Friday, 8 September 2023

Swimming


I took this photo of our pool gate and the pump house, just before we set off for Blighty recently. It was a lovely morning, and it all looked so beautiful.

For the past 3 months I've been swimming about 300 metres every day. The pool reached just over 30 C for a few days, but mostly stayed around 25 C. Building the pool was one of our more sensible decisions. It is not artificially heated; sun only.


In June of this year a new pool was opened here in Brighton. It's on the beach, it's Olympic size, and they say that the sea water is permanently 'heated' to between 15-19 C which is warmer than the usual sea temperature. I must say that photos of the pool do look very appealing, but the water temperature doesn't.

I had thought that I'd give it a go but my enthusiasm has waned. I wouldn't swim in my own pool at that temperature.

Last night Lady M received an invitation from one of her friends to go swimming in the sea; she accepted. I've just checked the sea water temperature and it's between 18 and 19 C; she might survive.

p.s. Lady M did actually go swimming yesterday afternoon, and loved it. She's going again today!
 

29 comments:

thelma said...

What a beautiful photo it captures the melancholy and the sadness of a landscape painting. But bustling Brighton should cheer you up.

Cro Magnon said...

It's always sad leaving our little home, but the rewards of Brighton are many!

Will said...

Swimming in the sea sounds a bit dodgy these days, with stories of untreated sewerage discharges?

Cro Magnon said...

Just don't put your head beneath the water, and have a shower when you get out!

JayCee said...

Up here we have the Northern Dippers who swim in the sea most days, even in Winter. Brrr...

Cro Magnon said...

There's a group of swimmers here who go in every day of the year. Nutters!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Go on Cro, jump in with both feet, join the year-round swimmers - do you the power of good!

Cro Magnon said...

I didn't bring my swimming kit. Lats year I did, but the sea temperature was 13 C. I thought it would be the same this year.

Gilly said...

My mother used to belong to Brighton Ladies swimming club and regularly swam in the sea as did I as we only lived a few streets away from the beach. She also did the pier to pier swim. These days I like to swim in warmer waters!

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Are you familiar with the word "nesh"? When it comes to swimming temperatures that is the term I would apply to you but Lady Magnon has earned a big "Bravo!"

New World said...

Follow the locals Will, they know the sewage discharge days and where and when not to go.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

What's wrong with skinny dipping?

Coppa's girl said...

This year I've swum in the pool twice. Usually I'm in at least twice a day, but the higher water temperature this year, mostly 30+ºC, didn't make for a refreshing dip. It's been at least 5º warmer all summer, but I'm hoping to take a few dips when the weather turns cooler.

Cro Magnon said...

There is a nudist beach here in Brighton, but I wouldn't want to face the Seagulls.

Cro Magnon said...

I did swim pier to pier when I was about 16. It was much further than I'd thought!!!

Cro Magnon said...

She surprised me too, but these Swedes are hardly folk. I'll give her a good thrashing with Birch twigs when she gets home.

Cro Magnon said...

At 30 C + it's reasonably refreshing when one enters the water, but immediately becomes less so. My preferred temp' is around 25-26 C.

Travel said...

A bit chilly for me.

Cro Magnon said...

My son went this morning and said it was 'lovely'. Lady M is just off with her friend.

local alien said...

September and October are good swimming months here. Have no idea about sea temperature. I did swimm once till December, many years ago. A storm blew in and that was the end of that.
There is a winter swimming club here. I won't be joining them. July and August are just warm enough.
Your open seas must be much colder. Good for Lady M

Susan said...

You will probably miss swimming in your own beautiful pool. That said, take the leap. Swim in Brighton. If Lady M and Kimbo can surly you can too.

Gemma's person said...

Good for them. Enjoyable, refreshing.

Debby said...

There's a book called Wintering, and something that Katharine May counts as meditative and restorative practice of winter swims at Whitstable. There is actually a group.

Cro Magnon said...

It was 19 C again yesterday, which (for the sea) is quite warm.

Cro Magnon said...

I would have, but I didn't bring my swimming kit.

Cro Magnon said...

Yes, they both loved it; apart from the pebbles.

Cro Magnon said...

There's a group here too, they swim every day of the year. I believe there are such groups throughout the country.

River said...

The nearest swimming pool to me was said to be heated to 68 degrees which is 20C, so I jumped in and the cold shock had me jumping right out again, but then I sort of swam my way from one end to the other and back again a couple of times and it wasn't so bad once I got used to it. I went there a few times that summer but not since. It was closed to one lane too often for school children to have lessons or for seniors with their aquacises classes or just for no reason at all and I didn't see the sense in paying for a season ticket when I couldn't go every day.

River said...

Buy a new kit and swim.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...