Tuesday 30 August 2016

Castle Swim

one day I said, one day I will do the Castle Swim,
well I missed it last year, but this year I was organised.
So armed with the essentials, an old friend to gossip with while swimming (thank you Emma!) 

and serious goggles (hate those little one, seem to get stuck in my eye sockets....)

Had forgotten how much I hate swimming caps, think the last time I had to get one on
was at school, maybe that is why I swim like my mum,
breath stroke with my head out the water,
so I don't get my hair wet and don't have to wear a swimming cap!

We were ready to go, the swim is about 500 meters, roughly 20 lengths,
from the slip way in Havelet over to the Castle. 
Its all very well organised, we went in waves of 50, the first group in green hats, then yellow etc. 
In all there were 228 of us swimming, it really was a great atmosphere.

pebbles.....just not possible to enter the sea elegantly.....

And we are off, my spotty costume definitely made it easier for
the official photographer (Chris) to find us.

There were kayakers stationed both sides of the course to be ready to help
anyone that got in to difficulties.

One of the many reasons Emma was totally vital to me, was I have an over active imagination. 
I know we do get big fish in our waters. Basking sharks do come in to this bay,
I know they wont harm me, but what will is the panic I get into when I see a fin heading my way.  My brain wont go, oh that's just a Basking shark, not a problem,
it will go SHARK!!!!! Panic, sink......
So a swimming chatting partner when out in deep murky water is
vital to keep my mind busy on other things.

That's Em waving.
As we got closer to the Castle slip way the swell increased, so you really felt you were riding waves, very good full body work out, but at least the waves weren't breaking in our faces, which I hate.
And it was a nice temperature, not cold at all.

And we did it! 
The swell breaking onto the bottom of the slip wave did make landing rather challenging, some very gallant gentlemen swimmers, stayed down there to hold onto us as we came ashore,
so very much appreciated. Thank you.
But we did it!!!!

And I have my certificate to prove it, same time next year Emma?

4 comments:

  1. How fun! Believe it or not, i never learned to swim as a child as we lived in the country, no good place to learn. So I made sue all my kids and grands know how to swim!! Love your Goggles. I am with you, if I did not have to put my head under water, I might be able to learn.lol

    ReplyDelete
  2. Arlenne, go for it, it would be such an amazing thing to achieve. I believe that their are alot of adult beginners classes around and I am sure that they would understand that you don't want to put your head underwater. Wild swimming is one of the highlights of the summer for me 😁

    ReplyDelete