Poolside Percy

Bank holiday Sunday afternoon swim with GF. Pretty cloudy. Water was clear and warm. Question. It cost £4.50 to get in to the Lido but you can't use the indoor pool or any of the facilities like the shower. What's that all about? Place was deserted apart from a few people in wetsuits. Water is 20 degrees for crying out loud, it's well easy to swim in a wetsuit, takes no effort. Within no time at all we had the place to ourselves. I swam the last 16 of my 32 lengths of a massive, outdoor heated Lido on my own. Swimming underwater was very, very peaceful indeed. Sat around the pool waiting for GF. Realised that Park Road Lido is a place of great beauty. I don't think Haringey Council are all that bothered.

Water temperature: 16 degrees Tuesday 6:45pm session. Very cloudy, spitting with rain. Lots of rubber-clad swimmers. that's not really swimming is it. Swam about 10 lengths. Glad I made the effort.

Water temperature: 18 degrees Late Sunday afternoon/early evening swim. Finally swam a mile at the Lido following a medium-sized Saturday night at me mate's in Reading. Had Omelette Arnold Bennett made for me for breakfast. Now there's a first. Lido was pretty deserted. Water was luscious. Beautiful swim. Decided the final part of my post Saturday night treatment was to rehabilitate myself at McDonald's Health Restaurant and Spa in Hampstead. Deli sandwich, large fries and a strawberry milkshake was spoiled by a father screaming at a smelly bloke who he accused of punching his son. Should have gone to Kentish Town.

Water temperature: 16 degrees Early morning dip. Took me ages to get dressed and pluck up the courage to jump in. Plodded my way through 10 lengths. Very, very enjoyable. Still not done that mile. Maybe Saturday...

Orbit Tandem Water temperature: 16 degrees Dropped DW at school and cycled over to The Lido. Water still a little chilly but managed 14 lengths before moving off to King's Cross after an incredibly hot shower. That's five mornings on the trot. Well done me.

Water temperature: 16 degrees Right then, this early morning swimming business is becoming a habit. Temperature has dropped a degree. I always feel really brave as I approach the Lido on my bike, it's a different story when I'm in my trunks at the water's edge. Wow, what a difference a degree makes or is it the air temperature? Matched every one of those sixteen degrees in lengths. Hot shower and home. Bumped in to the lovely Jenni outside.

Water temperature: 17 degrees Another sunny early morning swim, this could get addictive. I suppose there are worse things to get addicted to. Managed a brisk 20 lengths before heading off to work. Still not managed a mile (27 lengths). Maybe at the weekend when I have more time. Things just seem to take that bit longer at The Lido.

Water temperature: 17 degrees Beautiful Tuesday morning swim before work. Met my sister outside. She bought a season ticket, must buy one. Swam together for the first 14 lengths or so before she swam off to take her son to school. I plodded on for another 5 or 6 lengths. Body acclimatised to the water now. Chatted to one of the Lido codgers before cycling off to work. Oh yeah, got stopped by the Hampstead Heath Constabulary this morning for cycling off piste.

Water temperature: 17 degrees Another early morning swim. Glad to say the water had warmed up a bit. Still had to do the first length frontcrawl tho'. Managed 12 lengths. Had a proper swimming hat which made a big difference. Beautiful morning. Bumped in to my sister on her Pashley on the way out.

Early morning swim. Dropped DW off at school on the tandem, bumped in to DT and gave her a lift to work. Sped over to the Heath borrowing £2 off George on the way. By this time the sun had finally got it's act together. Anyway, the sign said 14 degrees so I borrowed a swim hat (more like a water polo hat) from the very nice staff. it was one of those mornings. I dived in. The coldness of water really took my breath away. Swam a couple of lengths to warm up. Ended up lying in the shallow end with my head on the side, wallowing in the sunshine. My body went in to emergency what the hell you doing mode and my head just kind of went all trippy. Amazing feeling. Swam a few more lengths and cycled home. A great start to the day.

May Day swim with my sister. Water a very respectable 17 degrees. Managed about six lengths. I love The Lido. BBQ round mine later.