2012....I am back!!!! - Pauline Squire

2012.....I am back!!!!

After a chest infection knocked me for six before Christmas...then Christmas arriving,  it seems like ages since i have swam....the weather as per the UK has been appauling...nothing new there then but try as i might i could not bring myself to do the regular trips to that chlorine filled box that others seem to relish. But knowing that the fitness level was dropping with each day....due to the festive seasons divine food (made by our own fair hand...if i do say so myself!!), alcohol and other nasties....oh and laziness...it was about time i got my backside in gear and got back into the water.

So off i headed to Teesdale Leisure centre....not a place i favour but a chlorine box that is the closest to home so for convenience i entered the concrete establishment, hoping that since my last swim there someone would have swept the hair from the changing room floor and removed the hair bobbles and plasters from the pool. Nope no such luck the staff are clearly far to busy staring into oblivion wishing they were elsewhere...thoughts i was strongly echoing as i dodged around the changing room trying not to gag. Shoving my rucksack, boots and clothes unceremoniously into the locker i headed towards the pool....praying it would have lanes up otherwise i would have to suffer the normal lane hogging, makeup wearing lunchtime brigade...or the man who's breaststroke leg kick can remove layers of skin with a single swipe of the toenail!!! Breathe i said to myself, its only for a while.....yep....there were lanes and one of them was empty....mine i thought heading towards it determined that no-one would beat me there...the stampede consisted of one...me, so as i placed my body into the far too warm water i secretly plotted what would happen is some unfortunate decided to try to join me. After 50 metres i decided they could have the lane given that i had caught someone else's long hair in my mouth and witnessed all sort of gag inducing things on the floor of the pool. Ploughing up and down in the monotony of filthy water, nasty thoughts going through my head about the heathens that had frequented the place before me and deposited various body parts and bits of 'stuff' at the bottom, i had made my mind up i needed to get back in the lake.....even if it mean breaking ice!!!

But with my lane claimed i had to make good use of it, so off i set. Three tedious miles later i had had enough of trying to count the tiles....i jest not...you try it when you are tumble turning its not that easy! Seeing the same plaster bobbling along at the bottom ....that was enough for me. Getting out and chasing the luke warm water round the showers whilst trying to get the conditioner out of my hair confirmed my thoughts, open water it is!

Getting home i posted on the usual form of communication (facebook), anyone for a swim at elleton tomorrow...one brave soul took me up on the offer: Liz Reed, now when i posted it was blowing a gale outside, the rain being blown up the hill should have been an indicator...but getting up the next morning to BLUE sky, someone was looking down on us! Getting ready brought its own issues....wetsuit - check, swim costume - check....what next......the mind a total blank!!!!! Where on earth had i put the box of swim goodies that i had carefully (ok thrown!) placed so that i would know where to find them the next time i wanted to swim!!!!! It can not be far surely...cupboards thrown open all sorted bits of carefully placed rubbish brought out into daylight for the first time in a while...eventually i came across the beloved box...and in it, all the goodies that i had been seeking!!! Goggles, scratched and almost clear....hats, some stuck together, memories of past swims and races came flooding back, socks, neoprene heaven...yes the heart rate was raising, i could hear the water calling!!!

Kit ready, i went outside to put it in the car....bugger...the car was covered in the heavy frost!!!! Despite the sun it had not disappeared. Defroster can in hand and off i went spraying everything that i could see, engine on to demist the inside. Twenty minute later and i was ready. Ellerton here i come!

Driving...well i think thats what you call it when the back end of the car is going in a different direction from what i expected!!! Sun blinding....can't believe that i am complaining about it, eventually i arrived at Ellerton, oh the pulse rate calmed, the adrenalin was lying in wait, it looked stunning. Total silence...which was only broken but the ducks protesting at my arrival.

6 jan 2011 the water level as swollen by the river Swale bursting its banks

Walking over to the jetty....oh my god the water had risen....alot.  

behind Tom Litten you can see the normal water level in 2011!!!! Oh that mankini!!!

Still the sun was shining , the water was calm, it did look good...but what was that on the grass....oh my god frost!!!!! Still it was only 11 am....my god was i really about to do this.

Before doubt could creep in Liz Reed arrived, happy new years and hugs...then the pair of us walked to the pier....Liz bravely put her hand in....knickers now i have to...in the words of Mrs Browns Boys (for those that have not seen it here is the link  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhD1RSKzvP8  feeking hell came forth....my fingers rapidly numbing. Shall i go and get my watch i suggested, so off i went, putting the watch in the water....my fingers protesting with every second they were in!!! The temperature decelerating at a rate of knots i did not think possible!!!! Did my watch go that low....apparently yes, whilst i was doing that Liz decided to get brave...off came the boot and sock and in went the foot.....toes went pale then very pale!!!! Yep its cold confirmed Liz....i think she was being more that polite!

After a bit of discussion, should we, shouldn't we...shall we, shan't we...it was decided we will....gulp this was going to hurt!! Alot!!!

Approaching the changing room did not instill any more confidence...it was cold in there!!!! Where was the thermal spa i requested from Santa....apparently i had not been a good girl!!!! No change there! Getting out of the jeans was not a problem the prospect of taking off the many layers on top brought a fresh range of protests from us both...it has to be the slowest we have ever got changed!!! I am sure my wetsuit has shrunk....oh not its because i did not have it on correctly..Liz was the same...why bother we thought...its not like we are going to be in for hours....as if!!!

The walk towards the water...we tried to pretend that in the sun it could have been July....at the jetty it was suggested that given that it was my idea to swim that i go in first....visions of Liz laughing then running back to the changing rooms flooded my head...shall we get in together i said so we did.....oh my god...it was cold...no i correct that it was feeking cold!!!! In fact it was more that that.....my feet were in pain before i got to the bottom step!!!

How many birds????

Oh the benefits of a wetsuit really did come in to play today and they were so worth every penny paid, the bodies were fine, any area exposed the cold water (did i say cold....i meant the sodding cold water) were painful, neoprene hats on heads, rubber on top of that, goggles at the ready...but did we use the goggles...not a hope in hell, it was painful where ever the water hit, faces in...NOPE!!! Maybe next time...i will have to give it a go before i get out!!!

Swimming was hard as the temperatures affected out ability to manover properly, we headed out, cursing but still going for it, then back again, exiting the water the first thought that went through my head was get back in ....wow, aside from the feet and the exposed area everything else for the moment was fine....but being sensible we headed back to the changing rooms. Ahhh the water in the showers was cold...no that was us, eventually we felt the warmth...then the next problem...getting out of the showers and getting towels so we did not get any colder...epic fail there but eventually we were dry, new swim suits on in preparation for the pool swim still to come. Out in the bracing January air ( 5 degrees) , the sun had vanished, but with cake we headed towards the jetty ....yep we were both thinking the same thing....i want to get back in!

Oh i forgot you will want to know that water temperature.....3 DEGREES...did i say that loudly enough....it was 3 DEGREES for anyone not familiar with swimming in that temperature ....its beyond cold!!!!

And so to the pool we headed....never having been to Catterick pool before it was a new one for both of us.....my first impression.....ITS CLEAN, not a plaster in sight, no rug of human hair on the changing room floor, air temperature breathable!!! Could this place actually be nice???? Goodies in the lockers, we headed pool side...to be greeted by a 'mature' male in speedo's on his back doing a dying turtle impression...not a good sight given that we were not facing his head!!!!

Duly walking past said dying turtle trying not to laugh or ask him what the hell he was doing, we headed for the laned area...it looked like a proper session was taking place....quick enquiries made..and yes we were right....it was the KUTU TRI club along side the Master session...can we join you....yep they said...so a beasting later and two red cheeked females stopped swimming, the people from the tri club informed us we were nuts for swimming in a lake and that they would not be entering cold waters for at least two months....we refrained from the comments forming in our heads.....but the offers still there boys...anytime you want to join us!!!

The pool....it was clean, no hair, body parts, plasters, hair bobbles...in fact there was very little chlorine too...was this the inside heaven i have been seeking...even the showers afterwards were HOT so you could wash properly!!

Coffee and a catch up afterwards and it was time to go our separate ways, the season has started....we are back and with the Christmas decorations down the wetsuit reclaims its rightful place in front of the fire ready for the next session!!!.....!!!! The fun started here!!!

To all those wondering where the rest of the blogs are from last year......i will endeavour to write then in the next few days so i can start afresh with this years...... xxx Thanks to one and all for reading in 2011.....lets hope 2012 bring loads more adventures for you to enjoy, and don't forget if you have your  own adventure that you would like to add, email me at pauline_squire@sky.com and i will happily add them. Happy new year to one and all!!!!