Page 28 of Wild Swimming at Croftwood Lake
‘Walk along a bit further,’ Nora called. ‘There’s a gap.’
Patsy and Lois emerged from the hedge, followed by Hilary who was wearing about three coats.
‘I want to be supportive,’ Hilary said, ‘but I can’t go in.’
‘It’s okay. You don’t have to. It’s not for everyone, especially on a day like today,’ Nora said, understanding completely. It was always less enticing on a grey day. ‘You can be our lifeguard.’
‘Oh god. I’m telling you now, I won’t be jumping in to save any of you but I’m happy to watch you from here.’ She sat herself down in the chair that Jess had vacated.
‘Come on then, let’s do it,’ said Nora. ‘I don’t want to tell you what to do if you know, but I always get my stuff ready for afterwards before I get in.’
‘No, carry on,’ said Patsy. ‘We don’t know anything, right?’ The others nodded, so Nora carried on.
‘So, I have my towel ready to grab and then my clothes in a pile in the order I’ll put them back on. Once you’re out, the most important thing is to get your wet stuff off as quickly as you can and get dried and dressed quickly, so you don’t get too cold.’
They stripped off down to their swimming costumes. Nora had given them a list of basics that they might want to bring if they had them to hand. She’d suggested neoprene gloves and socks, although the water wasn’t so cold now that they were essential, and they wouldn’t be in for that long today.
Nora lowered herself into the water from the dock and stood up. ‘It’s not that deep here,’ she said, the water coming to just below her waist. ‘It’s a good place to get in and out.’
‘Here goes,’ said Jess, lowering herself in next, and managing it with little more than a sharp intake of air.
‘Oh god, is it freezing?’ Lois said.
‘Of course it’s freezing,’ said Hilary. ‘Look at it.’
‘It’s actually not that bad,’ said Jess. ‘It’s warmer than the English Channel on Christmas Day.’
‘Oh, well in that case,’ said Patsy, laughing. ‘Christ!’ she shouted as she lowered in with a splash. ‘It’s bloody freezing!’
Lois dipped a toe in, her eyes widening in shock. ‘It is!’
‘You just have to get in,’ Jess said. ‘Do it in one go or you’ll never do it!’
Lois took a deep breath and lowered herself in in one swift move. ‘Arrggghh!’
They all laughed, including Lois.
‘Okay, put your hands in. Getting your wrists acclimatised will help you get used to the temperature before we go any further,’ said Nora.
Apart from Nora, they all had their arms crossed but they reluctantly dipped their hands in the water.
‘When you feel ready, bend your knees and dip yourselves in up to your shoulders.’
Jess went first and seemed quite happy. Lois, still on a roll from when she got in went next and to everyone’s surprise just started swimming. ‘I just need to swim,’ she called as she headed off.
‘Come on, we’d better stick together,’ said Jess.
Patsy rolled her eyes, dipped herself down, swore loudly, making Hilary roar with laughter, and the three of them set off after Lois.
‘Everyone feeling alright?’ Nora asked after a minute.
‘I’m actually starting to feel warm,’ said Jess. ‘Not in an “I’ve got hypothermia way”, though.’
‘Good! It’s actually not as bad as I was expecting,’ said Patsy. ‘How far are we going to swim?’
‘Not too far today. We’ll turn round when we get to that wooden platform with the rope tied on,’ Nora said.
Lois screamed. ‘There’s something by me!’ and started splashing around, which caused Patsy to panic and do the same.
