When living in Britain, although I have always greatly enjoyed a swim, it never once occurred to me to go swimming in a river and although I enjoyed frequenting an outdoor pool during my teens, once this had closed I never again lived anywhere near an open pool (as so many others also sadly closed in the 1990s- why? why? why?)
It wasn’t until I moved to Devon in
2012 that I discovered the thrill of open water swimming, namely the
sea at Sidmouth and the delightful Buddleigh Salterton. But of
course, however wonderful swimming in these locations was, the swell
of the sea, which was often fairly violent onto a sharply upturned
pebbled beach, meant an incredibly undignified and often quite
painful entry and exit each time. But it was still wonderful – I
even spotted a seal popping his head above the water one morning!
And although I sorely miss the sea now
living in this landlocked country, the pain is hugely compensated for
by the ease with which I can once again reap the benefits of a cold,
outdoor dip. Within 10 miles of our house, there are no less than ten wonderfully equipped outdoor swimming pools and a bundle of beautifully clear lakes
(including the centre of Zurich) where I am encouraged to swim, with
accompanying café, beach, toilet and shower facilities.
My favourite haunt right now
(especially for the FKK area when the kids are at
school) is Katzensee (see below) a wonderfully wild lake which is instantly
accessible from the motorway and has a lovely shallow entry for ease
of access. If I am short of time, it has to be the outdoor pool at
Toss, which I often have to myself if it is overcast. The water was
just 21 degrees this morning and after quickly recovering from the
cold I enjoyed a half hour swim which set me up for the day – my
skin is still tingly as I write this at 10pm. I honestly feel this is
the best cure for depression – I challenge anyone to feel miserable
after a cold swim!
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