GregInTheWater
CENTRAL SCOTLAND OPEN WATER SWIMMING COACH
Christmas spirit Manly Australia
My 100th blog post. When I started this blog it was to record my various ocean swims races or open water swims as they call them in the UK. I just looked at my very first blog, and it talked about places to swim around the world that I might get to. Well I have swum at all of them and more.
I started doing open water swim events in my former home town of Newcastle Australia in 2008. My first race was 1500m from Merewether to Bar Beach in what I then thought was cold water of 15c. I can clearly recall getting out through the surf and getting to the first buoy felling cold and tired. But I kept going and managed to finish my first race. Since then I have started and completed 89 races in Australia, Vanuatu, New York City, Croatia, England and Scotland. I even managed to win my age group a few times, and several top ten places overall.
Ben Lomond reflected in Loch Ard in Scotland
But it is not just about the swim events, but also about the amazing people I have met, the places I have swum in and out of races, and where my love of swimming has taken me. It is an overused phrase these days, but my journey has been incredible, and it is still going.
I have learnt from each of my swims around the world, and they have helped me not only in the water, but also when I am dry. Even I could not have believed that I would be able to turn my hobby of swimming into working as a swim guide in Croatia for two summers.
Croatian islands from Kaprije towards Tijat
Some of the highlights are:-
Vanuatu swimming in 30c water over coral reefs and in blue holes formed by limestone with some of the clearest water I have ever been in;
New York City swimming across the East River under the Brooklyn Bridge twice, circumnavigating Liberty and Governors Island, and a cold dip on New Years Day;
Australia swimming near the Opera House on Australia Day, at Bondi beach, and three times across Lake Macquarie;
Croatia living and working on a car free island in the Sibenik archipelago for two summers, and returning on a holiday to a fantastic welcome home;
Swimming in lochs in Scotland in all its majestic beauty in summer with water of 14-16c, and in winter with water 4c and less;
The castle or folly where we stopped for our first snack on our 10 mile swim down Loch Rannoch in Scotland
The incredible people I have met and swum with, trained with, and raced against. I have heard it said that swimming is a lonely sport, but the friends I have made from around the world who share my love of the water disprove that idea. For those of you who have swum with me in cold and warm water, driven with me to swims, listened to my advice on how to improve (and some of you even did take that on), followed me in my role as mother duck crossing a channel in Croatia, and everyone else who has inspired me, helped me, guided me and worked with me: I thank you.
When I started this post I was living and working in Newcastle Australia, and swimming a bit. Now I have completed 89 races, live in Glasgow in Scotland, and completed my first 10km race after doing a 16km social swim down Loch Rannoch in Scotland. I swim more, and while I may not be faster over 200m than I was 8 years ago, I know that I can keep going for 1km, 2km, 5km and 10km in cold water.
Now where will be my next adventure? Stay tuned, hang on, buckle up and catch the wave on my next 100 posts.
I usually like to put up some nice photos of each of my posts, but I have that many to choose from I have found it difficult to attach. So I have just picked out some that caught my eye as I looked over them all. I hope you like them.
Fog over Town Beach in Newquay Cornwall England
The start of the race at Kingussie
One of the reasons why I went to Croatia was to get lots of swimming under my belt to prepare for my first 10 km swim race. The race was billed as the Highest Open Water Race in the UK, and was down the River Spey in the Scottish Highlands. Those of you with knowledge of whisky will know that this River is the source for a large number of producers of the national drink. However, it is also known as one of the fastest rivers in the UK, so when it was advertised I jumped at the chance to swim down a river.
I can remember sitting in Australia and reading blog posts and reports of swimmers who had swum 10km, and being amazed that anyone would do that. There was only one 10km race in Sydney from Bondi around the coast through the Harbour Heads to finish at Watsons Bay. I never thought that I would be able to swim that far. But since coming to Scotland I have completed two 5km races, swum 10 miles down a loch, and done several other swims of around 10km.
Part of the course in the river
The course was simple, start at Kingussie, and then swim 9 km down the river, then one km across Loch Insh and finish at the Loch Insh Watersports Centre. But these things always sound easier than they actually are. A group of us from the Wild West Swimmers stayed in an amazing manor house not far away (thanks van man for finding this gem), and we drove up from Glasgow on the Friday afternoon.
We assembled at the finish line on Saturday morning, and I was feeling a bit nervous. I had done lots of swimming in Croatia, but I had not been in the water for two weeks, and on the Wednesday before the race I doubted whether I would be healthy enough to swim. I decided that I would get to the half-way point, and would reassess my fitness there. We got our race numbers, put our wet-suits on, and then waited for the bus to take us to the start. Finally it arrived and we were driven to the start, with a late change in plan to access it, arriving 30 minutes later than schedule. But this was the first year of this event and there is always likely to be a small hiccup or two.
Loch Insh looking calm before the start
The briefing was held under the shelter of the A9 bridge with some large horses looking on. The water temperature was 12c, and there had been rain in the last few days so it was likely to be a nice push. The first feed station was at 2km, with another at 5km and then 8km. As I entered the water I thought of the non-wetsuit swimmers who had started earlier.
I had settled on the far bank for the start near the back, as I wanted to take it easy for a while, as it was going to be a long swim. I was hoping to finish, and then if I swum under 3.5 hours I would be happy. The race started, and despite their being 170 swimmers in the water in a narrow river, I was soon able to get a space around me and settle into my stroke. Yes it was cold, but I was wearing boots and a wet-suit, and I had been swimming in this part of the world for a while now.
Just after the start we had to stand up and walk a short way as the water was too shallow to swim. I was observing the different tactics of the competitors: some were cutting the corners for the shortest line; while others would use the faster flowing water on the outside of the curves to swim faster but further. I tried to stick to the fastest flow, and it was only 30 minutes or so before we arrived at the first feed station.
For this feed station, you had to get out of the water and walk down a designated path to a small island to get your food. There was no other way through, so I grabbed an aussie bite, and a cold drink and then went back into the water. Now for the fun bit we had been told about. For about 40 metres or so the water was fast and shallow so there was no option but to lie down and let the water take you. Wow, that was great.
By now the river was getting wider and deeper, so the water was not moving as fast. I had settled into my stroke and was feeling strong, catching other swimmers along the way. Before long the 5km mark arrived, and another feed station where I had a gel and more cold drink. I checked my watch and it said 80 minutes. I was impressed with the time and with the fact that I still felt great. So I decided to keep going. It was also great to chat to other swimmers, and some of the water safety who I knew from previous events.
The finish line with no sun in sight
For around a km after the middle feed station, I was swimming with some others, with sometimes them in front of me, and at other times I was in front. There was no advantage in getting on their feet, as the current was coming from behind us. I really wanted to swim by myself, so I veered away from them and swam on the other side of the meandering river. Before long I was pulling away, and by now I knew I would finish. My mind kept doing the calculations, and I realised that if I swam the second 5km in under 100 minutes, I would break three hours, well inside my goal time of 3 hours 30 minutes. So I put my head down and concentrated on getting my stroke as efficient as possible.
At the 8km mark I had another gel and my time was well inside the three-hour mark. I was told that there were a few more curves and then the loch. So off I went full of energy feeling the gentle pull of the water as I dodged the rescue boats getting cold swimmers to safety.
Into the loch and the finish line looked so far away. By now a breeze had picked up and for the first time there was chop to deal with. I saw a couple of swimmers 100m or so in front of me and I was determined to catch them. I would swim 70 strokes and then look up, and each time they got closer, but the finish line did not appear to. Keep going I told myself, you can do this, you swam 40 k in a week a fortnight ago and you are feeling strong. Inexorably I caught the first swimmer, and I could feel a smile on my face. Then with the finish line only 200m away, I caught the other swimmer, and for the first time in 10km I kicked to get some distance.
The line got closer with each stroke and the loch became shallower, and before long I could stand up and get across the line. I had done it; I had swum my first 10km race and finished in under three hours. I felt elated and tired.
I caught up with lots of people I knew at the finish and watched the presentations. I was in awe of those who had swum 3 hours without a wet-suit. But the biggest cheer of the day was for one of the last to finish who we learnt later had a hairline fracture in his elbow from a stray foot at the start.
So back to our digs for a night of celebrations. All I will say is that you find out the craziest things about people when you go away for a weekend and have a few drinks (the words meatloaf and cornflake box are memorable). We had all finished our races, and a few of them even were on the podium.
Just another summer’s day in Scotland
Driving back down the A( (the highway to the Highlands), a small convoy stopped for a swim near Pitlochry. Unlike them I did not go in as I was tired after my exertions of the day before, but they enjoyed a short dip without a wetsuit. The next adventure will be…well somewhere in Scotland I assume in one of the stunning lochs.
A nice wee dip
The start line for the races in Split Croatia
After my week of swimming in Croatia, I had a couple of days to wait for my flight back to Scotland. I had thought of swimming around the island of Prvic Luka, which would be around 5km or so. However, I had not figured on the local knowledge of the guides. Water polo girl had heard about a swim event down the coast at Split, and had convinced the Guernsey lifeguard to go. They had booked a hire car, but needed someone who could drive a manual to get behind the wheel. So of course I said yes.
Before I go any further, i just wanted to acknowledge a significant event for this blog. It has just reached 10,000 views, which is not bad for a blog about that niche hobby of open-water swimming. So thanks to all those who have looked at this blog over the last four years or so. I have enjoyed writing it, and it has been an amazing journey so far.
Back to Croatia. The event was to be held in Split as part of Statehood Day. There were two races on offer: a one km event, or the marathon 5km event. We decided we wanted to enter both races.
The yellow line was the 1km course, and the red line was the 5km course of three laps
We left the island at 630am to get to the mainland where we picked up the car in Vodice. I jumped behind the wheel to drive the manual transmission, the first time I had driven a car on the mainland of Europe. Due to the excellent navigation of water polo girl we arrived at the pool in Split in plenty of time for the one km race. When we registered for the event, we told them we wanted to do both races. They were dubious as there was an hour between the races, but we said we would finish the one km race well within the hour. As we got organised, some of our NYC red tide fellow swimmers arrived to do the race as well as they had stayed the night before nearby.
As the Guernsey lifeguard and I entered the water I told her that we were using this as a warm up for the 5k race, so I was not planning to swim very fast. It was an in-water start and it was great to see so many teenagers from the local swimming club doing the race. They all looked so athletic and care-free. Water polo girl translated the race instructions: swim up to the first buoy, turn left and head back to the start line, turn left again to cross the finish line.
So off we went, and the water was soon a churn of arms and legs as the keen young swimmers powered away in their youthful fashion, leaving us behind. I soon settled into my swim pattern, and before I knew it had reached the half-way mark. Around we went, with Guernsey close by at all times, on my feet taking it easy. Across the finish line in an easy 18 minutes or so (I learnt later that I was third in my age group for which I received a nice medal). It was great to see our Big Apple cousins swim the event and to see the huge smiles on their faces as they realised that they were now international open-water swimmers.
Smiling faces before the start of the 1km race
We had over half an hour before the start of the 5k race, and it was getting hot out in the sun. My move to Scotland has not helped me to cope with hot sun, so I made sure I had fluids and a snack. I talked tactics with the lifeguard as this was her first 5km race. I felt slightly more experienced as this was my third swim race over the 5km distance, though I had done several training swims of at least that. I told her that my plan was to go out at the same pace as the 1km for the first two laps,and then try to swim faster on the last lap. I also told her that you have to be ready to adjust plans depending on what happens in the water.
The start of the 5k…I am wearing the green cap
Into the water we went, and I told the lifeguard to stay on my feet or hip to get a good draft. Of course if I was going too slow, she could pass me. It was not long before we were in clear water with a group just in front of us. As I had swum part of the course in the earlier race I knew the direction to go and what to expect. There was a hint of a breeze, but mostly it was quite flat with little chop. The biggest wash was created when five naval vessels cruised up the channel just off-shore.
The first lap soon was over, and I had slipped about 20 metres behind a group of three swimmers. I decided to try to catch them and get in their draft. Over a few hundred metres, we caught them and I stuck to the hip of the front swimmer who had a nice relaxed stroke. After two laps, I still felt strong and I had the noticed the lifeguard was right behind me and had got too distracted by the sight of powerful athletic locals in not. For the third lap I sensed that the group we had been with were starting to slow, and I also knew that after a week of swimming twice a day I would be strong. So I increased my pace with the aim of pulling away from this group. Over the next half lap we inched away, 2 metres, then 5, then 10, and at the turning point we were 20 metres in front of them.
Our next target was another group of two swimmers,who we quickly passed as we headed for home. Another group just in front was the next target and I concentrated on my technique to close the gap. About 400m from the finish line we past them as well. I looked over my shoulder and I was happy to see the lifeguard on my hip. She pulled up level with me and we went stroke for stroke as we powered towards the finish line.
Almost home and it is neck and neck between us
We turned at the start line with only 30 metres to go. Part of me wanted to let the lifeguard beat me, but another part said no. I was half a length behind her and now it was time to start kicking, and not one of those slow two beat kicks. I brought in the six beat kick determined to beat her. The photo above shows the lifeguard in the red Wild West Swimmers cap, and me in the green Pier to Pub Inchmurrin cap.
So what happened. Well they say a picture paints a thousand words.
The finish line
The best bit was to see the smile on the lifeguard’s face as she crossed the line for her first 5km race.
Great swim
As we exited the water, the red tide folks were still there, (they took some of these great photos). We had finished, we felt strong the whole way, and my time was 96 minutes. We had swam away from other swimmers, and I honestly felt that I could have gone another 5km or so.
The presentation was held, and water polo girl was 2nd female overall, and the lifeguard was 3rd female overall. Huge effort from both of them. We left to drive home, not having time for the free bbq tuna steaks, and chatted about the race, until our back seat passenger nodded off, tired after her efforts in the water. So much for a relaxing day off.
So a huge thanks to the guides for talking me into doing these bonus races; thanks to the red tide gang for cheering us on, and swimming themselves. It really was a memorable way to finish off my swim week in Croatia.
The village of Lopud in southern Croatia
I had made arrangements to return to Prvic Luka for some more swimming in the Adriatic Sea. However, before going there, we decided to visit the city of Dubrovnik in southern Croatia. Dubrovnik is a city that still has its old town that draws visitors from around the globe. It is so stunning that it is used in movies such as the Star Wars series, as well as the setting for Kings Landing in the Game of Thrones saga. It was my first visit to the city, and I have to say it really is as amazing as all the pictures show. We spent time in the city, but found that it was very crowded during the day as the the cruise ships that arrived in the town each day dumped their loads. Once these ships left each afternoon (and there were at least three to four ships in port each day we were there), the old town became quieter. It was fascinating to wander around the alleys and walls and soak up the atmosphere of this special place.
We also managed to get across to a rare sandy beach at Sunj Bay on the island of Lopud. It was a pleasant 55 minute ferry ride to the island. I was rewarded with a short swim and body surf (the first in over two years) at the beach punching into the chop generated by the un-seasonal onshore breeze that blew in from the south. This did make the ferry trip back to Dubrovnik a tad bouncy with some two metre swells in the channels between the islands in the chain. I also managed to have a nice swim in Lapad Bay one afternoon.
A sunset view towards Kolocep and Lopud
After a few days in Dubrovnik, I boarded a bus to Sibenik. This journey which took 7 hours is one of the most amazing roads I have ever been on as it follows the twist and turns of the coast north to Split and then Sibenik. I had chosen the slow bus on purpose to allow me to see more of the country, and I was glued to the window most of the way watching the towering peaks meeting the Adriatic in a never-ending vista of awe. There were numerous times I wished that I was driving myself so that I could stop in a little village and go for a swim. All those islands, all that history, and all that beauty. I will have to try to get back there again and explore in more detail.
Just another view on the road between Dubrovnik and Split
After getting off the bus in Sibenik, I waited for the ferry that would take 40 minutes to get to Prvic Luka. This was the first time I had returned to the island since 2014, and I was looking forward to catching up with all the locals that welcomed me in previous years. I was hoping to get lots of swimming during the six days in preparation for a 10km swim in Scotland in mid July.
Upon arrival I was greeted with affection by Filip at the hotel, and also Dado, one of the best waiters I have seen. It was great to see them again, and catch up on the news of this very special place. They did tell me I had 45 minutes to prepare for the safety briefing and acclimitisation swim. As I sat at the briefing I wondered what the week would bring with a total of 15 swimmers from the UK, Canada, US (East Coast and West Coast), and Australia, ably led by Kelly and Pip.
Prvic Luka at dawn
This was my first trip where I was able to swim in the morning and afternoon for five days straight. I was hopeful that I would cope with the distances and pace set by my fellow swimmers. I was also keen to swim in just my swimming costume once again, and to also use the tinted goggles for the first time. On the first day, we did a nice swim along Zmajan, and an afternoon swim along Prvic Luka for a total of just over 5.5 km. The second day we sailed south to get out of the wind, and we did 6.6km for the day. Day three and by now I had worked out that I was slower at the start then the rest of my group, but after twenty minutes or so, I would start to catch them, and then sometimes even slowly pass them, before joining one or two others to swim a final 800m or so. On day three we did a gorgeous three island loop into Kaprije in the morning, and another coastal in the afternoon for a total of 6.7 km.
Some of the islands near Prvic Luka, with Zlarin the hilly island int he background
By day four I was enjoying swimming with my group, as we mostly swam very close together at a similar pace. Most of the time the six of us were within 50m or so of each other, and it was always good to have someone near you. Day four brought our first crossing to the island of Zlarin. I told the guides that I would escort four or five of the slower pink group on this 3km crossing, which featured a navigation marker on a reef at the half way point. I gathered my group around me and told them that I would go straight to the marker and that they should stick on my feet the whole way. I also had Jamie from my group to act as sheepdog in case any of them went of course. I told them the first stop for drinks would be after a mile or so at the marker.
Well this was one of the most enjoyable swims I have done for a long time. I set out at a steady pace, and whenever I looked over my shoulder, all I could see was the five pink caps and Jamie right behind me in a line. It looked like a mother duck taking its ducklings for a paddle. When we started, there was no wind, but as was typical for this time of year, a light breeze came in as we swam, creating a small chop. I had used Zlarin as a sighting point for the marker, and after half an hour of swimming we had made it there. We had our drink, and then talked about the next leg to Zlarin. Once again I was in the lead, and this time was tougher as the chop increased from our left, and the current pushed us to the right. But the ducklings hung in there, and we all made it across. The group was so overjoyed that they had swum that far, as I am sure some of them had never swum that far before. I felt proud that I was able to help them achieve their goal.
Day five and we did another tough crossing, this time from Kakan to Zirje, before a nice coastal swim around the top of Kakan in the afternoon.
All up during the week I had swum just over 30km in the six days of swimming, and while I was tired, I was happy to have achieved that much. At the start of the week I would have been happy with 20km, or maybe 25, so to get to 30km was huge.
But the most important thing about a week like this is the opportunity to meet people from around the world and find out about them, as they share their love of open-water swimming, in a place that is made for swimming. It does not matter what way the wind blows, there is always somewhere that you can get into the water.
Prvic Luka through the trees
It is not only the people on the trip that this week special. Yes the guides were their usual very high standard, and yes the others on the trip were nice folks as well. But it was the locals who welcomed me back into their world like a member of their family that I will always remember. I am already thinking about my next visit.
This last photo was taken by Jamie and it features the Strawberry Moon rising as the sun sets. The Strawberry Moon is when the full moon falls on the summer solstice., which happened in 2016 for the first time since 1967. This is a great photo, so thanks Jamie for letting me us it.
Full moon at sunset
Balloch early morning in the sun
The glorious weather continued after the Bardowie race, with sun from dawn to dusk for two weeks. At this time of year dawn is around 430am, with sunset about 10pm, and then the long twilight takes over, with complete darkness a mere dream of colder days. The local media were talking about the heat wave as the maximum temperature sat above 20c for days on days. Memories of the stunning summer of 1976 were rekindled with nostalgic reminisces of the times when the tarmac melted and you had to sit on a towel in the car. Sounds like a normal spring summer and autumn in the and of my birth.
But I have to mention that when the weather is like this, there are few places on the planet that are better. A relatively gentle sun, no flies, sunburn risk is diminished, the long twilight, and the sun on the lochs and glens glinting off those amazing shades of green that are so different to the brown hues of my former home.
The other good thing about the sun is that it quickly warmed the water up in the lochs, making it warm enough to shrug off the wet-suit. Yes, I have graduated to swimming in Loch Lomond in skins, sans wet-suit. And it felt great to have the warm 15c water caressing the skin, as I swam in my normal swimming spots. Sure, I was lower in the water, and swimming slower, but this was fresh water and it required me to focus on my technique and not rely so much on the assistance of the wet-suit that helps so much with body position. Yes it was harder to swim, but it was fantastic to have moved beyond the wet-suit for the first time in a few years.
Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club at Greenock on the Clyde River
We had been contacted by Joe from the RWSABC to see if we wanted to take part in the one mile race at the club as part of their 150th birthday celebrations. A few of us jumped at the chance to compete in this event. The club is based at Greenock which was one of the main deep water ports for Glasgow at a point where the river enters the Firth of Clyde. The place is stepped in history with lots of fine houses fronting the two-mile wide river. Unfortunately the town has suffered along with a lot of other places in this part of Scotland, due to the collapse of the ship building industry, and the slow death of heavy industry. It was only 100 years ago that ships built on the Clyde comprised one-third of the merchant navy in the British Empire, and they even fitted out part of the RMS Titanic.
A view of Dumbarton on the Clyde River taken form the train to Greenock
A few went down the river to have a couple of swims on a Friday night in the weeks before the swim. It was only about a 40 minute drive from Glasgow, but it was to a part of the region I had not visited before. The first time we swam the 2km course up to the yellow marker and back, I was in the water for 32 minutes on a still evening with no tide running. A seal even popped its head up to watch us as we exited the water. The second time was into the outgoing tide and wind, so the one km up took just under 30 minutes: but the way back was a slighter quicker 15 minutes.
I mentioned earlier that Glasgow had been having a few weeks of summer with lots of sun, and virtually no wind. Well the day of the swim meant an end to that, with cloud, rain, and a fresh breeze on the water. I felt sorry for the club, as they were celebrating their 150th anniversary, but at least the sailors would be happy. I was amazed that this club has been in existence since 1866, when my home nation was a mere collection of colonies, when the USA had just gone through a destructive Civil War, and the first telegraph cable was laid across the Atlantic Ocean linking the UK and North America.
The beach in front of the club, with part of the course visible
My friend Vince and I had caught the train from Glasgow for a change, and as we arrived at the club we noticed the fresh breeze, and the chop. As we put our wet-suits on in the change room we chatted to some of the other competitors, and one of them talked to me about the swimming he had done in Sydney at Manly, Bondi, Bronte, Coogee and Clovelly, as well as Bondi Icebergs.
The briefing took place upstairs at the club, and the race was to be two laps of a half mile course starting on the beach, out to the first buoy, then up river to the first slipway, return to the first buoy, back to the slipway, and finish just off the beach. We stood on the edge of the water, the 30 or so invitation swimmers, and we had our warm up: it was quite cold, being at most 12c, making my feet shiver. I was in awe that my friends Gary and Emma had chosen to do the race without the wet-suit on.
The race started, with most of the competitors on the left had side.. However, I had walked a short way down the beach with anther swimmer so that I was closer to the first mark. In we went, straight into the chop, and it was fantastic. Around the first bout I was surprised that I was in third place, thinking that other swimmers would soon catch me. We headed down to the slipway marker, and it was not easy into the chop and the wind, making sighting difficult. Before long another swimmer joined me, and I did manage to sit on his heels for a short time, before the chop separated us.
Around the slipway mark, and I was in fourth spot, and all I could think of was that Vince would surely pass me soon. Back down to the first mark was a lot easier, with the chop working with you. Around that mark again, and then the hard slog back to the slipway, and still no-one went past me. I noticed the front swimmers were around 100m in front of me by this stage, and I knew I would not catch them.
Around the slipway mark for the second and final time, and it was time to push hard for the swim home. Before long I was coming into the beach, and I tapped the marker to which was the finish line. As I exited the water I noticed that Vince was standing on the beach in front of me, and I realised that he had passed me before the first mark. If only I had not told him about the swim, I would have finished in third place. I wandered over to the timekeepers and they told me I had finished in fourth place, and my time was just over 26 minutes. Once again I was the first Australian to finish.
The cap and the medal from the swim
Vince and I stayed on the beach and waited for Gary to finish in first place for the male non wet-suit, then Emma as first female non wet-suit, and then John coming in a very credible 27th place. Our little band of swimmers from the WWS had managed 1st, 4th, 8th, 24th and 27th. had once again enjoyed my swim in the salt water, and the challenge of swimming in the chop in cool water. My first salt-water race since Easter 2014 at Terrigal in Australia.
We enjoyed our hot shower, and our cold beers as the band played and we watched the sailing events. We stayed for the presentation, then caught the train back to Glasgow. A big thanks to Joe for organising this event, I think I will try to get down to the club for one of their social swims, or even their big swim across the Clyde.
So another swim in a new location, with new friends made. I wonder what will be my next adventure on this open water swimming adventure.
Another balmy summer day in Scotland, with my medal in front of the club
A view of part of the swim course at Bardowie Loch on a warm Scottish morning in late spring
The weather in Scotland had been up to its usual keep the weather forecasters busy form. In the last few days of April it snowed in Glasgow, and then a few weeks later the spring sunshine broke through the murky cloud to shine brightly on the spring flowers. All through April I had been swimming in stunning places like Loch Chon, Loch Ard, and of course Loch Lomond. As the water warmed up, my time in the water increased until I was staying in for 45 minutes or so.
By the time May arrived, the sun came out for a few weeks warming the waters of the lochs and quarries to almost tropical temperatures of 14c. That was fantastic, as I could then get the benefit of my winter swimming and stay in the water for an hour or so each time. I could also look on at those other swimmers who were entering the water with trepidation for their first swim of the new season, with a sense of recognition about been in a similar position only one year earlier. I too struggled to get over several decades of acclimitisation of not daring to go for a swim if the water dropped below a freezing 15c.
The last weekend in May was the date for the Bardowie Loch Swim Festival. This small loch is on the northern outskirts of my new home city of Glasgow, not far from the impossible to pronounce correctly unless you are a local, Milgavnie. I had entered the swim to get some race practice in preparation for the summer ahead.
One of the Queen’s swans surveying the course
There were two swims on offer at this event, the one km, and the two km, and like most events in this part of the world, it was not possible to do both. So I entered the two km race, as I had been able to get some decent training swims under my belt in the weeks before the swim.
Race day was cloudy and warm with hardly a breath of wind: perfect swimming conditions. In addition, the long hours of sunlight over the previous week had heated the water to a very pleasant 15c. It is one of the delights of living in Scotland that at this time of year the hours of sunlight go from 4am until 10pm, so when the sun shines it really warms things up.
I managed to have a chat to a few people I knew, such as Chippy John who I swam with at the Beastie Swim in Loch Lomond last summer; and Skins Dave who enjoys swimming without a wetsuit. I also had a chat to my Rannoch kayaker Stewart who was in charge of water safety for this event, and we chatted about long swims we might do later in the summer.
Some of the swimmers towards the finish of the event
As I entered the water for the warm up, I did not get that sense of chill from the water, and it actually felt quite comfortable. Good to see I was getting used to the water temperature and I even thought of doing the race without the wetsuit. But that thought was quickly dispelled as I edged towards the start line under the eyes of the starter. I got an excellent start, though there was a view I might have gained a 0.5 second advantage, but the starter did not call me back, so I kept going. I had started on the left hand side of the course, and I could keep my eyes on the rest of the field who had started on the right.
Up to the first marker, and I was swimming comfortably, with around a dozen swimmers in front of me. The water was still nice and warm, even though I was not wearing any boots or gloves, and only one thin swim cap. By the time we turned at the top of the course, I was swimming close to couple of other swimmers, and when they were swimming a good line, I would get on their feet for a wee drag. I was feeling good, going at good pace, but with plenty left for the second lap. Around the bottom mark and I took a good line close to the buoy, and took a couple of lengths off the person in front of me.
I had thought that the pack of three I was swimming in on the second lap was starting to tire, so at the top mark, I increased my pace and tried to pull away from the other two. By the next marker, I had put 20 metres on them, so I then focused on catching the person in front of me over the final 300m of the course. With each stroke I could feel myself getting closer, as I increased my stroke count and pace. With 40m to go I had caught him and passed him. Over the line, finished.
I had managed a credible sixth place overall, and I was happy with my pacing, my navigation, and my race skills. My time was also just under 32 minutes for the two km distance, which I was also very happy with. Not a bad way to celebrate my 85th open water swim race.
For all those Australians out there who used to beat me easily in races around Sydney, please do not come to Scotland. You would hate the lack of sand, waves, swell, sea-creatures, sunburn, heat, flies and also you would not like the cold water. As for the scenery in Scotland, well sometimes it is so stunning that you just want to stop and stare.
Some of the water safety crew debriefing
Another well run event, on a glorious late spring day in Scotland. Does it get better than this? Well we could debate that another time.
My next event is a 10km swim down the River Spey (the famous whisky river) in July. But of course I will be swimming outdoors quite a lot before then, and I might even try it without the wetsuit….
A snow-capped Ben Lomond shining over Loch Ard on a stunning winter’s day
I was determined to swim through the winter in Scotland; and by that I did not mean swimming in an indoor pool. I meant swimming in the lochs in the bracing water. This was coming from someone who grew up in Australia where the winter swimming clubs had to put ice cubes in the water to make them colder; a place where if the sea temperature dropped to 13c it was a cold winter, but if you waited a couple of weeks it would start to warm up again.
I knew a hardy bunch of swimmers who swam as often as they could in the winter. As the hours of daylight are so short, this usually meant a swim on a Saturday morning in a loch within an hours drive of Glasgow. I had the advantage of swimming in the summer, and not stopping, which enabled me to adjust as the water temperature dropped from 14c to 12c, then to 10c, then 8c. Over the winter I regularly swam when the water was under 5c, a temperature which is cold enough to qualify for an ice mile.
I must warn the reader that swimming in cold water can be dangerous, and you should be aware of the risks before you venture in. When the body first enters the water, it adapts to the threat of the cold water by a process known as cold water shock. Your breathing becomes short, your heart starts to race, and the body tries to ensure the vital organs are protected by reducing the cold blood moving from the arms and legs.
When you enter the water, it feels cold on the legs even in a wet suit, and sometimes it eels like the water is just never going to warm up. Then you lie flat on the water, and question why are you doing this, as the trunk feels the squeeze of the cold water. Once the breathing returns to normal, then it is time for the hardest bit, putting the face in the water. At first it hurts, especially when the water is under 5c. But soon the face soon feels numb and you do not notice. Then you start swimming, being very conscious of always swimming within your limits and ensuring there are emergency exit points available at any time.
Loch Ard on a moody day in late autumn
As you leave the water, you try to get the circulation going n the fingers again, and hope that you will be able to do up your shoe laces and buttons.
So why do I do it? Well there is a huge sense of achievement in swimming when the water is cold, seeing the stunning lochs from a different vantage point, watching it change from autumn with the colours, to the starkness of winter, and then the promise of life in the spring with the blooms. There is something quite special about swimming in a cold loch and looking up to see snow-capped hills around you, seeing your breath on the still cold air, and hearing the silence of the loch interrupted by the slap of arms as they hit the water in their rhythmic patterns. Of course, there is also the nice hot coffee sitting around an open fire after the swim, as our group of intrepid swimmers talk about the swim.
Some days the swim seems like it will never end, with the arms feeling heavy, and the breathing always too fast. Other days, it feels more joyous, and you feel like you could stay in for at least 30 minutes if you are lucky. I can even remember one day at Loch Chon swimming up one side of the loch as the other side was covered in ice, and finding it almost impossible to swim front crawl due to the pain on the face. I learnt that the water temperature that day was 0.5c, and -3.5c under the ice, and even heard the ice hum as I swam past it, something that I had never experienced before.
But there are two things that make it worthwhile: the stunning scenery in Scotland; and the wonderful people from the Wild West Swimmers who I swim with. A special mention must be made of those who swim in only a swimsuit all year: Mark, Emma, Kathryn, and Karen (and any others I have inadvertently missed).
Some times at the end of my swim, I take off my boots, gloves and wetsuit, and just sit in the water for thirty seconds or so, full of admiration for those hardy souls who shun neoprene. Maybe next year I will venture out for longer with less. I do know that as the water warms up in the summer, I will not feel the cold and will be able to swim for longer and longer as part of my training for the summer season.
A murky February day at Balloch on Loch Lomond with snow on the Luss Hills
The gang of seven at the start of the Loch Rannoch swim
Each year I post a summary of my swim events, but this year it is different. I used to write it at the end of May each year, as that was the end of the open water swim season in Australia, and it would cover the 12 months to the end of May. Well, this year I am writing it at the end of May, but it is now covers a different time period. As I have re-located to the UK, I thought my season would now cover a calendar year: so this report is a summary of my swim events and other notable swims for the 12 months ended 31 December 2015.
For 2015 I swam at seven events, doing nine races over distances ranging from 800m to 5000m. My first swim was at Milarrochy Bay on the eastern shores of Loch Lomond in Scotland. While the setting was stunning, with walkers doing the West Highland Way meandering past, it was probably the toughest swim I had done for a long time. The water was quite cold for me at 11.5c, and I struggled to finish the two km course, with only three swimmers finishing behind me.
Swimmers entering the water at Milarrochy Bay in Loch Lomond
My next swim was at the aptly named Beastie swim at Balloch Castle on the shores of Loch Lomond in Scotland. As I had not undertaken much training, I entered the 800m race, and surprised myself by coming a close third on a blustery day with plenty of chop running across the course.
My third event was at Coniston Water in the Lakes District in Cumbria in north-west England. I had managed to get some training done, so I entered the one mile race (1600m). There was a large field of 276 in three waves, and I managed a top 60 finish and 5th in my age group, but more importantly, swam a good time. This was my first visit to the Lakes District and it is quite beautiful with its narrow roads, little villages perched on the edges of the several lakes, the tallest hills in England overlooking them all, and lots and lots of visitors.
The waves lined up for the deep water start at Coniston
Nine days after the Coniston swim, I took part in my favourite swim of the season: the Pier to Pub swim on Loch Lomond in Scotland. This was a 2300m swim from Arden to the pub at Inchmurrin one of the largest islands in Loch Lomond. It was a stunning early evening with lots of sun, and not much wind for this boutique event. The swim finishes with a bagpiper on the jetty at the pub, where a meal is served. After the presentations, you get the ferry back to the mainland as darkness slips over the loch. I managed a credible 7th in this race.
The welcome to the island of Inchmurrin
Four days after the fantastic Pier to Pub race, it was time for the biggest swim on the Scottish circuit, the Great Scottish Swim, held at Balloch on Loch Lomond in Scotland. This is part of the great race series held in the UK with a few thousand competitors in races from half a mile to 5000 metres. I had entered the two mile race (3200m), and came in the top 120 out of 470 swimmers. It was great to see so many people taking part in the day, with lots of people raising funds for their favourite charity.
A week after the Great Scottish Swim, it was the turn of Loch Ard in the Trossachs in the Scottish Highlands to host a series of races from one km to 10km. I entered the 5km race and despite almost losing count on the five laps, came third overall. The day was almost perfect for swimming with the race starting in smooth conditions, which only started to change towards the end.
Eager swimmers entering the cool water for the start of the 10km race at Loch Ard
My last event for the season was at Loch Ken in Dumfries and Galloway in southern Scotland. The event had races over one km, two kms, and four kms, and I became the first person to enter all three races. The day was windy and wet, and I even doubted whether the event would be held; but these Scots are a hardy lot, and it went ahead. They even had a film crew there as a reporter from the local current affairs show was swimming. I did quite well on the day, coming third in the 1000m, fourth in the 2000m, and sixth in the 4000m events. I was quite tired by the end of it, but very pleased with the results.
A view of the course at Loch Ken
In summary, nine races, taking my overall tally to 84 races, with six top ten overall placings: my best ever results in terms of top ten finishes in a season.
But the season was also about wild swimming, with lots of swims undertaken on weekends, early morning and late afternoon in the long summer hours of light in Scotland. In fact in the month of August, I even swam further than I had ever swum in one month, with just under 70kms swum, all outdoors.
In no particular order some of the highlights were:-
- The swim from Aldochlay to Balloch on Loch Lomond, a downhill swim of 11 km with Colin, George and Jess;
- The five islands swim around five islands in Loch Lomond over a distance of 9 km with a group of ten swimmers;
- A dawn swim on the summer solstice starting at 4am;
- Several morning swims at Balloch, including one memorable one when a thick fog descended muffling sight and sound;
- exploring new lochs like Loch Ard, Loch Chon, Loch Lubnaig, and Loch Venachar;
- swimming after the end of the season as the water temperature dropped to well below what I once would have thought was sensible.
But the highlight of the season of course would be the swim down the length of Loch Rannoch, a distance of ten miles or 16 kms. This was by far the longest swim I had ever undertaken, and it was fantastic to do it in the company of a great group of swimmers and supporters. We started in fog, swam in sunshine, then cloud, then wind, and finished in just under six hours in cold water. A huge effort from everyone.
Another shot of the group at the start of the Loch Rannoch swim with the fog in the distance
The stagger out at the end of the ten mile swim down Loch Rannoch
So a good year of events, and exploring Scotland and its lochs. Now for 2016.
Loch Lomond on New Years Day 2016 with a snow capped Ben Lomond in the distance
It has been quite a while since I posted on this blog, with my 16 kilometre swim in Loch Rannoch the last entry. But that does not mean I have not been swimming outdoors in Scotland. Just because the nights get longer, the water gets colder and the snow starts to fall, it does not mean I have not been swimming.
So after the marathon swim in September, the weather morphed into one of the sunniest Octobers on record; then one of the dullest Novembers on record; and finally one of the wettest mildest Decembers on the record books. Ah the joys of swimming in Scotland.
A glorious morning on the shores of Loch Lomond
Loch Ard looking brooding
I have swum with a group of fellow enthusiasts in Loch Lomond, Loch Chon, and Loch Ard during the autumn and early winter. Sure it has been a challenge adjusting to the water temperature as it drops from 11c, then down to 9, then to 7, and 6. But I have adjusted, and have managed to stay in for at least half an hour each time. Sure, on some occassions I only stayed in that long as someone else was swimming without a wetsuit. But I enjoyed it every time. There is something strangely exhilirating going for a swim when the air temperature is nudging zero.
New Years Day 2016 meant the annual get together for the Wild West Swimmers at Luss on the eastern shores of Loch Lomond. We rarely swim here in the summer, as there is either too much boat traffic, or too many cars in the car park. However, on a brisk January morning we almost had the place to ourselves. The recent period of wet weather has had its influence on the Loch, with the water level a couple of metres higher than the summer. So the beach was almost non-existent as we all tramped down the path.
Is that a monster swimming in Loch Lomond in mid November?
Luss New Years Day, and for some it is very cold
I remember my first swim in Scotland a mere 12 months previously to the day. I had arrived at Luss on New Years day 2015 full of anticipation, only to be defeated by the cold water after a dip of almost a minute.
This year was very different, as I had adjusted to water temperatures that used to be experienced in a cold drink on a hot day. I was the second person into the water, and sure it was cold (just under 7c), but I stayed in. I even swam 250 metres out past the pier before returning to do the oblogatory leap off the pier. Though this year it was such a short drop to the water.
I even took the top of my wetsuit off and went back in for a paddle in the water. It felt great too, and perhaps in the summer I will start swimming more without a wetsuit. I was even the second last person out of the water this time.
What a difference 12 months make
It was great to see a group of twenty or so swimmers all enjoying themselves with a swim on New Years Day in Scotland. A big thanks for the various photographers who provided some of these snaps.
The gang of seven at the start
Suddenly the week of the big swim was upon me, something I had been training for since August. This was going to be the longest swim I had undertaken, and of course I wondered if I was ready for it.
But first some background of Loch Rannoch. The loch is situated almost in the middle of Scotland, and is east of Glencoe, that infamous place where the Campbells are still not welcomed after more than 200 years. The legendary Rannoch Moor, a desolate, boggy alpine marsh drains partly into the western shore of Loch Rannoch via Loch Laidon and the River Gaur. Loch Ericht drains into the northern shore of Loch Rannoch via the River Ericht. The River Tummel drains the loch on the eastern edge. The loch is around 10 miles (16 km) long, and around one km wide, and is in places is around 133m deep.
To get to Loch Rannoch via road, you must come from the east, via Pitlochry as the there is no road access from Glencoe. The drive up from Glasgow up the motorway was supposed to take two hours, but road works offered me another route. That route was via Callander, past Loch Lubnaig ( a loch I had provided water cover for an event in August), past Loch Tay to Kenmore and then to Tummel Bridge to arrive at Kinloch Rannoch, a very scenic journey of two and a half hours.
It is an isolated loch, that is quite beautiful, but is prone to strong winds blowing down the loch from the west.
We had booked to stay two nights in an old school-house in the village for the 15 of us either swimming or supporting. We enjoyed the banter of watching the opening game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup where the three English supporters were drowned out by the 11 Scots and an Aussie supporting the Fijians.
The view down the loch after the fog lifted
There were seven of us swimming the loch, and it took a while to finalise the arrangements for getting the swimmers and support kayaks up to the far end of the loch to start the swim. As Saturday morning dawned we were greeted by a thickening fog, with the forecast of lifting fog, sun and light winds. A perfect recipe for swimming on this loch, as the prevailing westerly breeze can create a large wind chop as it flows down the loch.
Up we went to Rannoch Lodge where the bemused locals took lots of photos of these crazy people getting into the water. The air temperature was about 2c and there were banks of fog rolling through the loch reducing the visibility to around 100m. The local boatman suggested we wait an hour or so for the fog to lift, but we were keen to start. So we stood for the photos, and went into the deceptively warm water. Now we did not have a thermometer, but it felt like it was 11 or 12c, so I was glad to don the gloves, boots, and skull-cap to ward off the cold. I had lots of gels ready to consume on the estimated six-hour journey.
Off we went in a line, and soon the Plymouth warrior was well in front, with the Englishman by name leading the rest of us. It was like an outdoor set of phantom of the opera with the view of a kayaker in the mist leading the way. Fortunately, Stewart had a compass on his kayak and we knew we had to head east into the sun.
The castle or folly where we stopped for our first snack
The water was silky smooth, with the only wash from the group of seven stroking through the loch. Suddenly the fog lifted and we were surprised to see ourselves near the folly on a very small island, about one and a half miles into the journey. We waited for the balance of the group of six (the warrior was well ahead by this time), and we swam over to the island for our first feed stop. It was a glorious morning, with banks of mist hanging over the hills to the east, with the sun valiantly attempting to warm the water.
Off we went again, and I was concentrating on keeping my form together, and following our local boatman. After a wee while, it must have been another hour or, Cam our rib man came up to me to give me some food that Stewart had passed onto him. I gladly had some food and drink, but did not take some on board. Even though I was swimming with a float, it is not practical to put food into it for this model, as to access the inside, you have to deflate the float. I suppose it would be good for an emergency stash, but it is easier to give some to the support crew and take it from them. This was the first time I had to think about a feeding program for a swim.
The swim buddies in the middle of the loch
I waited for Jess and George to swim up to me, and the three of us stuck together like a band of sea wrecked sailors, as we swam further and further down the loch. Jess would gladly yell out significant distances covered, and it was like a very slow count down….6k, 7k, 8k. By this time we noticed that the breeze was starting to pick up, but luckily it was behind us pushing us home. I did start to think that the chop would only get larger the further we swam…little did I know.
After a while I noticed that George was struggling, and David our escort kayaker dropped back to see if he was ok. He had a back injury, and the cold water had defeated him, so he exited the water after almost 11 km, a great effort. That left Jess and I to continue. There was no truth to the rumour that he only got out to get away from the evil troika (the banker, the oilman and the taxman).
It was great to swim with my swim buddy, as we had spent many hours training together for this swim, and we tend to swim at around the same pace on these social swims. It is only when she competes that Jess shows how fast she can swim, with her beating me at Coniston and Inchmurrin. Both times she almost had enough time to get dressed, and have a cup of tea and biscuit, before I emerged from the watery depths. And to think it was only four years ago that she could not swim freestyle (or front crawl as they call it here….they laugh at the term Australian Crawl). Now if I could only fix that unique right arm action she could challenge the warrior more often, but that could wait…we had a loch to swim.
This was the loch the next morning. During the swim this peak was shrouded in ist
Now one of the great things about this loch, is that it is big and wide, with few bays or headlands. But that is also a bad thing when trying to swim the length, as it is difficult to fix on a landmark to swim past to get a sense of attainment. I did remember seeing a stand of distinctive tall pines on the right hand or southern shore that seemed to take an eternity to swim past. So I started to look left for the power line towers, at least they were every couple of hundred metres or so. There was a distinctive pale coloured building way down the loch, and I used that as a sighting point, the trouble was, it never seemed to get any closer.
By now, the cloud had thickened and the wind had strengthened, and even our local boatman looked cold huddled his craft, keeping warm with one cigarette after another. The chop was quite noticeable going from my right hip to my left shoulder. Breathing to the right was awkward with that chop, so I mainly looked left. I was still swimming quite well, just starting to get hungry and thirsty. We stopped for a welcome drink, and Jess told us how far we had to go: we had done 12k, then 13, then 14.
Our paddler had urged us to move closer to shore to try to get smoother water, as he was struggling to balance on the chop. So we headed to the northern shore. We knew we had to head that way to ensure we finished at the beach and not be swept down the River Tummel. Over close to shore we went, and it was nice to see the bottom again through the clear cold water. I knew there was a big hotel complex on this shore, but due to the local topography I just could not see it. That was odd, because I had seen it earlier in the day from well down the loch.
You can see the chop in this shot
By now I was getting cold, but I was still swimming well and was determined to finish. Suddenly, the hotel came into sight, and we both stopped knowing we were almost home. I looked to the beach about half a mile away and saw a band of people waiting for us. Suddenly Mel appeared stroking towards like a mermaid. She had swum out to escort us home, but had feared she may have missed us in the chop. So Jess and I looked to each other and said we are almost there, just one stretch to go.
Off we went, through the chop, which reminded me of swimming on Aussie beaches in a stiff sea breeze, without the warmth. That last stretch was not easy, but I knew I could make it. Into shore we came like two lumbering creatures of the deep. We had made it. Now for the difficult bit, standing up for the first time in a few hours, with slippery rocks and chop to deal with. I drifted into shore until I run aground, and tried to stand then walk. The last thing I wanted was to fall flat on my face. Finally out of the water, with a huge cheer from the waiting crowd. Jess followed me, escorted by David. We had done it, we had conquered the cold loch. As we got into our warm clothes, we chatted about the swim. Our time was 5 and three-quarter hours, and I was wondering why people had trouble understanding me when I talked. I thought it was my harsh accent amongst the Scottish burr, but no it was my blue lips and nose making me sound like a I had drunk too many drams of the local brew.
The view up the loch from the finishing beach
The warrior was waiting for us, he had finished in four and a half hours: he is a machine and when he dons that suit, he is a barracuda.
It was not long before the other two swimmers finished. A magnificent effort.
So out of the seven who started, five finished, a great effort from all. What a team. Well done Kirsty, Gary, George, Jess, Sandra, and Kirsten. We could not have done it without the support of those on the water in the kayaks and boats, and those on the shore as well. Thanks Stewart, Cameron, John the boatman, David, Mel, and several others I have forgotten (but I am sure they will let me know).
My longest ever swim in terms of distance and time, and all in cold water, on what I used to call a cold mid winter’s day. I could only admire those souls who could swim this distance and time without a wetsuit…maybe one day that could be me. I was amazes that I had actually done it, especially as I only trained for six weeks.
We certainly celebrated that night, and those beers I had tasted all so sweet.
The stagger out at the end
As I drove home the next day, I thought of a grand summer of swimming, and started to think about next season. How many 10k swims would I do? Would we get together again for another weekend and do this loch again, or try another one? Who knows, but the grand thing about Scotland is that there is always another loch to explore, another patch of clear cold water to immerse yourself in, and stunning scenery to take your breath away.
Yes this is a long report, but it was a long swim, and was a big goal right from the time I said I would do it. I have to thank the various photographers for the snaps they have taken that I have used in this post.
Another shot of the group at the start of the swim
GregInTheWater 