WASTWATER MELUSINE

WASTWATER MELUSINE

(http://faeriesight.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/nixie-melusine/)

Its a long way to go for a short swim..but what a short swim, in the most incredible surroundings in the beautifully glacial waters of Wastwater. I have swam there several times this year but not in the winter. My friend Vanessa and I are training for a winter swim event and fancied somewhere different to train and so on a damp, wet and slightly windy day we set off.

The scenery changes throughout our travels, the greenery of the lake district transforming to an almost moon landscape view as the lay of land changes as each mile passes. A few hours later ( which seemed to fly by in the beauty of Vanessa's vehicle with its heated seats...how lovely!) And there in front of us in the blink of an eye was the hostel and also the 3 mile expanse of water, enshrouded by fog which glowed almost luminescent in its appearance. This all set in the back drop of the screes  which loomed far beyond the cloud covering it, but all the while displaying its glorious winter coat of bronze, red, brown and grey.

Chatting to the hostel manager, he was apologetic but today of all days we could not make use of the facilities, there was a gentlemen's only weekend occurring and no female may enter the premises...not even to pee! However he was happy for us to park and swim. Dam i really wanted Vanessa to see the splendor of the building and was rather relishing the prospect of sitting on the plump chesterfield sofas next to the roaring open fires! No loss, it just means we will have to return!

Walking briskly to find a bush...any bush to pee behind, we walked along the shoreline, the water appeared (and indeed was) clearer than when we swam there in the summer. The cloudy skies not diminishing the waters clarity, the myriad of coloured stones or the depth waiting us. Having been there before its splendor is not lost on my however watching Ness's reaction was great, the look on her face said it all, we were swimming regardless.  This was a woman who was a peace, her contentment evident even to the observers eye, had we not been there to swim i suspect that she would have be content to just sit with her thoughts and watch her surroundings change with the minutes of the day in front of her. Walkers attempting to get past the worst of the screed area appeared like tiny coloured dots in the distance, thankfully as we fumbled with the many layers we had on to release our bursting bladders, lets hope none of them had binoculars!. Toiletries done it was time to head back to the car to get our kit and find our entry point to the water.

Stripped of the warmth of our clothing it was photo time, Ness clearly looking every inch the water nymph!

Although it does not look it we were behind a rather large rhododendron bush, however, i am not sure that it gave us the cloak of invisibility that we desired. But giggling we inched ourselves closer to the waters edge before removing the last vestibule of warm and dipping our feet into the frigid waters. Instantly numb! Did we really have to submerge the rest of ourselves..well we would have looked daft standing ankle deep in water completely naked with just hats and goggles on!!!

Wow that is icy, Ness in first with me following....did you know that if you pee and you dont have a wetsuit on.....there is no warmth to be had! I found that out just as the water hit the belly button! Right go for it, breath out and plunge in, holy smoly that is cold, the coldest so far sans suit, no tingling, no pain, just a slight breathlessness which dissipated rapidly and complete numbness.

Me trialing the new goggles for winter swimming...sexy....maybe not with Ness next to me looking as if she is in the Bahamas! But i will say the goggles did not fog as i had found with the smaller ones i had been using all year so jobs a good one as they say, note to self larger goggles for winter swimming!

Swimming where ever we felt, it was hard to know where to look.....and no not because we were naked but because of the stunning view under the water and the outstanding scenery whenever we raised our head. Cold water swimming in wastwater, what can beat it!

Oh if only the sun was shining, but the fog lent its own brand of enigma to the swim.

You can see from this picture how low the cloud was in places!!!

Swimming along, simply just enjoying the pleasure of swimming and even more the pleasure of swimming unhindered by any form or material, bliss.

We turned at the same time....oh no, the walkers we had seen the other side of the lake...had arrived and were clearly astonished at the sight before them. Swimmers...how unusual...but these were naked and pretty soon their friendly chat of 'wow is it chilly' became looks of shock as Ness stated the waters clarity...they looked the eyes bulged and female of the party tugged her partner rapidly away from us!! I wonder why! Had they never seen water sirens before, did she feel we would woo him to the depths of a watery oblivion!!  

The bodies chilled to the point where the core was getting cold it was time to get out, now getting out should be easy......but we had completely numb bodies and even worse feel, it was like trying to stand on marbles, but we managed it giggling the whole time. Dignity completely thrown to the wind, the gentlemen's meetings be cast aside, we needed to get dressed and fast. Superman could not have completed said task faster! Rushing up the hill to the car to deposit our kit, it was a quick drink then start walking, the cold was seeping in fast, we could literally feel it making its journey around our bodies.

If you have not experienced it, it can feel VERY strange, you can not replicate it out of normal cold water swimming conditions, the blood travels round as normal but the cold is mixing with the warm, we felt it initially at the back of the arms, travelling to the sides of our bodies and into our backs, then down to the kidneys into the chest then stomach.....very strange  but we kept moving and before long this lessened and the warmth of the million layers we had on started to work their magic.....and a sign that things are returning back to normal....the bladder...it needed emptying. Toiletries done, it was time for warm drinks and a few nuts and raisins then more warming to prevent secondary chills setting in. Before long we were toasty warm.

Walking round a totally silent lake (the other walkers long since disappeared into the fog) it was an astonishing sight to behold.....and we had just swam in it...not dipped....swam! We stood in awe grinning and who wouldn't, we were both reluctant to leave, it was magical...we will return.

It truly was an amazing experience, loved every minute of it and it will definitely happen again so if you happen to be in the area and chance across two giggling woman, excuse us if we do not shake your hands, and if we just giggle as we see your reaction, and if you happen to see a bit of flesh!!! We wont be sorry, we loved it!!!! Will we try to tempt you in....you bet, what else would the Nixies of the water world do! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neck_(water_spirit))

An amazing swim with a like minded swimmer, thank you so much x