Wednesday, 6 July 2011

Miles 17 to 26.5 - I'm over half way in both distance and fundraising

By popular demand, I'm back with an update and some new people to introduce in my blog.  Have been swimming in a a number of different places - in the pool and in the great outdoors again.  Now completed over 26 miles and 23 swim sessions.  Looked at the training plan on the SWIM site today and I need to do some swims of over 2 hours IN THE SEA - yikes.  Can this old body cope ?

The first clip is of me swimming in Loch Morar.  If you are not familiar with this loch, it's the deepest in the UK and has a mythical monster called Morag.  So I interpidly set off for a swim.  It was a beautiful sunny day and me and my twin Ronald walked a few miles from the car along a track to a suitable spot for a swim.  I was not thinking about monsters at all (well just a wee bit).  The loch was crystal clear and about 10 meters from the shore it dissapeared into 100meters of deep, dark, creepy gloom.  It's like something out of a nightmare.  My imagination was running riot.  So off I set and just as I was telling myself not to be so stupid I swam over a fallen tree poking up out of the gloom and it brushed my leg.  Can you hear screams under water?  What a feartie.  So I decided to stay in the shallows and not to swim over the deep part.  What an admission from some-one who does not believe in monsters, or maybe I do now.  Anyway - here is the video and my twin makes a quick appearance too !

 
after - featuring RONALD !!!
 
Next clip was taken by my sister, Irene, visiting on holiday.  So of course I had to rope her in to coming to the beach at Traigh and filming me ... she does a great running commentary and is not much good at keeping my head in the shot and too much filing of my rear end, which really should be getting smaller :-).  The weather was wonderful again - its always like this in Scotland and look at those beaches !


And last clip, and for a change I have some company for my swim.  It's been a busy week chez widdop in Arisaig.  My friend Fran arrived with the kids and she wanted to get out swimming - in the rain - because she is training for an Iron-Man.  Now that's what I call crazy !  When will I get friends that want to do 'normal' things.  It's my own fault, save me from mediocrity !  Fran and I swam out from the marina in Arisaig bay for nearly an hour.  It was great, thoroughly enjoyed it, despite the rain.  It's wet in the sea anyway.  The only concern was the number of seals I had seen out there recently and there are lots of pups.  The bigger seals may come over to have a look but the pups would come right over to you and then mummy seal would be right after them.  Must practice my seal deterrent scowl.  Truth be told, I think all the splashing about the seals would have thought 'no danger going over there - look at those numpties, tell them to get back onto the land' ... or maybe not.  I'm sure seals can speak english?

Before
 
After
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