The distances Australians travel to enjoy the outdoors are difficult for the British to comprehend. Victoria has some spectacular coasts and waters to enjoy, and we caught glimpses of some of them on our journey to the next destination on our trip. Continue reading Swimming in Victoria, Part 3: ‘just down the road’ from Melbourne
Category Archives: Swims
Melbourne Part 2: suburbs, beaches and further afield
Melbourne’s suburbs and beyond provided more possible river and beach swim places. Swimming and outdoor recreation have always been popular in Australia, but access to swimming places is still uneven. Continue reading Melbourne Part 2: suburbs, beaches and further afield
Melbourne and beyond: Part 1: swimming in the city
Swims and paddles I had – and those I’d like to have had – in Melbourne and Victoria: city rivers, beaches and lidos, suburban and country rivers, and ‘just down the road’. The area holds so many possibilities that there are three parts to my Melbourne story. Continue reading Melbourne and beyond: Part 1: swimming in the city
Daily swimming in the dam
The dam was my daily early morning swim spot for a few days on a key part of my trip to Australia and New Zealand. I swam in many different waters, but this was the place I got to know best. Continue reading Daily swimming in the dam
Outdoor swims in Australia and New Zealand: hot and cold
In my trip round New Zealand and Australia this March and April, I took dips whenever I could or paddles when I couldn’t. I plan to write about some of the more interesting and beautiful places. Continue reading Outdoor swims in Australia and New Zealand: hot and cold
Hackney Marshes swim 19 August 2016
A dip in the river at Hackney Marshes to start my London West, Middlesex and Thames swim trip, August/September 2016. With photo of me taken by professional photographer Marc Burden. Continue reading Hackney Marshes swim 19 August 2016
Swimming at St Helens: freedom in the forest
This lovely place brings together two joys in my life – swimming in rivers and enjoying the forest. It is magical any time of day or year, and is free to enjoy. Numerous families bring their children every summer. Continue reading Swimming at St Helens: freedom in the forest
A12 swim journey June 2016: I did it!
This is a round up of my journey in which I did about 30 swims or dips over 3 days in places along the A12 road with relevance to our lives, to remember my parents one year on and also to raise money for charities relevant to the ends of their lives. Continue reading A12 swim journey June 2016: I did it!
Swim journeys 2016
I have done two swim trips this year, which I have posted about on my Facebook page. I plan to put the stories and details on here soon. Meanwhile here are a few photos and links to Facebook stories. Continue reading Swim journeys 2016
Winter swims at Swanton Morley Mill
Swimming outdoors in winter is seen by many a strange activity. So I find myself skulking about and trying to avoid being seen as I go for my solitary cold dips.
Continue reading Winter swims at Swanton Morley Mill
First swim at Swanton Morley Mill
I first saw what is now my favourite local swim spot on a sunny late September cycle ride in 2012. I had just started river swimming and was looking for places to swim.
Continue reading First swim at Swanton Morley Mill
Blickling Mill / John’s Water: first river swim
I was keen to start river swimming, and had been looking at maps and guides and rereading Roger Deakin’s Waterlog during a hot spell in early September 2012, but wasn’t sure about taking the plunge on my own.
Continue reading Blickling Mill / John’s Water: first river swim
Burford river Windrush oxbow Sept/Oct 2013
“I discovered a whole new way of swimming rivers … it happened in a Cotswold tributary of the Thames, the Windrush, whose beauty to me that day was that it still winds, and still rushes.
Continue reading Burford river Windrush oxbow Sept/Oct 2013