First swim of 2016

May 9, 2016 by Ray Morgan

First swim of 2016

9 degrees. 9 little degrees. That was the temperature of the water on Saturday when I swam at high tide. 9! Lucky for me, I'd spent a good half an hour lounging on the beach on a towel, sunglasses and suncream on, overhearing daytrippers' conversations like the cheeky writer I am. I was warmed by the sun, so by the time my friend Claire arrived, I needed to cool off.

COOL is not the word. More like icy! But in we tentatively walked, jumping at the chilly water that wrapped around our vulnerable ankles. Claire said we should just go for it. This is the gal who swam in February, so I desperately needed to look more hardcore than I actually am, took heed, and we both splashed in simultaneously.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love to talk. I love to gas, to witter, to chat. But from the minute I started swimming and my shoulders went under the water, any remaining words were literally knocked from my mouth, tumbling out like smoke rings, never heard. My arms fought against the VERY cold estuary water, my legs kicked, I got into a rhythm. The words came back. Claire and I swam out and looked back at the sand we'd left behind. It was exhilarating. Other swimmers - all, I must note, rather older than me, and looking in much better shape - said hello, we talked about the temperature (did I mention it was 9 degrees?) and we swam and talked and swam some more.

After a while, we swam back to the shore. We got out and sat on towels in the bellowing sunshine, arms and legs immediately drying, paisley-patterned with salt. I know I say it every time but we are really so, so lucky to live where we do, where everyone from toddlers to pensioners can paddle or stomp or play catch or properly go for it and swim, where everyone's there to enjoy the view, of hundreds of sailboats and the occasional grumbling container ship on the horizon.

If you are feeling like you might want to brave it, get a tide table, buy some little wetsuit-material swim shoes (I swear by them) and jump in. I promise you it'll make you feel alive.

To read all of Ray's previous blogs please click the link https://www.leigh-on-sea.com/tag/listing/blog/ray-morgan