Vobster Quay Diving Centre

Vobster Quay Diving Centre

On the way down to do the Dart 10k open water swim, we stopped off to visit my parents...well why travel all that way and not take advantage of the opportunity to see mum and dad!!! So after an uneventful journey down on the wednesday we had already made up our minds to try to get some sort of swim in while we were there. 

The obvious choice is to nip down to the Farnleigh and District swimming club which started in 1933 and is thought to be the oldest river swimming club in the world, its only about 20 minutes from where my parents live. But the club run by Rob Fryer adheres to strict guidelines as well as common sense as when there are cows in the adjoining field i quote 'they have been known to chase swimmers into the water' not that is itself is not an issue...but what if they chose not to let us get out of the river!!!! So not wanting to chance cow induced hypothermia we decided that we would head over to Vobster Quay for a swim, a spot recommended to us by Vivien Hollis. Who was going to hopefully join us but unfortunately work interfered with fun for her and she was unable to make it...next time Viv.

Arriving at the Quay we found it strangely quiet...it can cater for 300 cars but no sight of that of human sound. A couple of solitary divers who had finished their dive and were packing away for the day...and us. Entering the shop to enquire as to chance of a swim we were met with the surprised face of a young staff member, but yes we could swim!!! Fab news, having duly crossed his palm with silver we headed off to the changing rooms, well i say changing rooms, they are a fantastically large set of buildings with more than enough room to swing a cat in.....don't panic people i have and never will swing a cat...its a saying for those of you that don't know and are currently dialling the number of the local animal protection people!!! Simply put its an enormous heated changing area with gloriously hot showers! 

Quickly getting changed into our wetsuits, the sudden dilemma ..where to get in, were there rules about such things at this quay, quick inquiries in the shop and we were told...get in anywhere! I am sure the young man behind the counter thought we were nuts that we had come to socially swim and train...during the day on a week day, i would have explained but wanted to get in the water more than satisfy his curiosity.

Now Vobster is 36 acres of water, which compared to our normal watering hole of 64 may appear on paper  small, however it is beautifully laid out with a 750m loop of buoys for us swimmers, a thoughtful touch! Plenty of entry points and the only bit that sent a slight shiver down my spine was that the local Bristol zoo used it as a breeding ground for fish for the zoo. Given the strange and wonderful creatures that a zoo can house the imagination not to mention the stomach did a few flips before the head pushed asides thoughts of fresh water sharks and the like!

As promised by Viv the water was gloriously warm 17 degrees, fantastic compared to the water 'up north' which had chilled considerably with some parts being a low as 12 already. With no cold to tighten the muscles it was time to start doing the loops, the first we took slow and steady trying to see 'things' under the water. The water is not as clear as capenwray dive centre but is a brilliant blue colour before giving way to shade of green.

The first lap came to an end all too quickly, a brief respite to take in the surroundings and enjoy the utter solitude of what at the time felt like our own personal swim spot, birds chirping their disapproval of our disturbing their environment the only sound! The second lap started easy then with the muscles suitably warmed up time to put on some bursts of speed and test the thigh cramp that i had suffered only 4 days before and which was still plaguing me. It was amazing to be able to go flat out and just enjoy that feeling of the lakes length disappearing under the storm of your strokes! Coming to a finish at the end of the quay and turning round to see the only ripples were caused by the fury of the stoke, amazing.

Time to have a little play and see if we could see anything at all under the water, the clarity for the first few metres is brilliant and we managed to get a couple of great pictures under the water of ourselves...please note the stoke of my partner....duly told off for it when i saw the picture!!!!

Swimming round relatively slowly in the hope of spotting one of the many attractions that bring divers flocking to the quay, we came across the most amazing sight a mass of tiny ( and some not so tiny) fish, they were not bothered at all by us and included us in their rituals, swimming over us, under us and around us, and incredible sight i can tell you. Although it was in the back of my head....the zoo....what was in the water that might want to feast on these little beauties!

 Leaving the ball of fish and looking for things to take pictures of I came across tons of opportunities, and here are some that caught my eye.

 The website for the quay is brilliant   (http://www.vobster.com/swimming.php) , full of information and detail and is highly recommended for those looking to either dive or swim, maps and other details available to print off prior to arrival being an added bonus, that being said if you do not manage to the staff have tons of forms there for you to use should you need them.

Do i like Vobster....the answer VERY MUCH, the benefits i have extolled above the negatives, at £5 a swim if i was in the local area and able to take advantage of the discounts would be too much to allow me swim as much as i do, however this cost is off set by the use of the wonderful changing rooms and undercover shelters where spectators can view proceeding and hide from the weather. One major factor for me would be the closing time 5pm on weekdays and 5.30 on weekends, what an absolute shame to miss out on sunset swims, swimming in the warmth of the evenings sun after a hard day at work.....maybe we can convince them to open up for us one Saturday evening if i organised a mass social swim in the area, but truly how many of us would take advantage of the waters if it opened later in the day....yes all of us comes the cry!

You were right Viv, i loved it and will return....hopefully to swim with you!!!

Video of the fish near the surface can be found on you tube :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxnB-8xV2UQ&feature=relmfu all you have to think is if those are the little miracles on the surface what awaits our viewing down below, bet its brilliant!

24 HOUR CHARITY OPEN WATER SWIM

24 HOUR CHARITY OPEN WATER SWIM

Its impossible to include pictures of everyone when writing a blog, however this swim would not have happened had it not been for all involved, so to thank one and all at the end of the blog those whose pictures i have not managed to include will be added to hopefully show recognition and gratitude to you all.

Fancy a bit of a challenge....a 24 hour swim...well not individually but as a group...i wonder if there are enough like minded (nutty) people who fancy joining in on a 24 hour swim. The idea...to have one swimmer in the water on the hour every hour, with no limit to the number who could join them in each hour and no limit to the number of times a person / people could swim. At the time starting at 6am on the Saturday and finishing at 6am on the Sunday seemed like a good idea!

Asking permission from the lake owner at Ellerton in Brompton on Swale and all of a sudden it was real, yes we could do it...but would i end up attempting to swim 24 hours on my own, i hoped not. Fear not, with days of advertising for swimmers and the numbers were starting to stack up, fantastic. Rather than dictate time slots for people they were allowed to pick their own, this worked well as individuals set their own goals, for some who where training for the channel a night swim was a priority, others wanted to hit key points during the day and night.

I suspected that no-one would want the 6am slot so put myself down for that one, but wonderfully Suzanne Charnock and Keith Midley arrived to join me, we all looked as tired as one and other, but managed to raise a smile for the camera prior to entering the water,  the lake which was eerily still and calm with not so much as a whisper of breath in the air, the night was barely clinging on as daylight pushed her way forward. The start of the day was imminent and so was our swim, 6am on the dot with Dorothy Mills camera in hand to record the start of the event, we entered the water....which shall we say....felt cool!!

Arriving in darkness and watching the light appear was amazing, the air changed around us as we stood around talking, in the changing rooms i was kicking myself for picking such and early start time....6am in the water, i mean really is that right!!! Apparently so (the next one will start and finish later in the day!) as we tentatively entered the water, however, there was something that felt a little bit naughty entering the waters prior to the allotted normal entry time, of being able to watch the sun come through the trees in the stillness, hearing the owls screech around up, not a sound other than us and the owls....even as we swam in the silence, the atmosphere to amazing to want to bomb round, we witnessed a heron close to the waters edge, the birds waking up and greeting us with musical serenades.

The sun peeking through the trees and casting red streaks across the flat calm water, the air temperature changing from...do able to being able to see your breath in front of your face and back again! What an amazing start of an amazing 24 hours and how wonderful to spend it with friends!

Unusually Sammy the male resident swan at Ellerton had allowed two males and a female to share his waters, the two males......being that time of year, it was a tad intimidating to be in familiar waters where amorous foul were determined to indulge in their passions regardless of us swimmers! Needless to say we gave them a wide berth!

That first hour passed so quickly and soon it was time to get out, Dorothy Mills suited up and ready to get in, Dorothy had set herself the challenge of swimming four times as strategic times, personally i feel the times she picked were amazing and allowed her to see the lake at its best! Dorothy, you could tell was having a blast in the water, and clearly she did not want to get out! The sun's red hue through the trees, changing sky and the general atmosphere of the lake was matched by her grin!

Geoff Armstrong in for the next slot, head down and pulling out the laps, no hesitation in his stroke, his hour flew by! Now would anyone else turn up, i had a list, people had said yes....but now it was time to turn to the car park and have a look!!!! Early morning divers getting in were quick to donate to the swim, with many mutterings of how nuts we were!

Andy and Emma Parrett arrived, complete with all the goodies they would require for the rest of their stay...including a bbq which once lit later that evening smelt Divine! Emma, unfortunately was feeling under the weather and despite taking the mickey it was clear that she was not feeling great (the pale face with its greenish hue!!!), but it was fantastic that she turned up when most would have retired to their beds!! Andy however would be swimming.....lots! They were staying the 24 hours so it would be a good opportunity for them to see the lake in all its forms. 

Through the day a variety of swimmers joined us which was amazing to see and be a part of Philip Lamb and Vanessa Daws to name a few. Vanessa came armed with some wonderful cakes which her amazing son practically shoved down our throats (very gratefully received though i can tell you), once he got bored with issuing cakes it was down to a feather hut to decorate his hat whilst mum swam....thanks to the abundance of wild life we managed to find just ones that he considered perfect and he looked a treat as i am sure you will agree!!

Julie MacKenzie kindly came over to swim with us, i am pleased with this picture of her, shes stunning and hopefully this shows her off to you all. Julie conquered a massive fear of night swimming and although filled with interpretation completed it marvellously, i hope she is as proud of herself as we all are of her. Its no mean feat swimming at night, but she did it!!!

As night turned to day the fatigue was kicking in for Dorothy Mills and myself, we had been up since 4am, and were desperately in need of getting some shut eye. Dorothy headed her to camper van to try to get some   much needed rest whilst i had made a promise to myself to try to get pictures of all swimmers entering and leaving the water and so the show must go on. Food eaten did nothing to raise the energy levels at all, i would have loved to settle down with a glass of the red stuff to watch the proceedings but it was not to happen!

The daylight was starting to fade, the sky turning some wonderful shades, what a lucky day weather wise, the wind picking up for about an hour the only change in conditions, and now dusk was approaching. All swimmers that were due to do the darkest hours had arrived, the evenings guidelines given.

Around this time we were actually being joined by swimmers in California, who had contacted me and asked if they could swim in their home town and donate to us.....wow how amazing....yes please, and so it was around this time they were gliding through the water, how amazing is that, that our swim had gone international! 

A rather wonderful and long term friend of mine Adrian Wintle had very kindly offered to be safety cover for us for the night swims (and turned up suitably early in the day to join just which was an added bonus), but as night drew in he readied his kayak in preparation for supporting the swimmers. For some the night swims were no different to those in the day, for others a terrifying prospect, and there were all of us who were grateful for the knowledge that there was a kind and caring and more than capable individual alongside them in the water! Every great event needs great support and i had by the boat load, in the form of the swimmers and also Adrian!

 Just as the light was turning our youngest swimmers turned up Beatrice and her brother Alexander Lineton. Beatrice not long having completed her first triathlon and doing amazingly well in it, a genuine star in the making! Shy of the water every time she gets in but impossible to get out once shes relaxed and enjoyed it, shes great fun to swim with! 

Now having given the evenings briefing it was time to set the stage so swimmers could see the jetty area, having purchased glow sticks, candles and lanterns it was now time to decorate the place. The glow sticks claimed a life span of 6 to 8 hours but me being me i thought i would put one to the test, and followed the instructions on how to active them did so with a green one at 1pm on the Friday, this same stick Dorothy and i used to light ourselves whilst brushing teeth....i found out to my cost that these glow sticks in the right conditions will continue to glow for 3 days.....note to self don't put them in the waste basket in the bedroom then awaken to wonder if aliens had landed!!!! 

Now as i said briefing given....one of the main points was that all swimmers WILL swim with a glow stick ....my heart leapt through my nostrils when a certain swimmer who shall remain nameless but whose photo will be here's, ear plugs in entered the water as we were cracking the stick to activate it, now plugs in and hats on clearly he could not hear a thing and rather worryingly disappeared rapidly into the darkness not responding to our calls! Ellerton can and most of the time does look completely calm but despite being a lake it does have a current which as you can appreciate in daylight can be seen across the water and its movement, at night however .....not a thing!!! So off went said swimmer with those of us on the jetty getting more and more frantic, Adrian to the rescue, he calmly manoeuvred his kayak into the water and set off, and very shortly although for us on the shore line it did not seem it, located said swimmer and brought him back to shore, i am not to sure who was more relieved us or him!!!! 

Now said swimmer and his friend Nathan Dalgarno were sharing their hour of swimming...Nathan got in glow stick firmly attached and set off for him swim accompanied by Adrian. 30 minutes later he returned stating that he really enjoyed his swim but that he was lost without his ear plugs. Looking at him you could see there was something not right....the following picture shows how being tired can affect your ability to function as he had swam with his goggles up side down!!!! This was followed by him hunting in his hat as he was convinced that's where he had put his ear plugs after his last swim....check the hair for the offending articles!!!! Amazing what being tired can do for you!

Fantastically the full moon came out to great us, picture this a group of adults acting like children at a fireworks display all of us wowing and uttering words of amazing etc!!

Midnight approached and two of our swimmers in training for their channel swim had wanted to do around the midnight time slot, Martin Tickle Holland and Steve Holliday (now know as Steve the frog Holliday!) were the next of our group to swim sans suit (Vanessa Daws being the first). I was desperate for some sleep at this point but a quick power nap would sort me out....that was ALL that i needed....so off i headed having seen the next swimmer into the water, i would rush to get my head down for 20 mins then be back and bouncing for the next few hours!!!!! Sleep however failed to come as i expected and i lay in the wonderful tent that Adrian had erected (did i tell you he was wonderful or what!) and slowly gave in to what can only be described as a light doze, rushing to the waters edge i was just in time to see Martin getting ready for his swim.

 Right this time I AM GOING TO GET MY POWER NAP!!!! By this time i was feeling totally wobbly through lack of sleep, Adrian i suspect was feeling the same having been in the kayak with out a break for a great number of hours non stop! All i needed was 20 mins......please, literally sliding into the tent i cant remember my head hitting the pillow before i heard 'pauline.....pauline.....pauline....'......you have got to be kidding me i thought (amongst other things!!!) it was Steve letting me know that he was due to get in the water in 5 mins. Feeling like a rat that had fallen in a beer vat, i struggled to tie my own shoe laces in the dark, dipping up the tent that so lovingly had held me for such a short period of time i dashed to the jetty.....where was the swimmer i asked those sat watching.....oh he was getting cold and got in to swim the reply....my response would have warmed him up i can tell you but i fully understood that standing there in your speedo's while i try to figure out which shoe to put on which foot must have seemed like an eternity but none the less i was gutted at not being able to get a picture of Steve as he entered the water, i wanted everyone to have a record of their swim. Martin seemed to find my responses funny!!! i think tiredness was kicking in with me big time at this point! The hour passed fast and despite me stating that i would not take Steve's picture when he came out ....i did!!!

You will ask why do i now call Steve...the frog...because apparently he did not know which tent i was in and went round them all loudly whispering my name until a manly voice at one tent informed him that the person in that tent was not ******* pauline!!!! and that he sounded like a demented frog calling out my name!!! Despite my words of shame towards Steve at waking me up, it would have been great to see him off into the water and i am glad that he came for the swim...shame he could not stay for the rest of the night!

After Steve came Dorothy again, accompanied by the swans which we could just about make out in the darkness Adrian by this time had not stood up for hours and it was doubtful that his legs would unbend out of the kayak, he was sick of eating chocolate bars to give him energy and a coffee managed to keep him going for a bit longer, he was determined to kayak us til the light started to arrive. Seriously what a hero!

And then it was my turn to get back in, god i hope the water was cold enough to wake me up! It was wonderful and ignoring my own briefing i decided that as i had organised the event i would swim at will and i did, it was amazing, the silhouette of the trees were now my sighting point, the moon casting an amazing sheen to the waters surface, the silence deafening! Adrian by my side to keep me right! I felt like i could have stayed in for hours let alone one! I completely enjoyed the experience and all to soon it was over!

A picture of what tired looks like!!!!

With the sun starting to peak through the trees Adrian headed off to his tent, i suspect the he was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow and i can only imagine the relief of being able to straighten his legs!

The last swimmers finished and we were done WE HAD DONE IT!!!! How tired were we all......beyond tired....was it worth it.....YES The final few that did not have to rush off had our photo taken before we dismantled the candles, glow sticks, fairy light and night lights that had been brought, tided up the rubbish and said our goodbyes!

Could i have done it without the swimmers, no, they were amazing and i am eternally grateful for them all turning up and swimming, you were brilliant and i can not thank you enough, the man of the match however has to go and i am sure you will all agree to Adrian Wintle, whose untiring work enable so many to swim, his support and commitment despite being shattered and in pain goes beyond commendable! I hope you all enjoyed it, you certainly were incredible and i was honored to have your company and assistance to complete such a great task. THANK YOU ALL SOOOOOO MUCH!

So what do i say now......same again next year folks?????

List of swimmers:

Dorothy Mills,Suzanne Charnock, Geoff Armstrong, Shirley Emmerson, Kathryn Ayre, Keith Midgley, Alison Darley, Di Wilson, Andy Parrett, Emma Parrett, Martin Tickle Holland, Steve Holliday, Maybelle McKenzie, Philip Lamb, Nathan Dalgarno, Steve Holliday, Martin Tickle Holland, Tracie Jacobs, Eileen Webb, Barry Webb, Helen Duncan, Neil Danby, Tracey Myrtle, Paul Myrtle, Di Wilson, Mark Jones, Chris Drydale, Ian Grant, Alex Lineton, Beatrice Lineton, Martin Ord, A John W Mace (aka the vicar!)Lyn Andrews, Joyce Thompson, Vanessa Daws, Bernie Wilson, Carla Hanson Neil Weir and last but not least myself Pauline Squire

If i have missed your name out please let me know so i can add you xx

Those pics for those that may not have seen them can be found on http://www.flickr.com/photos/67693883@N07/

 

Prince Charles visits Middleton in Teesdale

Prince Charles Visits Middleton in Teesdale

Not quite a swimming blog but just a quick one to show a few pics taken today when HRH Prince Charles came to visit the village where i live. After a short wait where he nipped into the local butchers, the local 'got it all' shop and a bit longer a wait while he wowed the local primary school children he came over to see the rest of us. Very pleased to say he had a chat and proud to say i got to shake his hand. What a wonderful man, very charismatic with a voice that's like velvet!! The team from Countryfile were there too and managed to have a chat and get pics taken with Ellie Harrison. Hope you enjoy the pics!!!

WICKED in WASTWATER

WICKED IN WASTWATER

It had been thought about, dreamt about, talked about....and then the date was decided...29th September a date with a full moon!!!! oh now there is was something to look forward to. Wastwater is Britain's highest deepest and longest glacial water and that was going to be a treat to share. Having taken a trip with my very good friend Dorothy Mills, it was decided from the minute we turned up at the venue, the swim we took just added to the experience.....it was a place to be shared.

And as per normal the time flew by and before you could blink said weekend was upon us! The arrangements had been made, meet at the Wastwater youth hostel, were some had book in for the weekend others for Saturday evening, the staff at the hotel had been wonderful, reserving numerous rooms for our swimmers. Fab news! Endless rain throughout the summer and recent floods made it a worry, would people be able to get to the venue, i truly hope so. And so it seemed they did! The roads were fine, the sun peaking from behind the clouds! Unfortunately the roads to get to Wastwater tend to invite at times those drivers who desire to linger is matched only by their inclination to brake at every corner, signpost, sheep, other traffic and who knows what else! But we made it there in one piece to be greeted by the sight of ....swimmers!!! Fantastic news.

Introductions made and soon the chatter flowed as if life long friends were meeting up for a reunion. Checking into our room, i headed down the palatial stairs of the hostel, a wonderfully old building still retaining many of its charms. Its character quite fitting and matching the majestic scenery surrounding it.

Soon more and more swimmers arrived, some camping, others booked into local bed and breakfasts, and wonderfully some who travelled the distance to swim and who would journey home after the swim. The swim was delayed slightly whilst we waited for any others who may have had difficulty during their journey, but then it was time to get changed and head to the waters edge for the group picture.

So with proof that all swimmers were alive when they entered the water, it was time to head towards its wonderful depths, i hung back, i love listening to peoples reaction when they get in the water, after the initial chants about the temperature, an echoing chorus of wow, brilliant, its so clear and so on and so forth. You see there is an issue or two with swimming at wastwater, the first one is the distraction of the amazing scenery, the second is the view under the water which is equally as wonderful, head up or down you will be simply blown away by all that you can see. Its so easy to race along and miss all around you but this water begs to be appreciated, the screes that surround you demand attention, its hard not to be impressed! The water temperature.....12 degrees!!!!!

 

 

Some swimmers had decided to swim the length of the lake (3 miles) others the width (approx 1200m), some halfway and back, we had a real mixture and wonderfully everyone had gelled! What a shame we could not do this every day of our lives!

 

 

The determination of some of the swimmers to swim the length of the lake was incredible, as you are swimming along you can see the cars slow to watch you (probably uttering the usual comments of  nutters, what are they doing etc), walkers stand agape as we power past them, stopping to wave and shout hello generally motivates them to resume their walk once their curiosity has been satisfied, one walker even stopped and retrieved his bino's to watch our progress!

 

 

 

Half way along the lake the weather changed, the swell rose and the chop started to get exciting. The rain pelted down and for a short moment stung the face, but the increased surge in water added to the speed we swam. As quickly as it arrived, it vanished to be replaced by flashes of sunshine which served to highlight the beauty below. Wastwater is fabled for it history and divers frequent its waters as well but it still came as a surprise to see a large collection of mushroom shaped bubbles  floating to the surface from below as Gaz Bradwell and i swim over them!

 

 

 Too soon the swim was over, wow what a ride, passing the workmen laying cables was one bit that made me giggle under the water, they must have thought we were nuts, tools were down as they watched our progress. The leg is still suffering from the hamstring cramps, such a nuisance but Route Martin allowed me to draft his bubbles...the man however can not judge distance....his idea of 300 metres and mine are totally different!!!! Scott Bissett having powered his way through the water made it to the finishing point first!!!

 

 

 

Out and showered in the gloriously hot water as supplied by the hostel, and i was delighted to find the drying room that they permit us to store our wetsuits in. Vast amounts of divers clothing was soon matched by our wetsuits and cossies.!! This drying room would prove its worth later in the night!!!

 

Gaz Bradwell had travelled a fair distance and was determined to complete the length of the lake, as stated he said he would start the walk back and be picked up.....his choice of footwear however.....strange.....!!! But you could tell he was more than pleased with his acheivement!

 

 

 

So what do we do post swim....we have coffee, and chat....oh and on this occasion a rather fine bottle of whisky was offered as a post swim warmer by Route Martin!!!

 

 

 

Those that needed to return home did so in a fashion, hovering, clearly not wanting to leave, Maybelle McKenzie was rushing off to party, her life is full of fun and it never seems to stop!!! Others returned to their campsites or bed and breakfast accommodation. Those that were staying in the hostel had pre ordered their evening meals and so it was arranged that we would eat together at 7.30pm.

 

Dinner turned into a modelling affair with 'Bel' (aka Annabel Lavers) teaching us how to do the perfect pose for photo's not sure that we made it look as elegant as Gemma, my wonderful daughter and chief photographer for the day, but we made attempts!!!! I will leave you to decide on the results.

 

 

 

After the food and the posing we retired to the sitting room, a plush dark wood paneled room with a massive fireplace which unfortunately they do not light until the 1st of October, or the warmth of the fire might have deterred us from our next activity!!! You see a week prior to the Wastwater swim there had been a charity open water event, in the form of a mass skinny dip, Shirley Emmerson had taken part and clearly it had had an impact on her as prior to the Wastwater swim she has expressed an interest in repeating the experience!!!

 

 

 

Now as i said had there been a roaring log fire to sway me i might not have felt so inclined to strip off and avail myself of the same experience...but there wasn't one. So with a little, ok or maybe a bit of red wine on board and some (not that they needed any at all) persuasion it was decided that we would do it. I had been down to the waters edge, it was glass flat and actually did look inviting with the stones under the water shimmering gold under the light from my phone...mind you that was with me stood there fully clothed! 

 

Gradually we brought our towels downstairs and stowed them in the drying room, cossys on, we took the leap of faith and headed to the water. For some reason the air temperature did not appear to be as chilled as earlier.

 

 And so we crept like a pack of giggling school girls towards the still calm water, lit by a camera and head torch. Stripping quickly to only our swim suits then gingerly edging into the water, lets take it carefully we said, get in slowly and stay together....until Annabel Lavers aka Bel, performed her swan dive over and into the water landing on what is now know as Bel's rock....did we rush to her aid, enquiry as to the level of injury....nope we howled like wolves at the moon, Bel, took it in her stride and demanded a picture be taken!!! Duly taken

 

 

 Getting in to a certain depth, it was time to avail ourselves of the swimwear, and yes i will admit Shirley it was very liberating, the water did not seem as cool as earlier in the day! A rash of pictures were taken, all only for our viewing folks but here is one that we agreed could be shared...to be himest its the only one that COULD be shared. Will we do it again....i hope so, it was a hoot to do!

 

 

 

 

 



Exiting the water still giggling we rushed for the warmth of the drying room, bliss, the heat drying us faster than any towel could, dressed we returned grinning to the plush room with its leather chesterfield sofas, how wonderful would it have been to have been met by a roaring fire to toast ourselves in front of! Instead we toasted ourselves with more red wine, and a line up photo!

 

 

 

Wine finished and it was time to head for bed, but what a giggle the evening and in fact the whole day had been!

 

The next day and the plan had been to swim again then head off to find some waterfall filled pools aptly named the Emerald pools! Alas it was not to be, the rain had clearly been falling all night, there were now waterfalls gushing down the sides of the screes where the previous day had been dry stone. A triathon that attracted competators from far and wide had been cancelled such was the level of the weather!!! Indeed stepping outside and sidestepping the swan that too had decided he had had enough of the foul weather and was desperately trying to get in the building but was happy to take shelter in the porch....that was until the door was opened then the determination to stay dry became clear!

 

 

 

What a contrast from the previous day, the screes which had glowed so gloriously the previous evening were now heavily shrouded in thick cloud, the heavens had opened and the air temperature as could be expected had dropped! The rocks we had so carefully tip toed round and over the previous day were no where to be be seen such was the height of the water, we hovered trying to decide whether or not to get in...in the end the universal decison was made in the interests of safety and for those that had a long journey (8 hours for some) that we would head home and save the swim for another day....so it looks like 2013 will see us visiting hopefully enmass again. I for one can not wait....the planning will begin..and who knows it might turn into an annual event!