WILD SWIMMING, WILD PHOTOS!

WILD SWIMMING, WILD PHOTOS!

Oh holiday in Scotland with my daughter Gemma and friend Alison, we met up with a long term friend who was currently working in the area, Hamza Yassin, a BBC Wild life photographer, who also has his own business https://www.facebook.com/hamzayassinphotography/timeline

Chatting in the pub one night we discussed the possiblity of Hamza taking some time out of his busy schedule to take some photo's of us and were delighted when he said he would. The weather was checked....oh rubbish..we were due to see the tail end of a hurricane...not a problem for us swimmers but we did not want Hamza's camera's getting ruined. Thankfully we had several breaks in the weather that enabled us to swim and him to take pictures.

Alison and i had already swam directly below Mingary castle but were eager to return to try the next bay along, so with Gemma and Hamza in tow we headed back down to try to find a dutch ship reported to have been sunk during battle many years before. Getting in was much harder this this time, our discovered steps cut out of the rocks no longer at our disposal, we instead walked on rocks strewn with razor sharp molluscs, thank the lord for rubber soled shoes!!!!

As Hamza set up his equipment, a Cannon camera with an impressive lens, Alison and i got changing into our wetsuits, normally we would when the water is as deliciously warm as it currently is we would go in the water in just our cossies but having heard the reports of large lions mane jelly fish and seen them the previous days in the water we did not want to take any chances of being stung. Wetsuits on, we got the signal to get in and against the stunning backdrop of Kilchoan we entered the briny waters. Swimming outward to where we had heard rumours of a sunken Dutch ship, our own camera's stowed upon our person we wowed at the marvels that the sea had to offer. Kelp and fish abounded, swaying gently in the swell of the water. 

Soon the water soothed the mind and thoughts of being photographed forgotten as we same and dodged the jelly fish. Some of which were tiny and cute....the non-stingers....and others like the ones below.....were around the size of a dustbin lid with two being around the size of a car bonnet!!!!! Scary nasty things to be avoided at all times!!! (The jellies are the only two pics taken by me the rest are by Hamza)

And so avoiding the jelly fish and hunting again for treasure we snorkelled and swam around the bay. Although there was little wind the current underneath provided us with enough entertainment, watching the kelp sway back and forth is magical and more than a little hypnotic. All the while Hamza safely placed on the shores was clicking away with his camera.

Its hard to pose for a camera when you are swimming, and as most swimmers will tell you we tend to forget everything around us other than the water and its effects on us, so getting action shots capturing movement and swimmer are special, it shows us doing what we love best.

The next few days were taken up by hurricane Bertha passing over the peninsular, a visit to the lighthouse a must to see the storm growing in strength and the waves pounding the shoreline, as it abated we headed to Sanna Bay with two other open water swimmers in tow....for a play in the waves. Reports of a dead minke whale proved true as we came across its headless carcass, but not even that deterred us (although we did wonder what had eaten most of it!!!)

 

Lars Eriksson and Adam Hultberg, who were working on the restoration of Mingary castle, whom we discovered were also open water swimmers, were kind enough to join us, both displaying great sense of humour and adventure when invited for a dip.

The water was not too cold, Sanna Bay is normally breathtakingly chilly, the wind still strong, we were able to bounce in the water and swim. The in-coming current too strong for us to swim out too far, but non the less we were able to find some good spots for body surfing and fish spotting...Alison and i would return for an impromptu swim several days later!

Our last swim of the holiday was breathe taking, a sunset dip...unplanned and totally spontaneous - sitting round, having eaten together i suddenly noticed the stunning colour of the sky, Sanna Bay, only a short distance from where we were staying, the conversation quickly turned to 'what time is sunset? how long will it take us to get there?....shall we bother wearing a costume?, discussion ended quickly as we scrambled for Dryrobes and car keys and headed out of the door. 

The light was truly beautiful as we drove through the now dormant volcano and headed towards the beach, a short walk and we where there...all of us stopping to appreciate the sight of the storm being caressed by the fading sun.

Stripping off behind a sand-dune, we donned the dryrobes and headed towards water the wind making the sand whip up around our ankles...giving us an impromptu body scrub!

The waves were still bouncing and the invitation to play in them was too much, throwing off the robes we ran to the waters end and soon submersed ourselves in it salty depths. Perhaps it was the excitement of a sunset skinny dip but we did not feel the crisp bite of the cold water, instead we plunged over waves trying to get further out. 

Refreshed and revitaised by the stormy waves we exited the water, Hamza, discretely lowering his camera as we got out and placed the robes over chilled skin, walking back up the beach we could just about make out his instructions..the main one being stand still....the light behind us was spectacular and he wanted to catch it on film. 

Was it fun being a 'swimming model' very much so...Hamza made it fun and let us be ourselves....hopefully in the near future we will have the pleasure of swimming for him again, after all who does not want GOOD pictures taken of themselves. Thank you sooo much Hamza for taking the pictures, your giggles and the fun it was swimming for you. 

You can find Hamza on twitter and facebook: - you will love his work....and if you contact him i am sure he will be able to set up a session for you....go on you know you are worth it!!!!

 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hamzayassinphotography

Twitter - @HamzaYassin3

Website - http://hamzayassin.photoshelter.com/

LIFE OF A SWIMMER AND COACH!

LIFE OF A SWIMMER AND COACH

Who would have thought that those few tentative lessons with my dad (Bill Sherman) would have led to the wonderful career that i now have. My dad from the time i was very young, introduced and fuelled my love of swimming, one of my earliest memoires was swimming across the Moselle river with my dad on a camping holiday!

My LOVE of swimming and being in the water is all encompassing. Its what i love to do and what i live for, and in that i have developed a passion for helping others feel the same.  But oh my word no one warned me how addictive it is...and well if you thought you didn't need much stuff...just a cossie, goggles, hat and a towel you would think!!!

Think again!!!...and then think some more! I think i possibly have more swim kit than clothing.....well ok i am a woman.....maybe not but getting there!!!!! But each an every bit of swim kit tells its own story, miles and hours of swimming, races completed, distance and temperature conquered, each is special in how it has seen me through and been essential to me completion. Would i part with any of it....not a chance!

My love of the water is well known, it brings me to life, gives me life and makes life what it is for me today. It helps me breathe, others turn to music, they dance, they sing, they cook, they eat...for me its the water, its healing, warming even at its lowest temperatures, the mind slows, the body accepts its caress, the breathing becomes easier, for me to swim is a blessing, water really is the giver of life. How do you express a feeling that is all encompassing, so overpowering that it can not be compared with any other emotion, to not swim for me is to not breathe.

My history of swimming is diverse and i have been lucky to swim in some of the world's most amazing waters, Australia and Mauritius to name a few. Regardless of the location, although it has to be admitted some are better than others, its the water that draws me. The wildlife, fresh air, conditions and temperature are all part of the challenge, i have raced, swam at leisure and enjoyed every minute of it. And now i am lucky enough to be able to help others to do the same.

Swimming brings me in contact with some amazing people as well, from those that are just starting out on their aquatic journey to those like me who consider it a way of life. It is amazing to see the transformation of fearful of the unknown, to competing and not forgetting those that want to laze in amazing places and let the sun warm them as they swim. There are also the ultra swimmers, those that do the channel, most of whom do it for charity. Words cant express the instant satisfaction of seeing a swimmer become at one with the water, the grin is spontaneous, the 'wows' a blessing to the ear....and then the ultimate words....'can i do it again', music to the ears. To coach any person and help them discover a love of water is the rare privilege of a coach, the open water tends to bring out all your vulnerabilities, it exposes emotions and brings them to the surface. For most the open water gives them the chance to be themselves, to please them selves and induces a sense of achievement regardless of whether you have swam 100 metres or 100 miles, in water of 20 degrees or 2, we all go through the same process of development and as a coach to be a part of that is exceptional - i am one of the lucky ones, i genuinely love my work!

Swimming solo is special, and yes i do know that some condone it, however, the joys of finding that special spot where nobody goes and dipping in is like finding hidden gold amongst the mountains, equally the fun and giggles not to mention the shared memories when swimming with others can make for many a special day out. As with most open water swimmers the tag line should be ' just add water!' we can have fun in a teaspoon of water if its there to get in!!!  The advancements of technology mean that now we can record our dips and dives with underwater cameras and Go-pro's, i love mine and use them constantly. As a swimmer its wonderful to get a picture of yourself swimming and if taken unexpectedly, can form a great surprise.

One of the beauties about swimming is regardless of age or ability we can all get in the water...so whats not to like....fancy giving it a go...well grab your kit and join me, you are all welcome....and who knows you might get addicted to it too!!!!

MINGARY CASTLE SWIM

MINGARY CASTLE SWIM

For many years i have been visiting a wonderfully serene place called Kilchoan. Set on the furthest point west of Scotland nestled amongst some of the clearest waters and whitest beaches. The peninsular houses a dormant volcano, lochs and more wild life than is possible to see in one go, from deer to eagles, otters to orcas all available to the patient observer. 

Mingary castle originates from the 13th century and has rang in the changes as times and history dictates and yet remains standing amongst the stunning backdrop of opulent green and brown fauna and flora which forms the surrounding landscape. The castle is home to a rich and diverse history of battle and dispute as well as control made possible by its prominent position on the peninsular of Adnamurchan. Over the last few years the castle has been undertaking a dramatic change under the watchful eye of Donald Houston of Adnamurchan estate. More information on the history of the castle can be found here - http://kilchoan.blogspot.co.uk/p/mingary-castle.html. The blog also tells you more of the happenings in the area and of the lives of its wonderful inhabitants. 

Last year i was extremely lucky to have a private viewing of the inside of the castle as both archaeology and restoration took place. To state that its remarkable is an understatement, stepping past the then water filled moat through the thick stone walls even to the lay person the sheer workmanship of years gone by is breath taking. Ask the modern builder to emulate such workmanship and i doubt such a building would still be standing in 300 years time. 

This trip up and i was determined to finally swim next to the castle....who knows i might even find hidden treasures!!!! Well a girl can hope, given that cannon balls have been found embedded into the external walls of the castle who exciting would it have been to find one in the water...or other oddities as discarded over the walls during battle. Heading towards the castle with my good friend Alison, we were looking forward to all that lay ahead....after all what could possibly go wrong!!!

Gaining access to the waters edge by a guillotine gate, and gently walking down the grassy slope it was hard not to wonder who had walked the same path over the centuries. The water although beautiful looked a little bouncy, not that that would deter me...a woman on a mission...to swim where battles have been fought, won and lost. Finding our access point into the water seemed easy  as we came across what can only be described as steps cut out of the rock face. 

Steps which as we discovered continued under the water some considerable way. For us it was like stepping into our our outdoor private pool. Sat on the last dry 'step' we donned snorkel mask and fins' and stood up to survey our swim spot, simply breathtaking does not do it justice nor can works embrace the craggy mollusc ridden rock face that threatened both skin and wetsuit if we got our entry or exit wrong!

Starting our decent into the cool depths of the water we spied the dreaded lions mane jelly fish - the rumours of the sheer size of them had clearly not been exaggerated, this one the size of a dustbin lid. We deduced that the flow of the current would keep its dreaded mane with its vile sting away from us...but taking no precautions we entered and vowed to steer clear of it. 

As stated the 'steps' appeared to travel quite away down into the water....with fins on these were almost impossible but we would have a go once we had finished our swim. The water was remarkably choppy for a bay which appeared to all intents and purposes to be sheltered. But that said we were in and that is all that mattered to us. Now to treasure hunt!

Ok no treasure found other than discovering the geology of the land beneath the castle itself which was pretty spectacular, from giant boulders to rocks which appeared to be carved and may have possibly fallen into that water as the castle fell to the perils of sea, weather and battle. 

The water teemed with blue fish and orange fish, who were undisturbed by either our presence or that of the large mackerel who swam around the kelp this gently swayed in the current. 

The water full of fish (although no seals decided to join us) and the rocks were a mass of all different wildlife, glinting and showing their colours as the sun hit them through the water. 

Having snorkelled all round the bay, been bounced against the rocks, played with kelp and fish it was time to get out...what a special swim, the treasure is the water itself and all that it holds, clearly any pearls from history where hiding that day and had we found any we would have simply grinned, took pictures and given ourselves and internal hug....loved every bit of it!!!

Did we swim there again....yes next bay along...more treasure hunting!!!!

Windermere swim number 2

WINDERMERE SWIM NUMBER 2

And so following on from our first swim Alison and I sat bellies plump from delicious scones and nicely warmed from the open fires and in walks the man himself, none other than the Gladiator, Thomas Noblett. After the normal welcome greeting including bear hug, Thomas stood aside to reveal a gentleman he wished to introduce me to. 

A rather dapper tall looking gentleman stood in front of me...a personal hero and yet what do i do...go on wobble mode! Why....because this swimmer extraordinaire stated that he read my blogs and loved them! So there you go, at my tender age i turn into a mode that can only be described as a teenager at a pop concert!

So who was this amazing man - none other than Michael Read MBE, KING OF THE CHANNEL (http://www.kingofthechannel.com/michael-read), this is the man that has swim the English channel no less than 33 times...yes you did read that correctly 33 times....and that is not including all his other achievements. At times the water almost held and kept him and as you will know if you ever have the pleasure of meeting him ...he would not let it beat him...and i for one am glad. For there in front of me was the man himself, amazing sparkly eyes and a wicked grin....and as i was to find out a sense of humour to match. What an absolute treat!

Had it not been for the water i suspect that we could have sat over a glass of wine, and a rather fine meal and chatted all night as he regaled me with stories of his swims, but low and behold other swimmers turned up...the great and the best of the BLDSA (British Long Distance Swimming Association -http://www.bldsa.org.uk/)  and channel swimming world!!! What a fantastic afternoon this was turning out to be. Then came the invitation to swim...Alison and i explained that we had already swam...but...well the water was there and the company was great so what was to refuse. Heading downstairs into the swim cave, the intrepid long distance swimmers donning mere costumes, hats and goggles, Alison and I in neoprene, having already swam less than an hour ago we were still chilled from the previous swim. The girly chatter from one side of the room matched by that of the males the other side. Some of the ladies even found things to play with down there!

Walking out into the sunshine and heading down the path towards the lake, Thomas and Mike, were there to oversee (translate that to - make fun of us!) our swimming. Thankfully we brought our cameras with us to the jetty, a group picture and the odd saucy word or two from Mike with laughter raining down the lake and the chatter started to turn towards getting in the water...all of a sudden it seemed as if it would be cold. Could we delay it any more....a few more pictures maybe

And of course one last hug from Mike (much welcomed ...and he is rather good at them!!!)

we started to enter the water, Alison and I with the benefit of the neoprene entered the water first step by step - for a second swim it take the breath but we soon settled in the water....others took a braver more determined way, a holding of hands, take a deep breath and go for it....and as fast as they enter the water...they emerge breaking its surface equally as fast!

The ladies heading in feet first the gentlemen taking a more macho approach, head first, they too surfaced equally as fast.....and i might add they did state that certain area's of their bodies were feeling the cold worse than others...a source of amusement for the ladies but no so much so for the gentlemen!!!

 

A few healthy gasps and off we all went to swim, the water as refreshingly brisk as i had been earlier that day, the weather if anything brighter as if the lake district was welcoming its new guests to the water.  A quick blast out to the boat and round a few buoys and then it was out and rushing to the warmth of the swim cave as its affectionately known. Now one of the beauties of being an open water swimmer is the dignity in getting changed, we all understand that we are cold, that there is no point trying to struggle to don clothing with hands that don't work properly and so the wet items get taken off, the body rigorously dried and warm clothing quickly placed onto chilled skin. 

Retreating to the warmth of the Langdales log fires, it is a given that we now have to have the warm scones and coffee....it really is hard to leave great company, food and hospitality. I do feel our next meeting Mike should be next to a fire, with a bottle of red, it was amazing to meet you and this one is dedicated to you and the inspiration that you give to all swimmers, see you soon i hope and yes i may well take you up on your method off warming up after a swim :) xx