I did it.

This Saturday was when I had to complete my sporting challenge of completing the Great East Swim. For those who have joined me recently (Welcome by the way) My surfer son set me a challenge of swimming a mile in open water with him and his sister, little one. They are both RNLI beach lifeguards. Unfortunately Surfer Son is quite poorly at the moment and couldn't do it, but after weeks of training my time had come.

The weather wasn't good with heavy showers and gusty winds on the drive to Ipswich and I was getting very nervous.
When we got there however the sun was shining and there were people everywhere.



My transport was certainly turning some heads.



As were my fellow travellers/ competitors. My little one is in the middle.



My first glimpse of the water and it looked very cold but actually it wasn,t. The photo's aren't wonderful. Put it down to nerves. we had to swim out around the big yellow buoys and back.




Just as we were about to start the black clouds started gathering again and as I approach the 1/4 mile buoy the wind really whipped up the water and the rain was so heavy that I couldn't see the next buoy but at least it made the water even warmer. Once the rain stopped it was just a case of keeping in a straight line and not drifting off, which of course we were all doing. It was certainly different from swimming in a pool.



I finished in 45minutes and 18seconds and raised nearly £200 for the RNLI which I am chuffed with, but if you think your going to see a picture of me in wetsuit, swimming hat and googles, forget it. I do have some self respect left, all be it not much.

I wanted a go on this when we finished but apparently I am too old, can you imagine that.



Tomorrow I'll tell you about the family party in Kent on Sunday. I had a busy weekend.

TTFN
Gillx
P.S
I understand that a lady lost her life at the swim on Saturday and my sympathy and thoughts are with her family.