Early warmth

[Len W]

20.5°C here in Wembury on 8th April makes it equal second earliest 20°C in my 40-yr record with 21.5°C on 8th April 2020 . The earliest was 30th March 2021 with 20.5°C. The average for reaching 20°C is 4th May.

Len

Wembury 

SW Devon

[Graham Easterling]

> 22C in Penzance! I haven't the cofidence to make it any more precise, but my April record is 22.3C on 20/4/19. Offshore wind all day.

Had a very pleasant swim - in a wetsuit. 

At what point did going for an outdoor swim become 'wild swimming'?  It was the norm before god awful leisure centres. The are people that kayak, swim, surf, etc. in some pretty wild locations, but wild swimming seems to be coined by white, overweight, middle aged, middle class women in dry robes walking carefully down a few steps into the sea for local news film crews, before coming out to give great insight into the benefits they've achieved, mainly being on TV. There's one such group in Penzance who are never around whenever I go in, but mention a camera . .

Graham

Penzance

[Len W]

Good point about 'wild swimming' Graham. It is all about your endorphins apparently.

A bit of physical stress relieves mental stress they say.

The thought of not plunging myself into cold water relieves my mental stress.

End of story. LOL

Len

[Graham Easterling]

Yes, I don't doubt the science, and swimming in cold water is something I find enjoyable, I can't stand up to surf anymore. It's the fact they make such a big deal about it, as if it's some new discovery they've made.

In the old days in Penzance (talking the 1910s here) There were 2 swimming areas in Penzance. One off the prom where there were changing huts for the ladies. Battery Rocks for the men, who would swim naked. Now that's a bit more wild in my opinion. Apperently it was frowned upon by the English visiting by train.  Back in the '70s skinny dipping off the prom was largely restricted to Saturday night after a band at the Wints. (I saw Queen & Jethro Tull there)

Times have changed.

Graham