Yesterday evening, after the failed attempt at swimming Buttermere, David and I went for an evening stroll up one of the tributaries leading into Lake Windermere. I found a great spot for a swim, and couldn't wait to get back into my wetsuit.
Judging from the OS map, it looked like I could swim about 1/2 mile in the river, meaning that if I doubled back (current allowing) I could get a mile in. Part of me is determined to do my promised mile in cold murky water - I've got hundreds of supporters who've all donated good money to make me do this, and I really don't want to let them down.
So, tonight I got into my wetsuit and added a big fleece, and David and I followed the footpath to the river. The first section we walk along is shallow and slow flowing - no good for swimming, but great for wildlife. A flash of blue streaked low above the water - kingfisher! Brilliant!
A bit lower down, another river joins the one we walk along, and it gets deep enough to swim in. Just a little further and there's a "beach". Perfect. I discard my big fleece and enter the water - a bit cold, but not too bad. Towards the centre is plenty deep enough, and the water is so clear I can see the bed easily.
I spot a swan and give it a wide berth - David is on the bank watching over me, but I don't fancy tangling with swam just in case.
Around a bend in the river and I'm now heading into the wind. It's not as bad as Buttermere, but makes it hard going. I'm quite far fron the bank now, any closer in and my feet hit the ground. And then I get thwarted - again! The river gets wide and much too shallow to swim in. Lying on my belly I can just about do commando crawl, but certainly not front crawl! I turn round and swim back upstream. I'm not going to be able to swim far, but I've enjoyed being in the water all the same. I swim about for a bit, up and down the same section, before deciding to clamber out and head for home.
Try again another day!
No comments:
Post a Comment