right i think its that time of the year to start thinking about some open water swimming........
i go in the river taff...just off junction 32 of the M4 so easily accessible for all..........
you can swim half a mile upstream before turning back for the easier return leg..........parking just 30 metres from the river.
so who is up for a session soon
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i have my fill of the swimming pool and the sun is shining........it is a gorgeous place to swim........to all the new pirates out there...........it will make the race swim seem easier promise
Is the Taff heated then??
I'm thinking not until next month - so at least I'm thinking about it !
there is no snow in cardiff.........mind you there is still snow on the mountains in the brecon beacons.....which is where the river comes from
Rafiki.......if you swim behind me I can guarantee that it will be heated
Oooh, just had an idea....would that be better for starting Jr off in OW or is the flow of the river too strong?
the flow of the river is different every time.......a couple of days after a lot of rain and it can be very strong......one winter day it was like an endless pool......
if there has been no rain for a few days then it can be almost like a mill pond and fairly good for swimming.......still a current but its nice as it makes the return leg much easier.......
my first swim there i just did a small square swim at the point where i got in as it is quieter there and gets stronger as it goes up stream
BARKING
I walked a little down stream of where you swim last weekend the river was pretty high then, I know that we haven't had much rain since then but the melting snow might keep the level higher and the current looked pretty strong.
Brrrrrrrrrrr.
I realise Wales is more Southern than the Lakes, but it wasn't quite in the mediterranean last time I looked. Brrrrr brrrrrrr brrrrrrr brrrrrr bonkers brrrrrrr.
Seren, I'll be backin the river this year, but not quite yet. My swimming isn't up to par to be able to battle any current, but training hard for the Swimathon, and once that's out of the way, then the river will be on.
Always been Ok swimming inhere, but I do avoid any current that's too strong, or times after heavy rain when there could be water run off from nearny fields etc.
DF - stop being such a wuss. Some swimming pools can be pretty disgusting as well. And just think of what's in the oceans...
I wish I had a wetsuit and could do FC and I'd be there with you Seren.
I am desperate to get out of the pool and into the open water again... and my parents live in Gloucester so simple child care whilst I nip across the river... so don't need much persuasion... but something to do with still having snow around just seems to be putting me off
Which days do people normally swim there?
I think you made that up. Surely???
You won't be doing the Outlaw then DF3
My place is 365 days a year
I still fancy swimming in the River Avon, upstream of the confluence with the Severn. You see it as you drive up the M5. I've fished there and there was virtually no flow. Not too many fish either, but that's another matter.
to give an idea of how cold open waters still is, Marshman have postponed their event from the weekend of 4/5 May to 25/26 May (3 weeks) as the gravel pit water is still only 4C! it's usually around 10-14C in April......
Somehow I can't see the Taff being a lot warmer due to snow run-off from the Beacons
and fyi - the sea off GWR is just under 6C - it's usually around 10-12C now.
David F...........the taff is suprisingly clean......you can see your feet even when its 5 ft deep......
I swam moist weeks last year even through the winter and didn't get ill once........this winter I have been swimming in the local pool and have had a stomach bug and a headcold.........
no proof of linkage but i would swim in the river before the pool anyday....in sunshine like this it will be magical....
But i think i might wait until Broke confirms that the snow has melted from the beacons.....
Seren, I'm hoping to be at my parents over the bank holiday weekend at the start of May so if there's any swimming planned in the Taff that weekend then I'd be up for joining in.
shame its that wekend as i will be up north somewhere for silent assassians DIY half ironman.going friday to monday
Lots of Finnish people go regularly to 'swim' (some do actually do quite a bit of swimming, I think I managed about 6metres at a time x4) in ice cold lakes in the winter. It's supposed to be good for you. They do usually have a sauna by the lake as well which helps.