I have successfully navigated the lake at Semerwater, my first
open water swim.
Leaving work on Friday night I headed up the A1 on an empty
stomach. By the time I had reached Bedale it was getting late. I nourished
myself with a plate of cod, chips, peas and bread (unbuttered) washed down with
a mug of coffee. I thoroughly recommend the family-run Halls Fish and Chip
Restaurant and Takeaway. £7.90 for a tasty and seated belly full was good
value.
On arriving at Semerwater, I had to call in at the farm to pay
for my camping pitch, a piece of grass verge with the road edge at one side of
the tent and the lake at the other. No toileting or water facilities but I was
prepared for this. £3 for the night.
Of course it rained when putting up the tent, still in my
suit, and the ducks kept me awake for a while before I managed to drift off to
sleep.
By 7.30am the next morning, I was cooking myself a bacon and
egg omelette at the side of the road, much to the bemusement of passing cars.
Very tasty it was too.
Half an hour later I was struggling into my wetsuit and had
to request assistance from a fellow dipper who had parked to the side of me.
A quick safety briefing and then in to the lake I went along
with the other 81 swimmers in our bright yellow caps. I had been allotted Cap 7
and set off in Wave 2.
The first couple of hundred metres I free styled in the 17
degree Celsius water before deciding I could sight the marker buoys (space
hoppers) better by doing the breast stroke. A couple of swimmers from Wave 3
overtook me but I managed to complete the mile in a half respectable 45th
position with a time of 33 mins 42 secs,
just about what I was expecting. I celebrated with a bottle of water, energy
bar and pot noodle with my finishers medal around my neck.
It was an exhilarating experience that should see me prepared
for the next lake swim at Rother
Valley in September.
