SPRING SPLASH SWIM

SPRING SPLASH SWIM 2012

Yes the time has come and people are starting to organise swims again, David Booth, who sadly could not make the swim organised a spring splash in honor of spring finally arriving. In eager anticipation the day was awaited and finally arrived.

Waking up knowing that all my kit was organised, all i had to do was eat, dress and get in the car. Opening the curtains to fog so thick that i could not see the field across the road did nothing to dampen the mood. Checking the fuel level of the car, sorted and off i headed, my daughter with me to act as photographer for the day. She used to join me in the swims but teenage hormones mean that this is no longer consider cool, i have hope that one day that things will change and she will rediscover the joys of open water swimming again til such time i will encourage her other passion,  photography, at the age of 14 she is learning still but shows promise with her experiments.

So camera at the ready said child gets in the car and off we head to Capenwray where according the website i have been promised 6 degrees of warmth. After recent weeks of 1.3 degrees and not much more and sometimes less it should in theory feel tropical by comparison.

Heading towards the Lake District was a hair raising experience, tight and twisty roads, coupled with limited visibility, it was not a fun journey but as time when on so the weather changed with the colour of the clouds getting lighters and eventually the odd spot of blue appeared. By the time i arrived at Capenwray the sun was making a true appearance. Ah warmth on the skin, lets hope it stays for the swim.

Arriving in the car park, the first swimmer we see is my dear friend Dorothy Mills, its good to see her after a winter where the roads and weather have prevented a girly catchup. Heading towards the water to check it out its as if winter had never happened as the conversation flowed, the water looked amazingly clear. We could not wait to wait to get in, heading back to the car park we came across a group chatting. The rest of the swimmers in the form of Rebecca Jarre,Sam Plum, Alison Darley,  Cath, Lyn, Leon Fryer, Keith Midgley and a few others (names escape me at this time of night i am afraid), a quick chat and if was off to get changed. Gosh it was good to be back swimming again!

Heading to the water wetsuit on (in Rebecca's case a swim suit only!) and we stood waiting and chatting, the divers normally intent in concentration on the business in hand were still, watching us, i can imagine the thoughts going through their heads....are they nuts (that's the normal one), are they really going to get in, did we know it was cold, ......yawn, we've heard them all before.

the waters that way!

Right enough chatting, time to get in while the sun is still shining. Divers literally standing in disbelief, yep we really were getting in.



Leon bless was treated to a wee hug....us ladies surrounding him and heating our wetsuits in the way we knew best!

divers adding words of encouragement???

With the cool water entering our suits, but with massive grins we slowly submerged ourselves, god it felt good, with the sun shining. With the water deepening there was no choice, feet off the bottom and we were away. No gasps of 'god its cold', no i don't want to do this, we were off like a pod of dolphins into the deep. That was until the ice cream headache kicked in and abruptly we all resorted to alternating with breast stroke and front crawl. An ice cream head ache is caused by the constriction of the blood vessels in the roof of the mouth, as this nerve centre gets cold it over-reacts and tries to heat your brain. Thankfully it only lasts a very short period of time but its painful when it happens! 

Leon's warm hug!

Sam and i took off, the water in places was like glass, we wanted to be the first to make them ripple, it really was nice swimming with the sun on our backs. Gliding through the water was amazing, it was so still, the divers bubbles clearly visible as they broke the surface around us. I do often wonder if the divers ever look up and see us and wonder what its like to do what we do.

Reaching the side of the quarry we were able to find a rock to stand on so could watch the progress of the others, it really is a great sight to see swimmers in the open water and i dont know about Sam but i felt a great affiliation with them, we were all doing what we loved to do and the sun was making sure the trip was a good one. Seeing no one floundering or looking too cold, we got back in the water, the fish were clear to see as were the many objects in the water. Capenwray is a dive centre and as with all water  masses as the sun heats it some of the clarity can be lost but this was incredible, seeing things that i have never seen before. It was also a luxury not to be racing round and  to be able to take it all in. Some of the boats, never seen before due to the waters depth were now to be seen, my only wish at that point in time was for an underwater camera. Some had brought them and took delight in diving down to see the snowman which had replaced the deckchair normally in situ on one of the diving platforms.

At one point swimming along watching for all that i could see, both Sam and i jumped at one sight that greeted us, initially it looked like one of the old fashioned divers with the big diving bell on his head sat on a rock reading a paper, that's not a problem, the double take came when we realised there was  a huge devil next to it grinning up at us, how many times during a race have we swam over that and never noticed!

Before long the cold kicked in and it was time to get out, feet totally numb despite socks....if you have never tried walking like a drunk duck then cold water will ensure you do as you try to regain your footing. Heading off for a hot shower, still grinning, my brain already tasting the warmth of the mug of tea i would consume once dressed. Getting in the shower and turning on that water proved to be an experience.....i found it too hot, and the heat set my big toes throbbing, so down went the temperature gauge only for it to be slowly raised based on the level of pain my toes gave me, but pretty soon, they warmed up and i could continue to get dressed. 

Once fully attired in every layer of clothing i had brought with me, it was into the cafe for hot drinks and food.

Chatter and laughter came in leaps and bounds as did a wonderful calorie laid plate of cakes curtosy of Leon, they didn't see the light of day for long, for some reason the cold water always gives you an appetite, well thats our excuse and we are sticking to it.

So the season for some is well and truely underway, the weather kissing us with its heat however temporary, hints at future swims to come, and we are all looking forward to them. As they say the water is open!