Swim 7, getting cooler, faster, and later

6:25 pm. I repeat the same swim as reported last time, and more or less the time before that. We've had a cooler day, sort of overcast at times, so I wasn't expecting crowds of people on the bank.

Fresh earplugs in really tightly (don't want waterlogged ears any more than necessary), goggles on and wade in. Noticeably colder! I emit a sort of a hooff-hooff-hooff effect getting started, but there's no profanity. After five minutes the internal register goes from cold to cool, as I generate some heat.

There are a few ducks, which take off during the initial splashing. After that it's just me and the midges. There may be people on the bank, I don't know. Firstly I'm concentrating on the stroke (alternating breast stroke and crawl) and secondly my earplugs are too effective for chit chat.

Despite the slightly autumnal feel, it's a pleasant atmosphere. The sun tries to break out now and again, and illuminates the eastern bank with pale gold. Some of the trees have golden tinges anyway, rather than green. If there are fish, I can't see them. A few insects bother the water, but no birds are feeding on them tonight. Other birds get ready for bed. It's good to think about not much except flowing through water, the breath, and the passing of time. Daily thoughts from the inbox try and cling to my mind, but I'm adept at letting them float behind me.

Passing the Manor Inn beer garden slash play park, a gaggle of small kids laugh and wave. I wave back. I make Trowers bridge at 28:30. Back down to the start in 19 minutes or so. I wave, but not talk to quite a few joggers, some in large clumps (I think it's Waverley Harriers), plus a few other random walkers, runners and cyclists. All moving along at speed, going places, no Pokemon gathering, blackberry picking or loitering tonight.

I had the fish tied up on the side. 16 degrees C.

So that's another 1650 m, total now 7450 m. I might have to borrow a few days from September to make the August 10 km target!  Busy work week coming up. The next swim might have to be the morning, or even closer to sunset.

As I pedal home, I have the lights on. Another sign of the season starting to turn.