Air Temperature: 8 degrees | Time: 6.50am
Early Morning Blues
Early morning swim means leaving the house in almost dark now…not usually an issue, but dependant on tiredness and emotions I find. This morning neither levels were great and for the zillionth time over the last few years found myself muttering ‘you must be mad’ as I stepped out into torrential rain and headed for the river…
Wild swimming is like running though… or hiking… in the sense that once you are ‘out’ in the elements and the initial resignation has been overcome… a kid of euphoria kicks in and the sense of feeling truly alive …
Reminds me as I write of what a horror struck friend exclaimed when she discovered my daily dip expeditions a couple of years ago – ‘what possess you to do that?’ At the time only reply that struck me was …’to prove to myself that I am not dead’ In fact wild swimming, in particular sky clad wild swimming, leaves you feeling indescribably alive and so invigorated with energy and lightness. You can stand naked in the rain, hail, sun or snow and there is nothing like it, embracing nature… and life. Downside, yep you often end up getting dressed into soggy wet clothes, upside is though you really don’t care!
Today rain threw it down and everything took on soggy status. Bonus was however that the river was in spate deep and fast. Didn’t head out into strongest current – not that confident (or debatably that stupid) but hung around at the river’s edge. Loved it – and river worked its magic washing away morning blues…
Enjoy your journey X