A year ago today I started regular sea swims. Here's what I've found out.
1. Most mornings, sunrise puts on an awesome show despite the worst forecasts.
2. Around 6 of us a year ago has grown to over 150. A community that's raising mental health awareness and assisting refugees.
3. The person who comes out of the water is different to the one who comes out.
4. Swimming in the rain is surprisingly magical.
5. In our swimming costumes, everyone is an equal.
6. The natural high from cold water lasts for hours.
7. There's seldom anyone in the water who's not got a huge smile on their face.
8. A few stormy days we've said "no." Nature wins.
9. Cold water's a better medicine for aches and pains (and hangovers) than anything bought over a counter.
10. Swimming is free. Everyone can do it.
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The Story
Back in March of 2021 I literally sold the shirt off my back to a very nice chap called Tim. It was a very special merino mountain shirt made by a snowboarder called Neil McNair who I met in Tignes one winter.
The reason Tim wanted to keep warm was because he swims in the sea almost every day.
He invited me to join him, so I did. With snow forecast that week I stepped off the RNLI slipway at sunrise, into the stinging water of the Bristol Channel.
The rest is history and my photographs below tell the story.
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