Fish Hoek is the Baby Pool

Saturday

Today was the day…

That dawned incredibly still and gorgeous. We have had a run of windless days which are to be embraced and appreciated from sun up to sun set. Yesterday, when I walked back from the village, I took the mountain route and looked over Fish Hoek beach. This view…

I watched a couple of people swimming the length of the beach. They were way down the other side. I was envious. Surely, I could do the same. Today, when I saw how flat the sea was, I didn’t have it in me to say to Mike “I’ll see you in an hour!” but he did know I was going to swim beyond the Surf-Ski club because we had discussed my strategy to avoid being run over by a paddler. I got in and headed off to the end of the beach. I passed the lighthouse and then the entrance to the Surf-Ski club. The ocean bed changed shape. Gone was the flat sand – now it was undulating – deep  gullies weaved their way through the sand, displaying signs of a strong backwash. The sea was so flat, there was no danger today. Passing the Paddler route, I swam breast stroke, keeping my head above the water and an eye out for surf-skis taking to the waves. Once passed, on I swam, stopping from time to time to see if I could see Mike. Eventually, I knew he would be worried so I decided to swim to the 1km mark and turn back.  It was the first entrance to the red-roofed houses. Here’s the swim. The red arrow points to the lighthouse. I remember being so proud of myself being able to swim to the lighthouse and back! The red line by the 5 is the barrel (each number represents 500m). After I swam back, meeting Mike on the way, I swam to the barrel and then called it a day.

I’ve still got a long way to go to get to Clovelly! One day! I just have to choose my day. Later in the morning, while on a video call with Stacey and Elsie, I spotted three swimmers swimming from Simon’s Town to Fish Hoek. Now that is a long way! It made me remember that Fish Hoek beach is the baby pool of open water swimming. This is just the training ground. Not that I plan a super long swim. They seem to be beyond my ability (or maybe even desire). It’s called the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association. That’s the big pool!

Here’s the map…

Anyone who has done these swims is to be admired. But the GOAT of world open water swimming has to be Lewis Pugh. On his website, this is the kind of thing you read…

Let’s just swim 100km in 13 days…yes why not?! He’s an Iron Man for sure, because this swim was tame compared to others he has done.

I’ll stay in the Baby Pool.

Psalm 71:5

O Lord, You alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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