Siyabona and top of the morning to you all
I’m reading of wet windy chilly Sydney. Meanwhile in Old Blighty I’ve managed to convince the husband (Jonny/Manus) to join me try open water swimming.
I applied to join the open water swimming group on FB called LOST ( Lincolnshire Open Water Tribe). The entry questions were WOW like, ‘Do you eat cake’ and ‘what’s your favourite cake’. Just bluddy perfect.
A LOST member recommended a spot on a river nearby Lincoln where our offices is. An old timer saw us in swimming gear, shook his head vigorously saying we shouldn’t swim it was ‘filthy’ and ‘full of water rats’. Manus shifted uncomfortably behind me. I think I heard ‘what you getting me into Di’ but I’m not sure.
We swam in the river Witham from near a pub (of course) at a place called Southrey and despite misgivings and the gloomy old timer it was clean and beautiful. At 19.30 in sunshine, water temperature about 20C. Manus loved it. We both did. Yay to a first in the UK. We have repeated this swim and loved some more.
Next was the river Wey in Surrey. I’ve walked here alongside the Wey a lot over the years but never jumped in. Never occurred to me. Mad dogs and Englishman sort of thing.
Leigh, our Saffer (yeah another) neighbour in Surrey who spent part of her lockdown in her bin covered in ice ‘prepping’ introduced us to the Wey swimming and to ‘swooshing’ which is walking upstream and ‘swooshing’ downstream #catchthedrift. We exchanged swimming gifts African style. I have a Surrey SOS cap and t shirt. Here with the lovely Leigh in BnB kit.
Namaste and perhaps an SOS from Jonny #weytogo
White peril otherwise known as swans in the background … the warning on LOST is not to look them in the eyes or hiss back 🙂
The picturesque Wey.
England and summer means blackberries, safe to eat above the dog pee mark
Then back to Lincs to try a 800m quarry swim …
Sorry about the neck twist fail. Water was clean, reasonable temperature and was another good open water swim to be repeated.
I should also mention today is Jonny’s birthday so happy birthday Jonny have a wonderful one 🎉(cake and sherry on our return we promise) and thanks for being such a good sport in the rivers and quarries .
Stay safe sane and Hambe Kahle (go safely/ well) we miss you all.
Di
x
Make a Wave challenge
B&B has a team entered to support local charity SurfAid by swimming everyday in September to bring clean water and healthcare to remote villages connected to us through surfing.
Join Simon Phin, Fiona Dubrovnik, Doug Lees and other BB swimmers in the challenge and swim every day in September for a great cause by signing up here.
https://makeawave.com.au/allwavescount
17 comments
Shelley K
25/08/2021 at 5:53 am
Interesting blog! It looks like beautiful swimming too. Thanks Di, good to see you both.
Fiona
25/08/2021 at 10:43 am
Lovely Blog Di. Looks like swimming for the brave-hope you are wearing earplugs. Great to see your smiling faces, we miss you. Fi xoxo
Pauline (aka HRH)
25/08/2021 at 10:53 am
What fun, happy swimming. Wishing for 20 degC here. 🙏
Thinking about sherry and cake on your return. Nat is now a Balmoral swimmer, New group😂 we haven’t taken to river swimming yet, leaving that to you and others. Happy birthday Jonny, cheers 🍺🎂🎉🤗
Jill Rankin
25/08/2021 at 3:41 pm
Well done on your river swims ! Happy Birthday Jonny, hope you had a great day
Good to see you both again
Jill
Robyn
25/08/2021 at 7:06 pm
Great blog Di and a very happy birthday to Jonny. Miss you guys but enjoying your updates. Keep safe and see you soon. xx
Rosemary
25/08/2021 at 7:56 pm
Another fab blog Di…Georginas swim suit design certainly brightens up the English country side. Happy birthday Manus xx
Anne
25/08/2021 at 11:02 pm
That’s brilliant! Keep those river / lake / pond blogs coming please.
Martin Brannan
26/08/2021 at 7:59 am
Great Photos of the River swim.
Di Schaffer
26/08/2021 at 4:41 pm
Thanks Shelley been more fun and interesting than I every knew existed in the UK … sending love x
Di Schaffer
26/08/2021 at 4:42 pm
Thanks Darl yes earplugs and a pink floatie for boats etc it does require some blanking out of what’s underneath type thing 🙂
Miss you xx
Di Schaffer
26/08/2021 at 4:44 pm
J says thank you … carrot cake and sherry to be served up Mam! Thanks for including Nat she is enjoying her Balmoral swims xx
Di Schaffer
26/08/2021 at 4:46 pm
Thank you Jill the river swim have been an unexpected delight x
Di Schaffer
26/08/2021 at 4:47 pm
Thank you Robster, miss you chickie. Cake by the ocean on our return – a date ? Xx
Di Schaffer
26/08/2021 at 4:48 pm
Thank you gorgeous FinY and yes GG swim suits are now in Surrey and Lincoln to add a splash of colour. Biggest hugs xx
Di Schaffer
26/08/2021 at 4:50 pm
Thanks Anne will try, now really excited about plunging into different rivers and ponds … replacing seaweed for river weed 🙂
Thanks for your brilliant pics they keep us in CTB mentally xx
Di Schaffer
26/08/2021 at 4:50 pm
Thanks Martin it’s so picturesque.
gregorypoole8@icloud.com
30/08/2021 at 6:13 pm
lovely blog Di
was there any sea life? maybe lochness monster ?