THE GREAT MORPH SWIM, RYDAL 2011

THE GREAT MORPH SWIM, RYDAL 2011-PAULINE SQUIRE

First we did Buttermere, then Grasmere, this weekend it was Rydal. In the last week the air temperatures have dropped, most of the country was hit by a frost at the end of the week, central heating systems dormant during the summer were being fired up, log burners lit, thick coats pulled out and dusted off. The swim posted as just a normal social swim was changed shortly after posting after i was inspired by Jo Lade's recent Mankini's and Moustaches swim to make this one a little different......so morph suits it was, and so the Great Morph swim title came about. As is all the worry....would people want to swim (many had put the wetsuits away for the winter months), would they turn up.

Where to get in.....in what is now becoming a bit of a trend, i wanted to find somewhere we can get warmed up afterwards and have a coffee. Chatting with facebook swimmy friends i was recommended a pub. A quick phone call later to the Badger Bar and it was sorted, use of the car park, hot soup and drinks for afterwards.....excellent!!!! Numbers started to creep up, again i was not going to be swimming on  my own - fab.

Checking the weather forecast the friday night before the swim, fingers and toes crossed as it loaded onto the computer......please let it be sunny. Shoulders sagging.....it was informing me that we were going to have heavy rain!!! Again!

Everything organised on Facebook, morph suit in the car and off we headed to Rydal, which greeted us overcast, the odd bit of drizzle but on the whole not too bad. Parking up it soon became clear that the majority of cars in the carpark belonged to swimmers.

It was really great to see so many people, with their families and with numerous dogs in tow to, i hoped they would all get in the water. Welcomes were exchanged, a few last minute stragglers turned up and then it was time to get dressed up. We must a looked a right sight to all those passing by in cars and out hiking!

It was great to see so many had turned up in costume too, what a brilliant start to an afternoons swimming. The faces of walkers as we made our way to the side of the lake were priceless with many just uttering a stunned 'good afternoon' before continuing on their stroll.

And for those that did not bring anything.....David Donaldson....they got to wear a mankini! And rather cute he looked walking along the road in it!

The walk to the lake does not take that long but its just as well we were not trying to sneek in the number of astonished people we passed. But soon enough the water loomed infront of us. Would it be as cold as it looked, the air temperature was not too bad, which was good as our swimmers had brought spectators, who's masses swelled as passers by stopped to witness the costume clad swimmers in front of them.

Some eager beavers getting in sans suits whilst the rest of us posed for pics!!! Chilly

Standing together for photos was great, our collective body heat helping to keep us warm. Photos taken it was time to get in the water, it did not look inviting at all!

Getting in was a cold affair with none of us rushing to submerge ourselve but pretty soon we were in, setting off in our respective groups we decided in which direction we would go. The nearest island was the first choice, oh how cold was that water...!!! We soon adjusted though and set off swimming, with those of us in costume stopping every so often to mutter!!! You see Sam Plum had on a tutu...which acted as a drag suit for her and my morph suit felt like i was dragging a wet nappy behind me.....a nappy which got heavier with each stroke! Eventually we got to the island, the waters clarity allowing us to carefully make our way onto it, after the harshness of the rocks beneath our feet, it was  lovely surprise to feel the softness of moss below.

While others were exploring the island several of us who were starting to feel chilly decided to swim to a rather prominant rock we could see displaying itself through the water, the rock when we reached it was rather slipperly when we got on it so we used it jagged edges to keep ourselves on, by this time my 'nappy'  had taken on sand bag proportions and the swim was starting to feel like a workout! But never the less we made it to the rock and waited for the others to join us, Debbie Taylor arriving immediately informed us that we were sat on 'bird shit island'....yes before you ask we did ask why before collectively saying yuk and sliding in the water!!!

It was decided that we would head to the furthest point in the lake, thankfully Martin Ord noticed my asthma kicking in at the same time i felt it making its presence known. For anyone who suffers from the condition you will understand that its not funny when it kicks in let alone in the middle of a cold lake being weighed down by a nappy. A dilemia, do i get out and walk back or keep to the side and swim back, for those that know me the first is not an option if i can help it, I also had Martin by my side to ensure that i was staying within my limits and mightly glad i was too. Panic can make asthma worse and it was a very grateful swimmer that had Martin next to her to keep her calm that day. Martin is a wonderfully fast swimmer so he must have been getting cold staying by my side as i could not get any speed up due to the 'nappy' but stayed he did. Eternally grateful to you Martin!

Heading back in the lake was calm, cold and like glass, it was wonderful to be in, swimmers heading back in could be heard as they exited stating how cold it was, only about 8 degrees, the levels of ice cream head ache they had had but mostly about how they had loved it.



Heading back to the cars to get changed we were all looking forward to the warm of the pub and some hot food! Now for some reason at all the swims i have organised there have been chinese or japanese tourists there waiting to talk to us or taking pictures of us, there had been a chorus of disappointment as we exited the water that this was not the same...however, entering the carpark what do we find a coach full of bemused tourists all clapping, smiling and taking pictures..what treat!

Waiting for food to arrive!

The swim was almost the last large group swim of the year, the cold air temperatures putting many off and making the wetsuits redundant for the rest of the year, for others like myself the best was yet to come, swimming on clear sunny ice cold days in minus temperatures surrounded by snow....year round swimming....now i wonder if i can start a new trend!!!! Happy swimming everyone!!!

Another historically written blog, sorry folks but you know what its like...the water calls and i have to get in it....oh and David Donaldson....you are sooooo lucky i can not find the video of you walking in that mankini!!!! xx