Starting with seaside resorts and crumbling cliffs on the east Suffolk coast, via two tidal rivers, to the upper River Alde valley.

Brief explanations of the memories and significance of all the swim locations on Day 1 of my A12 swim journey (Roundups and charity info in post: A12 swim journey June 2016: I did it! https://www.imogensriverswims.co.uk/blog/imogens-a12-swim-journey-june-2016-i-did-it/). This and the other posts were written in 2016 just before or after the swim journey and updated December 2022.

From the Suffolk family home to Ipswich where we spent much of the last nine months of mum and dad’s lives, under many A 12 bridges, to leafy and watery Essex.

Brief explanations of the memories and significance of all the swim locations on Day 2 of my A12 swim journey (Roundups and charity info in post: A12 swim journey June 2016: I did it! https://www.imogensriverswims.co.uk/blog/imogens-a12-swim-journey-june-2016-i-did-it/). This and the other posts were written in 2016 just before or after the swim journey and updated December 2022.

From the green river banks of Essex, under more A12 bridges, to urban rivers, to east London pools – an architectural marvel, a popular lido, and a typical indoor pool – to tower block Hackney.

Brief explanations of the memories and significance of all the swim locations on Day 3 of my A12 swim journey (Roundups and charity info in post: A12 swim journey June 2016: I did it! https://www.imogensriverswims.co.uk/blog/imogens-a12-swim-journey-june-2016-i-did-it/). This and the other posts were written in 2016 just before or after the swim journey and updated December 2022.

My Facebook posts as I did them with comments and photos after each swim, together with updates about timing and location for those joining me and reflections on each day. In each post I directed people to my Facebook page, as the trip was to raise money for charities relevant to the ends of my parents lives, St Elizabeth Hospice (Suffolk) and the Stroke Association, as well as to remember them one year on. Afterwards I wrote a round up of it: A12 swim journey June 2016: I did it!

This is an account of my trip to recce the first swim on my journey, at Gorleston, just south of Great Yarmouth, on Saturday 7 May 2016. This is where the A12 starts, and my swim journey starts too. I came here as a child, and family friend and artist Bridget Heriz lives here now.

In 2016 I did a swim journey to remember my parents and raise money for charities related to their deaths, at places relevant to the family threaded along the A12 Road. Round up and charity info in post:  A12 swim journey June 2016: I did it!

Mum and Dad often came to Southwold for summer walks along Gun Cliffs, the promenade and the pier, in recent years with my brother pushing the special off road wheelchair he made for mum (named “the buggy”) along the easy surfaces.

In 2016 I did a swim journey to remember my parents and raise money for charities related to their deaths, at places relevant to the family threaded along the A12 Road. Round up and charity info in post:  A12 swim journey June 2016: I did it!

Eastbridge has long been a favourite place for family visits. We would watch insects and birds in the flowery meadows, the woodland, the reed beds and the water lily filled river. I remember one occasion when we watched and laughed at a group of swans feeding with their bottoms in the air. In more recent years it provided easy walking, and was one of many places we went with the off-road wheelchair that my brother made so that mum could still enjoy the countryside when she couldn’t walk very far.

Our family often visited Aldeburgh. We particularly liked Sluice cottage, halfway between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness, a good place to park and walk along the short grass behind the beach and to look at the flowers in the shingle or to walk across the marshes.

In 2016 I did a swim journey to remember my parents and raise money for charities related to their deaths, at places relevant to the family threaded along the A12 Road. Round up and charity info in post:  A12 swim journey June 2016: I did it!