How not to swim in the north sea: Old Hunstanton:Sea far far away: 11:45

JJ

 

I am shamefaced at the fact that it has been 14 days since my last swim a frustrating head cold and work having got in the way. The last time it was on one of those sticky hot days which lulls you into the false sense that summer hasn’t ended and all those copper coloured trees and the morning frost are an illusion. 14 days later it is most definitely autumn, which I love by the way despite it limiting my sea time. But I know that my body needs to be regularly in the sea to keep acclimatized cold showers just aren’t enough. My camera seems determined to only show blissful blue skys even though on the long trudge out to the shore line, we are drenched by a passing squall. The tide even at this distance is still going out and I am somewhat regretting not getting here at some ungodly hour this morning to swim off the high tide. Even though my companion refuses point blank to even contemplate swimming I am far from alone today the kite surfers are out in force and are flying from crest to crest on the extremely choppy sea. I strip off my wet clothes and run in and wade out through the surf which is boiling around me an eye out for the surfers who are zipping along to my left. It is colder I can tell straight away but still not the sharp shock. As soon as I am fully under it stops raining and the sun comes out directly overhead I kick back into the waves facing the shore and It could be the middle of summer except for the growing prickly feeling in my hands and arms, I watch the tiny people walking along the beach, the swell is strong and I don’t let myself get out of my depth as I can feel the pull out to sea. The all over body pins and needles effect starts to get a little much so I pull myself out even the crashing surf not pushing me in but weirdly holding me in place, I am glad that I haven’t left it to long as I can see how quickly the cold is tiring me today. Scarlet and hot I take my towel and we walk back to the dryer sand to change. Putting on damp clothes is hardly ideal and I forgo the warming tea at the beach café to get back to the car, and some furry boots to warm my numb toes.  When to wear a hat is a question I am debating as well, I loathe the rubber ones but if it means it’s more bearable then I guess I will suffer it, though today some kind of flashing beacon would have been useful as I spent most of the time worrying I was about to be knocked out by a surfboard.