I returned from Madeira late on Sunday night. Brighton on monday morning was a shock. Very cold and very grey. I had got too used to nigh-time lows of 18 degrees and a sea temperature in the mid twenties. Re-adjustment as soon as possible was vital if I was to have any chance of continuing with winter swimming. This is the only explanation I can give for heading to the beach on a freezing, grey, late november lunchtime. On my way I passed the seasonal outdoor ice rink full of wrapped up skaters - not exactly confidence inspiring.
At least it was calm and the sea was flat. There was a frustrating number of huddled people on the beach - an audience makes it much harder to chicken out and you have to scream silently.... Strip, change, wade, dive, swear, swim out, swim back, run to clothes, get dressed. OK, it was brief, 5 minutes max but it was also at least 12 degrees colder than my previous swim. However, the cold water high hit me before I was fully dressed and I wandered back through town in a happy daze.
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