August 11
Lifeboat Tea
Hi fellow seniors, have you ever been swimming in a lake, river or sea?
Just recently I’ve noticed that preparations are going ahead for our annual Boxing Day swim in the bitterly cold North Sea here in the UK.
My son who is a volunteer lifeboat man often pulls those poor frozen souls out and offers them cups Of Tea and wraps them in what looks like the previous days turkey foil.
As to why they do it I’ll never understand.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/6709402/Christmas-2009-top-10-festive-swims.html
Many years ago now I preferred to swim in a warm, calm lake or river but these days I would be hard pressed to find an unpolluted one.
So do you like to dip your toe in the water?
@ Thanks Harry, I’ll pass on your comments to youngest son and crew.
This is from someone from the American colonies.
Every February for the past 11 or 12 years, I’ve participated in the POLAR BEAR PLUNGE for the mentally challenged. I’ve been able to raise $200-$300 each year. We go down to the beach (Virginia Beach, in the Virginia colony), and, enmasse, we jump into the waves.
Many years ago (1972-73) I was stationed in Antarctica (McMurdo). I got to know some divers temporarily assigned to the base. They found out I was a certified diver and offered a chance to dive with them using one of their experimental wet/dry suits. We lasted about 1/2 hour in the frigid waters off McMurdo, Antarctica. But what an experience! I’ve been diving (and swimming) in many places around the world (while in the U.S. Navy)….Indian Ocean (off Mauritius and Kenya), the Red Sea (off Djibouti and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific, the South China Sea, and the Black Sea. I’ve gone ’swimming’ in the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee as well. I’ve been swimming & diving in 4 of the 5 Great Lakes (Erie, Huron, Superior, Michigan), and the Chesapeake Bay.
(USN retired 1965-85)
Cowes Week Tea Party
