Old castles and Harry Potter. Dip 37.

I’m still swimming! 🏊🏻‍♀️🧜🏼‍♀️👙

Week 8, swim 1

Bikini challenge swim 37

Aln River

Water temp 8.1c

This swim took place on Monday this week, when I decided to try a new spot in Alnwick. I went along with my super swimming friend Jane Hardy, on a bright sunny day, which wasn’t of course quite as warm as it looks on the photos. The stunning Alnwick Castle was behind us in the background, one of the oldest castles in the country and which dates back to the 11th century. I used to work as a tour guide (and cleaner, shop assistant, waitress and admissions) there and it is the family seat of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, the Percy family. Harry Hotspur, the famous medieval knight, was born here too! It was also the setting for the first Harry Potter films - to the right just past the scaffolding, is where the computer generated quidditch pitch was! Harry and co took to their brooms for the first time behind those walls.

We clambered in near the weir, Jane unfortunately being stung on the backside by a nettle, which makes a change from jellyfish. The water was a very brisk 8.1c, and you could tell the difference! My core parts in my armpits were bloody frozen after not too long, but it was a lovely dip. Jane shrieked at one point and asked, presumably for reassurance, that the slippery thing which had just gone past her leg was my leg....it wasn’t...cue chat about crocodiles (she tends to discuss sharks when in the sea), and some nervously hysterical laughter as we realised it had been a gigantic fish 😳

You cannot get a nicer view than this while swimming though....right on my doorstep too 💕

We got out and changed, much to the bemusement of several dog walkers out on their lunch walk....you get used to people doing double takes. I had forgotten my thermometer, so borrowed Janes, who usually forgets hers, though I promptly took it home with me...we are not a good combination!

A splendid swim to start my week, next one not until Friday. Nights are closing in, the weather and sea are getting wilder and the challenge is getting harder 🧜🏼‍♀️👙🥶🙅🏼‍♀️