Rough, windy start to Month 4

I hadn’t originally planned to swim today, mainly because it meant a fast turn around from leading the online meditation for Colchester Buddhist Centre, to being changed and in the water for the high tide. As I was up in good time to pack my bag and prepare before commencing the 7am daily meditation, I decided to go for it.

The wind was a brisk 20mph coming from north-north-west, which produced some really impressive swells, at least for our coastline. The temperature of the sea had risen to 6.2 degrees and it felt considerably warmer than the recent sub 5 degree plunges.

When I arrived there were also some impressive skies, which turned to dark grey whilst I was in the water. However, that’s the first 500m of the fourth month of this challenge completed. The medium term forecast is suggesting a slightly colder spell may still arrive but I’m anticipating the water temperatures will start rising, in which case I will be looking to put in some longer swims. In the meantime, 500m is my first ‘baby-strokes’ towards the 3,000m monthly target.