A couple of weeks ago we had five solid days of greyness and strong southerlies and I didn’t swim. Could have, thought about it, but didn’t. Started to wonder: am I losing my swim mojo? In the past a little bit of weather wouldn’t have kept me out of the water.
But then the wind dropped and I had two glorious swims alone. Early evening swims, with a hint of dusk. One was in high cloud, the mauve sky still, the sea was silver on the surface and a cloudy green below. My own private swimming pool, with no one else in the calm water. I’m really enjoying swimming alone at the moment, I think because I’ve got so many lectures and am almost never home alone so it has become my solitary time, and a mask-free outing. Also, I enjoy the spontaneity of it.
The photo below was taken at about midday on a weekday, the light bright and intense, the water just a little ripply from a southerly. I love swimming with the Oronogorongo mountain backdrop.
Sunday was ‘wild swim’ group and this one was short-lived (for me, at least) because it was so blimmin’ blustery on the beach that I left as soon as I was dressed. But it was nice to have a quick bob up and down in the choppy surf.
Journal entry below from last year. Sounds a fair bit colder than it is right now, or maybe I’m just more relaxed? I’m currently still in togs, getting changed into t-shirt and shorts afterwards!
March 19, 2021
I’m proud of myself because I was nervous about going for a swim but I did it anyway! There’s little breeze but a crisp southerly in the air - mornings are dark, sunrise isn’t until about 7:30. Not summer anymore. The current was stronger than I expected - waves crashing on the beach - which goes to show even the difference a soft southerly makes, as the beach is only protected from the northerlies. I packed a lot of stuff - thermos, hot water bottle wrapped up, hoodie and sweaties to get changed into (didn’t bother with undies, I’ve learned from the online groups that you’re in a hurry to get warm after and fine motor skills perish for a bit!). Even hat and socks. I had my watch and my new underwater camera so had a little play with that when I was knee deep but when I returned it to the bag I noticed my legs were tingling quite a bit - so maybe I shouldn’t do too much faffing around when it gets colder. Sadly I hadn’t packed goggles or cap so it was more of a short frolic - I gave myself a few minutes in the water as it was a bit of a test to see how I felt afterwards. Felt a little dumb as there was a guy swimming just in his togs and then he sunned himself on the beach as I lumbered past in wetsuit and carrying all my gear. But hey, I’m new and doing my own thing.
Felt great afterwards - buzzing from the cold and also proud that I got in, momentarily lost my building anxiety over all the [book] publicity coming up. Just felt real and connected.
How about you? Do you only swim on fine days or will you ‘leap in’ any day, any time?