Guest Blog: Sani's write-up: Aveton Gifford to Bantham and Beyond to Burgh

A guest blog, written by our wonderful friend Sani who we try to entice down yearly for a swim or two. This year we managed to convince him and a handful of our treasured friends to come and stay and swim with us from Aveton Gifford to Bantham, have a quick cuppa and a slice of cake and then swoosh out of the river into the sea, skip across the sands of Bigbury and then swim around Burgh Island and into the shore of Bantham Beach. It took a few hours. It raised many smiles. It was wonderful. This is Sani's account, thank you Sani x




We arrived in the dark. Windy roads. Dead ends and no street lamps to assist our wending. London was smothered in traffic & rain which followed us (slowly) all the way down to deepest, darker Devon.

An uneventful car ride, me in the front on the mac barely noticing the time and them at the back plugged into their own devices. Leaving our driver to keep company with the road. A family owned house stood atop a cliff overlooking an estuary. In the distance was an island. We couldn't see either in the night but the wind told us it was there.

Using our phones as path finders we clumsied ourselves a route until we arrived at a door. A burst of warmth greeted us as our hosts welcomed us in. The cosy place seemed familiar though none of us had ever been there before. Maybe it was the fact that his family had lived in there for generations & we were temporarily granted access to this warm forever.

Some of the others were already there. We could hear them teetering with anticipation. A train and a cab ride later and our the first eleven was complete. The banter flowed more readily than the wine and after a lovingly prepared meal it was lights out.

Morning came and he was readying his kayak - twas the pride of the swim in years past. Around him candidates dotted the place. Some standing, some pacing while other draped themselves on the landing, but all were small talking the huge demands about to be asked of them.

We could now see our surroundings clearly. The green cloaked hills were dotted with enclosures. Clumps of trees rode baby cliffs which modestly folded into tiny bays. These would eventually becoming banks of the river.

Boats left unfulfilled by a deserting tide slept askew. Their slumber would remain undisturbed as we swished by later. They would be bemused but not enough to comment.

The island stood guard by the mouth of the river. To me it resembled a castle - the name I imagined was an olde Celtic word for Castle - it seemed friendly to me -but the type of friend you would need to wary of. Hopefully she would be in the mood to raise the moat today so we could complete our mission. The eye of heaven shone brightly, I took this as a good sign.

Tumbling out of cars, dousing thighs, armpits and chins in vaseline and the several necessary phantom trips to the loo, made an otherwise abandoned carpark feel like it was market day. Finally the sound of swim caps snapping signalled we were ready. Our kayakers waited for us at the murky edge. Wading through the unreliable mud flat forced some to seriously rethink the undertaking. But it was wasn’t long before the murk gave way to majesty as the saline expanse asserted itself.

The water was light and temperamental. Carrying and lumbering at will. The warm and less warm kept us guessing throughout the day, though the sun remained faithful. We dansed through the water and through afternoon and into the evening. Coupled up more often than not. Never really deserting each other in the aqueous body.

There was no need for a satnav as the synergy of strokes created star like bubbles that lived just long enough to point us in the right direction. The water found its own level as our hosts, out of nowhere, effortlessly propelled past the group and even further into our esteem.

Tumbling.
Swishing.
Dreaming. Choking.Pulling. Aching.
Doubt and glory were evenly matched.
The cold was now a part of us as we approached the island.
We remained faithful.
We would Keep the danse going.
Keep the rhythm.
Keep close.
Keep up.

Ribbons nipped at our forms from below while the sheer from above ensured humility was never far from our daring. The open sea was constantly suggestive. A lineup of familiar smiles &embraces were waiting on the shoreline.

Emerging from the water our achievements glistened like medals in the autumn sun. But burning even brighter was the spirit of friendship and camaraderie. This was what weekend was really about.

The swim may have gotten us shore but the it was spirit of friendship that bore us safely home. Thank you to Stuart & Olivia Palmer (& the girls) for creating the swim, hosting the swimmers & for being really great friends.

http://gb.mapometer.com/swimming/route_3677923.html

Aveton Gifford to Bantham via Burgh Island

9.3KM

Whilst driving back from Lands End

I had to be home in good time today to see my girls having spent two nights away with my Mum and Jay. It was a lovely two days, a dip a day in Sennen, which was glorious, it may be September but the weather seems to be staying kind and the water was glorious. Sennen is heaven. Turquoise sea, with bubbly white waves and almost white sand. Unlike any other beach I know. Glorious. Jay was a great swimming companion. We would ooh, and aaaahhh, our way in and then hop about giggling as it felt so cold compared to the sunshine. Once in we would jump and splash about and it was like being a child again, brilliant!

After my lovely two days and two dips I was returning home and remembered Penzance had a lido. I knew it would be closed but I also remembered a group of people swim regularly there so I parked up and explored and I found the most glorious bay waiting for me. I couldn't resist. As with all us swimmers, I had my swimmers ready to go so out I hopped and after a small amount of time spent exploring I found the perfect spot and of course the usual group of friendly swimmers enjoying what is there for the enjoying.

The water was warm the air crisp and I had a good swim safe in the knowledge that there were other swimmers there making the most of the sea in all it's glory this morning.

It is spontaneous swims like this that make my heart sing. I can't help being emotional about it, it is one of the wonderful treasures that life has to offer. Lovely lovely lovely. Penzance, I will be back.

My mate Mr(s) Seal

I've swam outside most days last week and to round it off I got in at Broadsands when it was rough, really rough. There was a bit of a tidal sweep and I wasn't totally in control. It was at the point that I realised this and starting heading for shore that I realised it was quite hard to head for shore. I had to work hard to keep that slight feeling of panic in check as Stu and the girls were on the beach and I just wanted to get back to them.

I started to swim fast and started to gain distance, it was exciting and just as I realised I was heading in the right direction I beached on what felt like a huge turtle. I looked up and realised that I was nowhere near shore and it couldn't be sand it had to be animal. This did nothing for the adrenalin and I my swimming speed increased yet again.

The shore got closer and I turned around to look at the waves and saw what looked like a huge black tree stump emerging time and time again from the water. I kept swimming but soon realised that an enormous seal was following me, playing with me. Wondering what I was doing in the water. He was interested, it was sweet but it was much more sweet when I was standing up and on safe ground!

A lovely experience but a slightly scary one!

Stuart swam there today in flat calm sparkly see, Mr(s) Seal swam with him again.....maybe we're making friends?

Morning dip in Bantham

Today we woke up at Farthings. Looking out of our bedroom window we realised that the tide was high.

So a quick breakfast for the girls and a family dash to the quay for a refreshing dip in the Avon. It was blustery but magical as always. I always feel a bit sorry for our girls as they sit in their pram and watch their nutty parents strip off and jump in to various rivers, seas, lidos and lakes but they don't seem to mind too much, well as long as we are armed with raisins and books!


Stuart went first and Freda, Etta and I watched as he swam out into the estuary. The view from where we watched was lovely, a redish tint to the sky you can see where the estuary meets Bantham beach and it looks powerful but always beautiful. It's such a wonderful place. Burgh Island sits beyond the mouth of the estuary. You can't see it from where we swim but you can see the cliffs of Bigbury, this morning Bigbury looked like a welcome place to be. More welcome that the water but we still managed to get in and have a swift refresher.

As Stuart returned I executed a quick change into my cossie and we had a nippy changeover. The water was cold but not cold enough to give me an ice-cream headache and infact I didn't even get cold today. Either I've got a higher fat content than I used to (very possible - I do like cakes!) or I'm just hardening up (not quite so likely!)

Either way it was a lovely start to the morning and we strolled slowly back to Farthings for a leisurely breakfast of toast and coffee followed by a sad departure, back home to the real world.

Bye Bye Bantham, see you again soon x

Impulsive morning dip

My drive to the local swimming pool takes me over the brow of a hill that always reveals a different seascape. Some days it's grey, choppy and uninviting others it's flat calm and shouting at me to swim in it. Usually I ignore it as I'm on my way to the pool and if I'm dipping outside it feels wrong to do it without Stuart. But for the last few weeks I've been staring longingly at the sea and the Dart wanting to get in and get cold. So this morning when I saw how wonderful the sea looked I couldn' t resist and the swimming pool didn't stand a chance.

Rather than turning right into the concrete world of the leisure centre I drove straight past and along the coast to Broadsands. It's a beach that I'm learning to love, it's easy to get in and out of the sea and it has beach huts with the same multicoloured doors as the 'Lido' and for that reason I love it. It isn't that picturesque on approach but once you're in the sea it's lovely. If the tide is high it's the best swimming spot I know as you can go from one side of the bay to the other and it's like it was designed to be an enormous outdoor swimming pool.

I expected it to be really cold and I was really hoping it would be. I braced myself for numb toes and an ice cream headache but as soon as I dipped my toes into the water it felt luke warm. It wasn't luke warm but in comparison to what I'd been imagining it really wasn't cold at all. It's the 4th of November and I could have swum a mile. I'd bet money that people have successfully swum the channel in water colder than this.

It was a very enjoyable swim, grey on entry but as I swam across the bay the sun came out and I swam with the sun on my back. The sea was flat calm and fluid, it was easy to slice through the water. It felt as if somehow the water was wrapping around my arms as I swam, it was silky smooth and I enjoyed every stroke. It was just as it should be.

I will do these impulsive dips more this winter. It was a great way to start the day and very exciting to be swimming outside first thing in the morning, in November. It's how it used to be!

It's November! Time for a dip in the delicious Dart

The Dart is beckoning me. Every time I walk past it or see it while I walk I hear it calling me. Come on in Olivia, it's cold in here. It was a little frosty this morning and I felt my toes tingle at the thought of putting them in the Dart.

The thought is exciting, putting on just my swimming costume my hat and my goggles I must submerge myself in the River soon and preferably under the frosty darkness of an early morning.

The River down by Duncannon is one of the most beautifully secluded and picturesque parts of the river between here and Totnes. It's a secret dipping spot that isn't easy to access unless you are prepared to wander through fields and down an old wooded pathway and down the steps built especially for King Charles II, according to local legend. I wonder if he too craved a chilly dip or if his corset and gown simply wouldn't allow!?

Edward Lovesey's delightful Otter

According to a local artist and recently published in the Stoke Gabriel News there has been an Otter spotted in the Dart recently. So it's clear that local swimmers of all shapes and sizes agree that now is the time to be diving into the Dart.

So, the next time that we have an early morning high tide I will wander down to the frosty river and submerge myself in the gloriously chilling waters of the Dart.

My lovely River Dart, here I come....I'll let you know how I get on.

My daughter dips

This summer it is debatable who has swam in the open water more, myself or my daughter Freda Pepper, now 2. She has a love of anything cold and wet, just like her parents. From a small puddle to an open expanse of sea Freda is driven by the toddler force to strip off and get in. Only when her lips start to turn blue does she seem the smallest bit interested in changing activities.


I'm not sure this is a trait unique to Freda, we saw so many little ones charging towards the water this summer, it's just wonderful to watch. The slightest breath of sea air seems to send small children into an excited frenzy of pulling off clothes and picking up buckets, all this whilst trying not to fall over and get covered in the sandy stuff!


Whilst I know that most children love the water, I'm convinced that Freda has the determination, and madness, of a true cold water swimmer. She was in the water from April to  late October and despite the occasional chilly giggle she didn't even blink at the temperature. She would often watch Stuart or I swimming off into the sea or river and make loud attempts to follow only to be distracted by the sea swallowing her latest construction whole 'SEA GET IT!!! at which point she would run off excitedly and hurridly trying to build the next blob of sand for the waves to munch.

I love her love of the outdoors and her love of the water, it's wonderful and if only I could bottle the mood and sprinkle it on her when she's not feeling quite as chipper life would be an endless bout of giggles, splashing and ofcourse finding 'Nemo', her name for any sealife!

Whilst I know Freda is showing us a childhood love I do often wonder if Freda will be a year round open water swimmer like us. Will we be able to pass on our passion for swimming outside or will she be very different to us? I don't mind either way but I am very interested to see how her early and continuous exposure to open water swimming year round will influence her, if it influences her at all. Watch this space....

The Palmer Dart 2011

On 17th September 36 scantily clad individuals walked down the Totnes slipway into the Dart and swam the four miles to Stoke Gabriel. Despite threats of wind and rain the weather was fine and the sun was out. With parts of the country suffering from wild weather and ‘storms worse than we’ve seen in 15 years’ we were very lucky to have the sun join us.

The swimmers get in

High tide was 0950 and we decided to start the swim half an hour before at 0920. The morning started at 0745 at Stoke Gabriel Quay where Anthony, John and Roger met to pick up some kayaks and ferry some support crew up to Totnes. The weather was already looking promising and spirits were surprisingly high given the hour. Flasks, blankets (and coffee and croissants) were transported to Totnes to keep the supporters going whilst out on the river watching us swim.

Alun and Lesley were waiting at Totnes Rowing Club where swimmers and other kayakers were starting to arrive. Stuart was busy handing out hats, and kayakers and swimmers were trying to coordinate to ensure a safe passage down river to their destination.

More supporters turned up than we were expecting, simply for a few hours on the water. It was clear that everyone there was looking forward to spending some time either in or on the water and it was a great way to start the day.

Sue looking forward to getting in the Dart

At 0910 our experienced ‘horn man’, Egg, gave the warning that we would be starting the swim in 10 minutes and clothing started to fly around the car park. Clothes were flung, hats were donned, goggles cleaned and for some, rubber on. Swimmers huddled together to keep warm before the swim began and at 0920 Egg sounded his horn and we were off.

John led the way in ‘Merry Go’ with Kev Dart and Steve Edwards leading the swimmers, our fastest swimmers by far Steve demonstrated his speed and finished the swim first. Following them were the Exmouth Masters group, a very experienced bunch, a mix of Channel Swimmers and Open Water aficionados they swam at a leisurely pace, chatting as they went and still managed to finish the swim in an impressive time.

Steve et al preparing for the swim - Next year no wetsuits! 

From then on a trickle of smiling swimmers meandered their way down river with the occasional pause to look around them, glorious sunshine, calm water, Sharpham, Fleet Mill, Duncannon, one Seal spotting and then out into the less sheltered part of the river for the final stretch into Stoke Gabriel.

Rounding the corner at Mill Point it becomes clear how quickly the tide turns and picks up speed, it was hard work swimming from there to the Quay but there was a welcoming crowd and the smell of bacon and sausage sandwiches drew in the swimmers.

As with last year a very welcoming crowd of locals, supporters, friends, family and SGBA members were there to both congratulate us and remark on our madness. A lovely way to finish a swim, surrounded by friendly faces all ready to offer you a cup of tea.

It was another fantastic swim, which turned into an event as the SGBA and Paignton Kayakers turned out in force to join us and keep an eye on us and then help us eat sandwiches and drink tea. It really would not be the same swim without the local support we have. It’s just lovely and makes us feel very lucky indeed. So thank you to the SGBA and thank you to anyone who enjoys being out on the water and comes along simply to help.

We will definitely do the swim again next year and who knows the sun may well shine for us again…fingers crossed. 

Hembury Woods beckons the Dipper(s)

Saturday 6th November and Dani (The Dipper) and Steve were certainly up for joining us for a chilly dip in the delightful Dart. Unlike our last dip in Hembury Woods it was quite hard to submerge our toasty warm bodies into the icy waters and ice-cream headaches were par for the course.

A startlingly refreshing swim, which my now fairly rotund middle seemed to enjoy (31 weeks pregnant) and thankfully my extra coating seems to keep me warmer for longer so whilst my trusty companions talked of 'still chilly buttocks' and 'ever so cold toes' I felt warm as toast as we wandered through the lovely woods after our dip.

I look forward to my next trip here, it's becoming one of my best loved pools on the Dart.

It's getting cold again

It's late September, I'm 6 months pregnant and the dipping is getting cold again, Hooray!

I used to love Autumn for the turning leaves, the refreshing breezes and the atmospheric rain. Now I love it because it signals the beginning of another magical winter of freezing cold dips.

This morning steam was coming off the millpond and the water hasn't looked that enticing in a long time. We swam from the quay in Stoke Gabriel with Freda watching and once the ice-cream headache had passed I swam bravely out into the River Dart and just watched. The water was still, the surroundings were beautiful and my fingers were going a bit numb. Just perfect.

Swimming back towards Stoke Gabriel I realised that I should probably keep my bump a bit warmer from now on but I also realised that I have really missed the chilling waters of winter. I feel very excited about this winter. A new home, a new baby on the way and our lovely little girl Freda turning one year old on the 30th September.

Much to my husbands despair I am already excited about Christmas and ofcourse we will be gracing the River Dart with our presence for our traditional Christmas Day dip. High water is at 8.45am....what perfect timing, Father Christmas will have been and lunch will be warming in the oven. A dip has never been so well timed. ;-)

Rowcroft Swim

A gorgeous sunny day in September so what better way to spend it than swimming a mile at Teignmouth Beach with 130 others?

Margy (aka Pocket Rocket) rallied the South London troops and we all went, old and new to swim our mile along the Devon coast. Alex, Ann, Margy, Tricky, Stu and I all got ready to run into the water together while Egg looked after little Freda and fed both her and himself a fair few blueberry rice cakes.

The only strange things about the swim was that out of 130 swimmers there were only 10 of us swimming as God intended (well with our vitals covered!) what a shame. All the rest were in wetsuits! What on earth? It was boiling hot and the sea was warm, why were so many people wearing rubber? I won't go on about that because I had a lovely swim but I simply don't understand why people put rubber clothes on to swim when it's so hot outside?

The swim started in waves of 25 and we were in the 3rd wave. We ran into the water, 5 month bump and all and swam off. I was worried that I'd be surrounded by people and get a boot in the tummy so I was a bit nervous to start with but it wasn't like that at all. Stuart and I swam out wide and kept clear of the crowds. We spent the whole swim passing people and basked in the sunshine, it was just lovely lovely lovely and an excellent way to round off the weekend.

Thank you Stuart from swimming with me, I followed him as fast as my arms would carry me but he still did butterfly in places and held back in others so that I wasn't swimming alone, that's just lovely.

The 1st Palmer Dart

11th September 2010 marked the day of our first ever organised Totnes to Stoke Gabriel swim, named temporarily by our friends as 'The Palmer Dart'. We had 30 swimmers and over 30 support boats. The Stoke Gabriel Boating Association provided us with astonishing support and it was a day to top most other Saturdays this year (for me).

Surrounded by lovely local swimmers, my fondest friends from South London Swimming Club and swimming next to my gorgeous husband I had one of the best swims I've had in the River ever ever! The water was flat calm and silky smooth and it was easy to swim through, astonishingly so.

Two astonishings already - you see that is what the day was like from start to finish.

The day was slightly grey and drizzly but the weather front was passing and the water was in perfect condition.

We set off in 3 waves, the more relaxed swimmers first, I call them the watchers, they like to drift down the river watching the scenery taking it all in, they really make the most of every swim. The 2nd group to go was the slightly faster group, they entered the water with some descriptions of the water temperature, mostly polite and lots of smiles. We were then left with the speedy ones, the channel swimmers, the 2-way windermere swimmers and quite simply the down right nifty ones.

I followed them in my support boat deftly navigated by Roger and meandered my way through half of the swimmers before finding Stuart who was swimming at an impressive pace. Just before Sharpham I slid daintily from the boat (that's not quite how it happened but it's my blog so I'll describe it how I like!) and joined Stuart to swim the rest of the way back to Stoke Gabriel.

I smiled the whole way, I felt so good in the water, what a buzz to have organised this local event and to actually be able to take part in it.

We ended the swim at the River Shack in Stoke Gabriel where Tim and Lexi had put on some delicious bacon and sausage baps for us and served 65 of us in under an hour, whilst I know it's good for business they really pulled the stops out to help us out and we all sat eating and drinking in the glorious sunshine for a good few hours.

Once again I find myself dangerously close to going totally over the top in describing just how wonderfully lucky I feel to know and be associated with so many kind and caring people all up for being in and on the river early on a September morning.

I am really very lucky! Bring on the Palmer-Dart 2011. I'm looking forward to it already.

Hembury Woods: An inspiring swimming spot

We have come across a secret weapon, a local lady who is inspired by finding new places to swim and dip and finds even more pleasure in sharing these gems with fellow swimmers, like us.

Today our secret weapon directed us towards, what can only be described as a magical pool in the River Dart. So deep in places that it was pitch black and shallow enough in others to see the peaty rock that formed the river bed. Situated in the heart of the woodland it is covered by trees allowing shards of sunlight to sparkle through onto the water making it even more magical. I felt like I was part of some lovely secret and surrounded by nature in it's purest form. My words aren't doing it justice but I feel totally inspired.

There is nothing more wonderful than submersing oneself in cold river water and swimming upstream towards a waterfall challenging you to swim into it's bubbles. Oh magic magic magic magic magic.

Today I remembered why I love swimming so much, when you find a secluded dipping spot where you can be totally alone or surrounded by like minded friends whilst also being colder than you are used, life takes a sudden up-turn for no explainable reason.

I will return to this spot, without a doubt and I am now on a mission to explore every inch of our gorgeous River Dart. What an honour to live right by it and to have discovered others who want to know and swim in every bit of it!

It's been too long...

Well it has been a long time since I posted.

My daughter is now 7 months (almost) and swimming weekly.

The water outside is warm enough to be swimming good distances, not long now and the indoor pool will become redundant again until the Autumn.

But what excites me most is that we've found a nearby swimming spot that can be used daily and is truly beautiful (well seaweed aside). It's on the River Dart and it's only ever been us there pre-during and after swim....lovely lovely lovely. I'll take a picture and post it soon as I've resolved to write more regularly now! Hmmmm, we'll see. Fingers crossed....

Freda Frog practises her diving technique

The youngest Devonshire Dipper has now had her first two swimming lessons in Dartington. She 'Swims with Sally' who has already had her totally submerged....I was more scared than Freda but she was fine! Here she is looking hot to trot, practising her diving technique, in her neoprene swimsuit, lucky little frog.

Her second swim was with her best friend Eva.....Eva took to swimming exceptionally well, she's a bright spark. Picture to follow.

Stoke Gabriel swimming...brrrrr

Stoke Gabriel is now the village we proudly call home, we are new here but we love it and have been made to feel very welcome by some extremely lovely people. It has made us look forward to the next part of our lives together as a family even more.

We try to swim in the Dart as often as possible, there is an inlet off the Dart that is home to the infamous River Shack and also Stoke Gabriel Boating Association, both of which are a huge part of the local community.

We pay very close attention to the tides and also have not as yet swum in the main body of the Dart as it is a force of it's own and we want to get to know it and seek more advice before we take that step. Stuart is planning to organise a swim from Stoke Gabriel to Totnes this summer, which is about 4 miles and we are hoping our swimming friends from London will join us.

The video below shows an excellent dip we had earlier this year. On this particular day it was so foggy we couldn't see all the way to the river itself, the water was eerily calm, which made for a truly mystical and somewhat magical dip. These swims, even though short are always the best swims.

Burgh Island - When 3 lovely serpers came to stay...

29th December 2009 our very own Nick 'the fish' Adams and Sakura 'oompa loompa' Hingley ran from Bigbury to Burgh Island in their swimmers simply to avoid paying for the ferry and they even BEAT THE FERRY TO IT!!

They darted across the water only to reach the pub before we did and avoid paying the two pound charge incurred if you board the trusty ferry. Well open water swimmers know best and I wasn't complaining as they used their savings to buy Stu and I lunch - what a lovely, slightly bonkers lot BUT they are officially Devonshire Dippers now. xx

Bantham Estuary - First swim as a Mum...

This was one of the best swims of my life. After 8 weeks of no swimming and 6 months of swimming with a bump it was wonderfully liberating to be in the water with the winter sun warming my back late on a windy November afternoon.

Bantham estuary was the perfect place to have my first post baby swim as it is where my huband proposed and where we swim together regularly throughout the year.

I will never forget the feeling I had during this swim...truly amazing!

You will see in the video that I entered the water with some reluctance, it was November 2009 and very windy, we had never seen the water so far up the quay, normally the water doesn't come in over the edge of the wall that you see me sitting down on (twice!) to launch myself into the water (more like plop myself!)

Even though it was windy and the water was choppy, the sun shone and kept me warm whilst Stuart and Freda watched from the shelter of the boathouse. Just brilliant.

One of my most memorable Devonshire Dips.

The Serpentine - A final wave to the ducks and the swans

This morning, 18th August 2009, we visited one of our most treasured London swimming spots, the Serpentine for a final dip as London dwellers.

The Serpentine and the Serpers have been a big part of our lives together and we have spent a lot of time over the past few years, dipping, shivering and drinking tea in the company of the 'men' and the Serpers posse.

For those of you that haven't been to the Serpentine before the London day begins and swum with ducks, swans (and some slightly bonkers regulars!) you're missing out. There is something special about arriving at the Serps winter or summer (although winter is by far our favourite) sliding and plopping into the water (cold or warm although again, cold is our favourite!) and then spending as much time as you can eek out of the pre-work morning, drinking tea and shivering your way through a conversation or two with a selection of brilliant people.

Today we visited because we're off to Devon on Thursday and we just wanted to say 'see you soon'. Not Goodbye as we'll have to come back in the winter to swim in the Serps. A winter cannot go by without at least a few dips in the icy waters of the Serpentine, life would just not be the same.

So to all the Serpers, come and visit us in Devon for some wild dips, icy or warm, you're always welcome.

Our love and duck pooh kisses

Olivia & Stu xx

Tooting Bec Lido - The last ' London based' breakfast club

Wednesday 19th August - A joyous yet sad occasion

Today we will go to Tooting Bec Lido for our last 'resident' breakfast club. A tradition started for swimming enthusiasts who are also partial to fine food and wine or in the morning coffee.

We will start the day with a dip, which at this time of year can be anything from a few lengths to a few miles or even hours if you're training for the Channel, but if you're me, this year it's no more than a mile as our baby is due in a month and I'm taking it easy because I can and because it's nice to have a leisurely swim and just enjoy the view (and also avoid being bumped by the many who have descended upon our treasured Lido to make the most of this heat!)

Once we have dipped we will eat delicious bread, pastries and drink delicious Italian coffee...we'll bring our own ofcourse!

This is all done amongst the company of trusted swimming friends who are mostly bonkers and who we'll miss unexplainable amounts.

Our last two dips in London, Tooting Bec Lido and The Serpentine to say a fond farewell to our swimming friends who have made a huge impact on our lives and who we hope will always play a big part in it. Again....Lido-ers please visit us soon (and often!)

LOTS of love

Olivia & Stu xxx