Oh my, oh my, it was a toe tingling, finger freezing start to the day. The Quays looked like an art masterpiece: the water was flat, the reflections rippled, the sun was shining and twinkling off the patches of ice on the dockside and the swimmers arrived with big grins on their faces.
It took a mighty effort to take my dry robe off and to put bare feet onto the freezing floor but I did it. My feet froze as I stepped down the ramp and I managed to get as deep as my hips but that was where I came to a halt.
I always find it so difficult to get my shoulders under as it is so painful. Each time I go to a polar swim I tell myself to just walk down the ramp and to get straight in, but my legs just come to a stop half way. Victoria swam up and said there was no shame in only going half way….that was what I needed! There was no way I wasn’t getting in. I was noisy, I grimaced and I splashed ungainly but I took a breath and went for it. My yelping echoed off the buildings around the Quays and everyone knew I was in…at last.
I gritted my teeth and started to swim. It is woolly hat weather and there is no way I’m getting my head in until Spring. I did a lap and was probably in for about fifteen minutes, but it was enough.
I was wearing 5mm gloves but my fingers froze. They are tight fitting and when your fingers are numb with cold it is almost impossible to get them off. I’m surprised I still have my front teeth as I have to pull them off with them.
I had wrapped my clothes around a hot water bottle so they were lovely and warm as I tried to get dressed. I didn’t go into the changing tent but stood by the steps. The road is at the top of the steps, there is a bus stop, the Alchemist is on the other side, people were walking by…lots of people were walking by because the Makers Markets were on outside the Lowry. It was a very public place to get dressed. As people got off the bus or walked by, all wrapped up in winter layers, they often stop and stare and sometimes take photos. For this reason we try to be careful, but when you are freezing and shivering and your fingers won’t work then all thoughts of modesty go out of the window. There is always a flash of a cheeky cheek or a frozen nipple but no one cares…except the unfortunates who glance the wrong way as they pass by lol.
Nope….there is no photo of a cheeky cheek or a frozen nipple!
Once dressed the only place to be was round the fire pit.
We might have been freezing but there were big smiles all round. The endorphins were gushing and we felt fabulous. We were also hungry so we nipped in the Lowry for a bacon butty.
It was a very cold but rather splendid start to the day.
Of course, the safety team were all on hand and I’m always grateful for that. I might swim all year but you should never underestimate water and especially cold water.
The next dip will be the Santa Swim in a couple of weeks….brrrr.
need2bleed 