezing shoulders until at least 50m out.  It was at this point that Joan announced that the sea this morning was "evil".  The plot thickened as she failed to elaborate and then sprinted off into the inky blackness in search of who knew what.

Once reached, the usual painful feet followed and the gradual numbing of all areas northward.  The timer was on and six minutes into the swim, Pete could feel the rosy glow.  Joan had now made friends with the sea again and Emma was emitting her usual groans as the initial pain subsided and the endorphins kicked in.  The sea was a degree warmer than land with no discernable wind today.  With the tide out, widths were not legal but that didn't stop Pete from throwing in a sneaky one.  For a width to be counted, the groynes must be swimmable to.  Emma however dropped a bombshell and reported that she and Richard had completed two widths of the BIG BEACH at the weekend!  By common consent a big beach width is worth two smaller ones thus propelling Emma into an early lead with 6 playing 4 for Pete and 2 for Ollie - Come one Hildi!

A lovely warm shower for some with Emma refusing offers - my, that woman is hardy.  Confirmation that all can attend the Swim Song on the 22nd with a few extras coming along too.  After careful thought it was decided to turn the Dip & Dash into a Dash & Dip for practical & safety reasons - to be confirmed with the other competitors.

Swimmers: Joan, Emma, Pete
In 7:06
Out: 7:16
Air temp 6 degrees
Sea temp 7 degrees
Sea: "Pure evil"

Icecream head? Mine's a 99.

It was properly dark when the keymaster arrived in the shape of Joan with the means to allow us to enter nirvana.  Yes, it's hut time again!

Unfortunately the keymaster struggled since all had reckoned without the dark and none had bought torches.  We waited as first Joan then Emma blindly fiddled  - then Pete came to the rescue since this was a rare occasion when he had bought his phone.  The sickly greenish light from an early 2000 Nokia was sufficient for us to gain entry.

After the rough and tumble of last week, today was calm and although two degrees cooler on land, felt much more comfortable.  The tide was in and Joan led the charge to the beach - One can only assume that she has hobbit's feet because running on the stones, Pete was in pain all the way.  The sea was warmer than the air but still potent enough to instantly freeze the toes.  For the good folk of Saltdean, it must have seemed like a Roman orgy was in progress somewhere in the dark, with alternate squeals from Ollie and groans from Emma as the withering briney inched further up the body.

Anyway, this was the start of widths season and letting Joan frolic solo, the others joined with a will to grind them out.  The sea was perfectly still and when we could see it, perfectly clear, absolutely beautiful, no sunrise treat this morning but the first collective ice cream head of the winter.  The first is always the worst because you forget that it gets better after a few minutes.  Anyway, the rosy glow appeared all over our bodies and then it was time to leave, Pete being the last to exit with four widths under belt and the others, two.  One feels that Emma is only just getting warmed up whilst Ollie declared that two was his limit each week until June.

Much discussion of Dip & Dash for New Year's Day and also, the SSF Swim Song for Dec 22nd.
Hoping that many will turn up for both to participate or simply sing & eat.

Swimmers: Joan, Emma, Ollie, Pete
Apologies: Poorly Hildi

Air temp: 6 degrees
Sea Temp: 8 degrees
In: 7.05
Out: 7.20
Sea: Bombay Sapphire

My eyes, My eyes!

Pete & Ollie went for a run this morning - separately, missing each other in the car park by seconds, Pete must be running better than he thought since Ollie failed to catch him.  5km later and nicely warmed up in spite of the cutting westerly, Pete joined Emma and an apologetic Ollie on the beach.
Both appeared to be looking for the sea - it was a way out and quite boisterous.

Emma and Ollie seemed to be in no hurry to start, explained no doubt by the fact that both had forgotten not only boots but gloves as well.  Pete felt doubly smug as he donned his neoprene bonnet. probably now a fixture until spring. Trying to look cool is not an option at these temperatures. Wading to deeper water was torture for the feet even inside socks. This week Emma vied with Ollie in the squealing-like-a-girl stakes.  Ollie still wins.

The sea was playful negating anything but splashing but all made in Paul C's words " a serious attempt at swimming".  Pete's goggles steamed up and so tried face down in the water without them....and discovered a brand new level of pain.  Won't do that again!

The sea and air were both steady at 8 degrees and the trio were undecided which was preferable.  Water just won but only because with most of the body under, you couldn't feel the biting wind.

Discussion on the beach about possible New year's Day frolicks - the consensus was an SSF "Dip & Dash".  Our version of an aquathlon. Details to be ironed out.

The shakes returned properly today with Pete distributing tea evenly over his hands and yoda.  Still, first sub 10 of the season, it can only start to feel better after this, can't it?

Swimmers: Ollie, Emma, Pete
In: 7:18
Out: 7:28
Air temp: 8 degrees
Sea temp: 8 degrees
Sea: Playful

Mind the Gap - Weds 13-11-13

Posting the blog requires routine.  When that breaks, days creep past and thoughts of what happened
vanish like footprints in the sand (sorry).

One of those lovely times when you can just feel the tendrils of summer and winter meeting under the waves.  The sea temp was hovering in double figures, the tide in and the surface calm, perfect for widths and much enjoyed by Ollie, Hildi & Pete.  Bootcampers Joan and Ema opting for an early dip once more.

Back on shore, an unmistakably winter-like four degrees greeted the swimmers.  Much was made again of the winter yodas, Pete & Hildi once more feeling smug and warm (ish) under theirs whilst Ollie kept the flag flying for traditional british modes of changing.

Ollie did model some new lines in SSF post swim wear see left - watch for developments. In all a very satisfying dip with the prospect that balmy days like this are about to come to an abrupt end.

Swimmers: Joan, Emma, Ollie, Hildi, Pete

Air temp: 4 degrees
Sea temp: 10 degrees
In:    7:10
Out: 7:30
Sea:  Glorious
Bird: Some kind of gull

The Shake of Arabee?

Wonderful, warm, exotic Arabia as seen from the Sinai peninsula.

This is what Pete saw as he plunged into the aquamarine waters of the half full tub this morning.

Such visions are good, as is exclaiming to one'self "actually this is rather better than I was anticipating" and, "Oh, I can still breathe".  Thoughts rapidly turn to the banal however- "BLOODY HELL", " who turned on the cold tap?" and suchlike.

Just the Gang of Four this morning, free to impose whatever cultural restrictions were deemed necessary - the first stricture to be laid down for future forays being the banning of non-Yoda bearing participants for the duration of the winter season.  The sight of a towel flapping around numbing legs deemed by a vote of 3:1 to be too depressing.

If Hildi, Alex, Ollie and Pete were present, they were missing their Mao in the form of Joan and stalwart party apparatchik Emma.

Back to the Saltdean of the present.  The sea was beautiful, calm, colour as described and COLD.

Widths were completed - Ollie back to normal squealing mode and dives were made off the groyne.
Around 15 minutes for all but Pete who went for the full the 20, extra time needed to match Hildi's widths.

The rosy glow had been forgotten about - it came and went and on the beach, fingers were starting to twitch and words stumbled over - the first shakes of the season had begun.  Hildi needed help in opening the packet of dried pineapple she had bought in lieu of cake(that kitchen can't be finished soon enough) and all agreed that the brutality of winter was not far off.


Swimmers: Hildi, Alex, Ollie, Pete
Earlybird: Joan
Air temp: 10 degrees
Sea temp: approx 12 degrees
Sea: - squint and you can see a felucca on the horizon - aquamarine is the word of the day

Winter drawers on

Saltdean's own Wailing Wall

A post Saltman gathering this morning.  Pete arrived to find Emma & Joan on the beach.  Emma post virus making a tentative outing, Joan post bootcamp - already chilling in the wait for the others.
Alex, Hildi and Ollie arrived and Anita made up the group.  Bootcamp is starting to fracture the timing somewhat, we must decide to make efforts to arrive earlier to accommodate those physical jerks (no offence Joan!), at least that is until it's too dark and that's just a matter of weeks away.

Anyway, the sea was playful but not excessively so and all jumped in and did various things from widths to splash & gossip.  The sea is still fine in terms of temperature and past experience tells us that it should be like this for a few weeks yet - just wait until November arrives snapping at our toes.
With even worse timing, Emma's Richard arrived as we were drying off.  Child duties holding him back but he went gamely straight in and proceeded to impress with what has developed into a nice open water style.  Pete noted enviously.

Back on shore, it was time for cakes, pressies & cards for the birthdays being celebrated.  Alas nothing from the Mitchell kitchen until the building work is complete "unless you wanted a cake tasting of dust" was Hildi's ripost.  We all look forward to the wonderful offerings which must emanate from a purpose built Mitchell bakehouse.  Congratulations to Alex who is now a qualified physiotherapist!

Pete is taking a break from the blog on account of his first foray into the murky underworld of the tattoo artist.  Hopefully nothing too exciting will occur next week.

Richard ploughs a lonely furrow

Swimmers: ANITA, Hildi, Alex, Ollie, Joan, Emma, Pete & Richard
In: 7.15
Out: 7.30
Air temp - approx 12 degrees
Sea temp: approx 14 degrees  (really need that thermometer!)
Sea: Mid-tide and churney but not enough gumption to spit you out.

I wanna be, I wanna be a Male Model.

Alex models Lidl's finest florescent compression wear

Just Joan on the beach this morning - drying off.  We really need to get the timing right.
Pete and Alex arrived simultaneously, Pete from the car park and Alex striding along the front having run in from Woodingdean - more marathon prep.  We were joined by strangely naked figure.  Figuratively that is - sans the necessary kit for swimming - Stefan?  No, Ollie but not about to take up life saving duties - couldn't stop because apparently he had to "talk to India".  He just came to be sociable and to apologise for the non-reappearance of Pete's socks.  These were made up for however by the very real appearance of Alex's full length florescent compression socks - a Lidl bargain.

Another non-appearance were the buoys.  Gone for the winter - Joan reported that yesterday was their last.

The sea was "deck flat" as the Australians say and creepily foggy but Pete suggested that they swim west and that he would turn round when he saw Alex coming back.  Conditions were nigh perfect as the pair cleared the groyne and struck out.  The tide was low and getting more so and soon, tendrils of weed were flickering past bellies so remembering the calamity of the stranded maidens earlier in the year and no Ollie to carry us home, the decision was made to head for deeper water.  All went well and after a while, Alex announced that he was turning back.  Pete however, had the bit firmly gripped and decided to head on to Rotters - never been done without a wetsuit before and today, conditions were right.

The two waved and parted company, Alex to battle the current and Pete to find a landing spot past the toilets.  Pete made land about 25m from shore and had to belly skim the rocks and weeds but reached the shore unbruised or cut.  The pain however, was about to begin.  A missing swim sock the night before was the source of the problem.  Pete jogged back gingerly in barefeet, cossie and still wearing his hat.  If he was half expecting admiring glances from the passing commuters, he was way off.  Most seemed to be looking beyond Pete as if wondering what had happened to his carer.

The feet survived and Pete arrived back in time to rejoin Alex and wish him luck for the outcome of his thesis later in the week.

Swimmers: Joan (earlier), Pete, Alex
International conference delegate and sock stealer: Ollie
Air temp:  13 degrees and very still
Sea temp:  around 14 degrees
Sea: Marie Celeste