Sad to hear that the rest of Europe is suffering from rainy, cold weather.
Here in Lanzarote the weather is hot and the sea is 19.2C. After the joys of the mighty Nene this is swimming heaven as the water is crystal clear, unusually calm and with lots of fish.
Every morning I have swum 4 or 5 Ks before breakfast and then settled down to a serious day of relaxing on the beach or by the pool. But don't fret dear reader, I have had to make important decisions like whether to use tanning cream or sunblock or do I have a roll with my salad?
Sadly I will be back for school on Monday and returning to the wet cool weather. Can't wait.
Half a term to go and then a retired old gentleman I will be.
Lake Windermere
Friday, 29 May 2015
Thursday, 21 May 2015
BRING ON THE SUN
Or more importantly warm water.
Yes dear reader I am off to Lanzarote for some R and R with plenty on sea swimming in water temperatures that will not bring tears to my eyes.
Today the river was hard work after the rain, flowing faster and feeling a bit colder. I must admit I found it hard work swimming into the stream but enjoyed the return leg. I was 2 minutes slower over the 2 miles so I was definitely struggling going into the current.
I am looking forward to returning to school fit, bronzed and blond, well a bit fitter, less pale and slightly sea and sun lightened locks!
Yes dear reader I am off to Lanzarote for some R and R with plenty on sea swimming in water temperatures that will not bring tears to my eyes.
Today the river was hard work after the rain, flowing faster and feeling a bit colder. I must admit I found it hard work swimming into the stream but enjoyed the return leg. I was 2 minutes slower over the 2 miles so I was definitely struggling going into the current.
I am looking forward to returning to school fit, bronzed and blond, well a bit fitter, less pale and slightly sea and sun lightened locks!
Sunday, 10 May 2015
PILING UP THE Ks
Despite taking 2 fieldwork expeditions away from school in the last 3 weeks and having to spend cold afternoons umpiring cricket, I am now managing to get 2 or 3 good swims in a week.
This weekend we are not at school so I have had 4 good swims in the interestingly rust coloured waters of the Nene. Fear not for my health, the experts assure me that it is only plant sediment as the river foliage is now beginning to grow after the winter.
The water is hovering just over 12C although it did drop slightly after the rains this week. Happily I can report that the Swans with attitude have let me swim past them this week so they seem to have worked out that this fine figure of an athlete can't swim fast enough to give them any trouble.
Nature watch:
This week I have swum very close to swans, a heron, plenty of ducks and Canada geese and most interestingly Highland cattle with giant horns. I have also seen fish through the murky water so the water must be ok!
Just playing the new ACDC album. The neighbours should be awake by 8 o'clock on a sunny Sunday morning anyway.
This weekend we are not at school so I have had 4 good swims in the interestingly rust coloured waters of the Nene. Fear not for my health, the experts assure me that it is only plant sediment as the river foliage is now beginning to grow after the winter.
The water is hovering just over 12C although it did drop slightly after the rains this week. Happily I can report that the Swans with attitude have let me swim past them this week so they seem to have worked out that this fine figure of an athlete can't swim fast enough to give them any trouble.
Nature watch:
This week I have swum very close to swans, a heron, plenty of ducks and Canada geese and most interestingly Highland cattle with giant horns. I have also seen fish through the murky water so the water must be ok!
Just playing the new ACDC album. The neighbours should be awake by 8 o'clock on a sunny Sunday morning anyway.
Monday, 27 April 2015
SWANS WITH ATTUTUDE!
Apparently it is nesting season for riverside wildlife. I know this to be true as the swans have stopped paddling sedately away as I approach them and have adapted a " come closer if you are hard enough" attitude.
Last week I met 4 ladies who were swimming and were refused permission to swim past Mr. Swan as he got all aggro as they approached. When I reached where he was patrolling I swam way over on the other side of the river and tried to look small and inconspicuous. I know, never going to work.
Fortunately he did not worry about me but as I swam close to the far bank a young black Labrador got so excited he launched himself into the river and landed right on top of me. His mistress did not seem to give a hoot that her dog had just bombed me and never even said a word. Lucky for her that I am a cool calm individual and just kept swimming. Presumably the dog got out as it wasn't there an hour later.
The river is a strange colour at the moment. I can't imagine that it is field run off as it hasn't really rained for weeks. No matter, it is still lovely to swim in and I am still rocking.
Last week I met 4 ladies who were swimming and were refused permission to swim past Mr. Swan as he got all aggro as they approached. When I reached where he was patrolling I swam way over on the other side of the river and tried to look small and inconspicuous. I know, never going to work.
Fortunately he did not worry about me but as I swam close to the far bank a young black Labrador got so excited he launched himself into the river and landed right on top of me. His mistress did not seem to give a hoot that her dog had just bombed me and never even said a word. Lucky for her that I am a cool calm individual and just kept swimming. Presumably the dog got out as it wasn't there an hour later.
The river is a strange colour at the moment. I can't imagine that it is field run off as it hasn't really rained for weeks. No matter, it is still lovely to swim in and I am still rocking.
Monday, 20 April 2015
2 SIDES BETTER THAN 1?
Dear reader, all my life I have been a 4 stroke, breathe to the right swimmer. Now this is fine and dandy if the sea is smooth to my right. If it is lumpy then I get to drink plenty of sea water.
This year I have been working on bilateral breathing, that is 3 strokes breath right, 3 strokes breath left. I have to admit that it felt very strange at first but I have persevered and it is now feeling more natural.
Yesterday I did a 2 hour river swim and stuck with bilateral all the way. Actually, I covered the swim distance a little faster that I did before.
The river is now 12C although the air yesterday was only 6C when I got in. I do not even notice the water temperature now so I am able to build up the time in the water as I head towards my Jersey swim.
Counting down the days to retirement, not counting but 54 to go.
This year I have been working on bilateral breathing, that is 3 strokes breath right, 3 strokes breath left. I have to admit that it felt very strange at first but I have persevered and it is now feeling more natural.
Yesterday I did a 2 hour river swim and stuck with bilateral all the way. Actually, I covered the swim distance a little faster that I did before.
The river is now 12C although the air yesterday was only 6C when I got in. I do not even notice the water temperature now so I am able to build up the time in the water as I head towards my Jersey swim.
Counting down the days to retirement, not counting but 54 to go.
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
JERSEY NOW LOOMS!
I am now back safe and sound from my Straits of Gibraltar experience.
The Levante wind made any chance of a swim totally impossible so I will be back in 2016 to finish what I have started.
Hey ho, can't do anything about the weather so upwards and onwards. My focus now switches to the lovely island of Jersey in the first week of August when I will be swimming the 44 miles around it.
I was back in the Nene today for an hour, 10.5 C water but a warm sun on my back made it quite comfortable. After looking at my speed for the shorter Gibraltar crossing I am now looking at building up my time in the water for the longer Jersey swim.
Start my last term at school next week. Time will fly and on the 4th of July ( oh say can you see ) I will be a retired old man, well teacher anyway.
Radar Love, voted Planet Rocks number 1 driving song. Can't argue but I went for Free Bird.
The Levante wind made any chance of a swim totally impossible so I will be back in 2016 to finish what I have started.
Hey ho, can't do anything about the weather so upwards and onwards. My focus now switches to the lovely island of Jersey in the first week of August when I will be swimming the 44 miles around it.
I was back in the Nene today for an hour, 10.5 C water but a warm sun on my back made it quite comfortable. After looking at my speed for the shorter Gibraltar crossing I am now looking at building up my time in the water for the longer Jersey swim.
Start my last term at school next week. Time will fly and on the 4th of July ( oh say can you see ) I will be a retired old man, well teacher anyway.
Radar Love, voted Planet Rocks number 1 driving song. Can't argue but I went for Free Bird.
Saturday, 4 April 2015
LEVANTE GANA EL CONCURSO!
Well there you have it. Levante wins the contest.
My attempts to get into the Straits of Gibraltar have been blown to smithereens by Lavante, the East wind. Here they are calling it moderate, everyone else would call it a howling gale! My pilot says that the wind only blows for this long about 3 times a year. Lucky me to be here to experience it!
The only still day was fogged out in as thick a peasouper that I have seen for a while so it was not meant to be this time.
Fear not dear reader I will be back. The 2015 swimming season is fully booked so I am rebooking for 2016. Another year older...............
Still my time has been put to good use exploring Tarifa which is a very lovely and relaxing place.
I hear I am going back to rubbish weather, at least the sun is out here and out of Levante's breath it is very warm.
My attempts to get into the Straits of Gibraltar have been blown to smithereens by Lavante, the East wind. Here they are calling it moderate, everyone else would call it a howling gale! My pilot says that the wind only blows for this long about 3 times a year. Lucky me to be here to experience it!
The only still day was fogged out in as thick a peasouper that I have seen for a while so it was not meant to be this time.
Fear not dear reader I will be back. The 2015 swimming season is fully booked so I am rebooking for 2016. Another year older...............
Still my time has been put to good use exploring Tarifa which is a very lovely and relaxing place.
I hear I am going back to rubbish weather, at least the sun is out here and out of Levante's breath it is very warm.
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Setting off. 7am. Only 13 and a half hours to go!