We appear to be having a respite during heatwave number 3. But just for a few days.
This past Saturday night, when it was still stupid hot, I did this:
It was utterly magical – and a welcome antidote to our crazy world.
(Night fishing at Antibes, Pablo Picasso 1939)
The local pool does these sorts of periodic events. In the winter you can cold swim (the pool is heated by solar panels but during the winter clearly there’s less daytime light in England so they tell you to wear a wet suit or some such thing).
There’s another one scheduled for August and the last of this season in September.
Around 50 people participated – as the flyer says, 16 and over. I think they should do a separate 16-25 night as the young’uns were a bit annoying.
Anyway, I haven’t been swimming in a long while but if they did this on a regular basis I’d go. Swimming in the dark is … other-worldly.
I no longer own a proper swimsuit. The last swim couture I bought was for the trip to the Maldives years ago. So, I swam this time in my short-sleeved sun protection top and skort (skirt-shorts combo – see pic – as opposed to the long-sleeved, leggings sun protection stuff I also own).
Right now, the sun goes down around 9:30, but it stays light still till around 9:45. This is when we all got in the water.
Oh, and you have to wear a swim cap – because they give you these small lights to put under the cap which make swimmer look like fireflies. This is a poor pic as it makes us look like we have lasers rather than blinking lights (ie, like fireflies).
No perfume worn but I came home smelling mildly of night flowers and chlorine. One of the joyous smells of summer.
What do you think? Is this up your alley? Have you done night walks to see bats or other nocturnals?
Pics: pablopicasso.org, Topsham Pool and mine
The one thing I miss about the big house was our pool 10 steps from the back door. Swimming at night was one of my favourite things. Midnight laps seem to go much easier and smoother. It’s also unbelievably refreshing.
Our pool was well floodlit because funnel webs love a swim and we would get them regularly in the pool.
Portia xx
That looks so COOL! And the smell of chlorine is one of the defining scents of Summer, I agree – as long as you don’t leave it on too long ( I get itchy)
However! Having said that…I am unlikely to swim at night. Nor would I swim in a black pool- I am a big fan of seeing what’s in a pool- every bit of it!
Never been night swimming or cold water swimming. I like my water indoors & warm as toast.
I can imagine it being otherworldly though. It put me in mind if REM’s Night Swimming track. Possibly the most haunting & eerily beautiful yet deeply depressing pieces of music