[Pete Roberts]

R. Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 23-1-12: 6.5C

Water temp. has dropped sharply to what is average for the time of year. Current about normal but the river is a muddy brown, and shows signs of recently breaching its banks.

Pete

This post has been edited by Pete Roberts: 23 January 2012 - 16:15

[rosskesava]

Pete, if I wanted to measure the sea temperature from a groyne on the coast at Brighton, how would I do it? Do I just buy a decent thermometer and something to put it in like a cylindrical jar and just lower it from the groyn on a bit of string so as it's all gets full of water and then pull it back out the water and read read the temperature?

Maybe I'm asking a silly question?

Also, off topic, how's your health doing?

[Pete Roberts]

I use one of these:



supplied by Brannan

It's a swimming pool thermometer (aka scoop thermo.) which holds a sample in the "bucket". This ensures that the bulb remains submerged while a reading is taken.

Unfortunately the sea keeps moving around so I find it much easier to wade in until I'm waist deep and hold the thermo below the surface - a pair of Speedos are a necessary accessory!

If you don't want to get wet, a long piece of string will be needed.

Pete

[Pete Roberts]

R.Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 28th Jan '12: 6.5C

River muddy but running at its normal current. Water temp. hasn't changed since my last swim at the beginning of the week. River level normal - no recent sign of flooding. Increased my endurance but I still need to improve to reach my pre-stroke times.

Pete

[Pete Roberts]

Queen's Dock, Liverpool, 10th Feb '12: 2.5C

Pete

[Pete Roberts]

R.Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 11th Feb '12: water temp 3.0C

River very muddy but level normal. Current sluggish as usual. No ice.

Pete

This post has been edited by Pete Roberts: 11 February 2012 - 16:59

[Pete Roberts]

Rather post dry stats, I thought people might like to see the places I go swimming, together with scenes that highlight the passing seasons. I often accompany a friend on his lorry deliveries so can end up anywhere in the UK.

This is S.Yorkshire's River Calder pictured from where it passes under J25 of the M62. This spot is on the Mirfield side of the M62 while upstream are Brighouse and Rastrick - home of the famous brass band! Top pic was taken close to the A644 Wakefield Road.

The river had a spring "feel" today and the water temp. was 6.0C. Air temp was 10C and I watched a frog nonchalantly hop by - a little early for February. My endurance in cold water is increasing but nowhere near my personal best of 40 mins in water at 6C - I've got a long way to go.

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This post has been edited by Pete Roberts: 17 February 2012 - 17:54

[DG57]

I love your photos, Pete.

Have you seen any frozen or semi-frozen lakes/ponds recently in the UK?

I'm wondering, because a few ponds in the Languedoc region (South France) were semi-frozen during several days, last week (historic cold wave). A lot of flamingos had their long legs trapped in the ice and they died.

[Pete Roberts]

MorganeLanesle, on 17 February 2012 - 18:03, said:

I love your photos, Pete.

Have you seen any frozen or semi-frozen lakes/ponds recently in the UK?

There was ice in the east of the UK, and I know of winter swimmers who had to smash thick ice on the R. Gt.Ouse at St. Neots, before they could get into the water. Unfortunately on my side of the UK there was no snow at low levels.

Pete

[Pete Roberts]

R.Weaver, Frodsham, 18th Feb '12: 5.5C

Blustery and cold Northwesterly whipping up quite a chop. River muddy but flowing at its normal level and rate - about 1-2 mph.

Wildswimmer Pete

Edit: Must to try to improve my grammar

This post has been edited by Pete Roberts: 18 February 2012 - 17:27

[DG57]

Pete Roberts, on 17 February 2012 - 18:32, said:

There was ice in the east of the UK, and I know of winter swimmers who had to smash thick ice on the R. Gt.Ouse at St. Neots, before they could get into the water. Unfortunately on my side of the UK there was no snow at low levels.

Pete

Thanks for your answer, Pete.

[Pete Roberts]

This is the River Taff flowing through a little gorge between the site of the former Cyfarthfa Iron Works and the Cyfarthfa Park Industrial Park, Merthyr Tydfil. Just upstream of the pics were taken the two tributaries Taf Fechan and Taf Fawr join to form the Taff proper. Here the river bed is rocky with rushing rapids interspersed with deep pools. The water is brownish, no doubt from peat on the Brecon Beacons.

The site of the iron works is now a "reacreational area" with a footpath running along the river. One pic shows the remains of a blast furnace, with detail of the construction here. Pictured is the river taken in the gorge, part of which was strengthened by substantial brick walls from the era.

Despite the previous cold weather, river water temperature was a smidgeon above 6C. Weather at the time of my swim was overcast with sporadic light rain, and the date was 20th Feb '12.

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This post has been edited by Pete Roberts: 21 February 2012 - 20:41

[Pete Roberts]

My usual swimming spot in Frodsham, so for the R. Weaver I'll usually post water temps alone - just illustrated to show the change of the seasons, or particular weather events. This bank is really in Sutton Weaver - the river forms the boundary with Frodsham itself.

Looking upstream, the railway viaduct carrying the Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno line. The line is popular with steam enthusiasts as the North Wales Coast Express crosses the Weaver. The old Frodsham Bridge nows carries the A56 on its way to Chester.

Looking downstream is the M56 viaduct, with the Ineos Chlor (formerly ICI) works in the background together with the twin stacks of the combined-cycle gas-fired Rocksavage power station.

R. Weaver, Frodsham, 23rd Feb '12: 9.0C

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This post has been edited by Pete Roberts: 23 February 2012 - 21:45

[Pete Roberts]

R.Weaver, Frodsham, 29th Feb '12: 10.2C

First time I've recorded an inland water temp. into double figures this year, and surprisingly high for the time of year. No thermo error - it's the instrument I always use. Not only that I could feel that my body wasn't working as hard to maintain my core temp.

Pete

[Bluebreezer54]

Pete Roberts, on 29 February 2012 - 17:24, said:

R.Weaver, Frodsham, 29th Feb '12: 10.2C

First time I've recorded an inland water temp. into double figures this year, and surprisingly high for the time of year. No thermo error - it's the instrument I always use. Not only that I could feel that my body wasn't working as hard to maintain my core temp.

Pete

I enjoy your reports and photo's Pete. I trust your health is continuing to improve

[Pete Roberts]

Bluebreezer54, on 29 February 2012 - 18:23, said:

I enjoy your reports and photo's Pete. I trust your health is continuing to improve

Thanks for that - I don't feel happy with the world at the moment. Apparently my brain is rewiring itself, and relapses are frequent.

River Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 10th Mar '12: 10.0C

Edit: Current normal, as is the level. Water is greenish but othwise clear - possibly the first signs of suspended algae as the water temp. increases.

Pete

This post has been edited by Pete Roberts: 10 March 2012 - 17:07

[Pete Roberts]

Treeton Dyke, Treeton, Rotherham (lake) 11th Mar '12: 10C

I was with friends visiting family in Rotherham, and we went to Treeton Dyke, a lake formed by cutting off a bend of the River Rother when the river was straightened. An extract taken from here:

http://rotherhamunof...reetondyke.html

"During the 19th Century about 1840, the River Rother flowed through the course of the Dyke, prior to being canalised when the Midland Railway was constructed to the west. The new Rother then flowed in an entirely different course hence Treeton Dyke. The remaining lake was used to provide water for Orgreave Colliery until that closed."

The lake is used for several pastimes: waterskiing, birdwatching, fishing and swimming. The swimmers use the south of the lake, which isn't more than 4-5 feet deep. The bed is squishy clay, and unfortunately a certain element use the lake as a receptacle for beer cans - despite the fact they pass litter bins on the way their cars.

I was told I'd been swimming for about an hour in 10C water, which pleased me because my endurance seem to be returning.

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[Pete Roberts]

R. Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 17th Mar '12: 11.5C

Just as soon I changed and was making my way down to the river the threatening heavens decided to open. The rain was heavy and very cold, so much so that I suffered "ice cream head" despite wearing my neoprene helmet. My body wasn't affected as it was immersed in relatively warm river water.

Edit: Did it again: forgot the sate of the river. Flow and depth normal, the river appeared muddy but the water was clear enough to see my (black gloved) hands at a couple of feet.

Pete

This post has been edited by Pete Roberts: 17 March 2012 - 17:33

[HSEA2]

Pete Roberts, on 17 February 2012 - 18:32, said:

There was ice in the east of the UK, and I know of winter swimmers who had to smash thick ice on the R. Gt.Ouse at St. Neots, before they could get into the water. Unfortunately on my side of the UK there was no snow at low levels.

Pete

Yes, the Cam/Ouse in Cambridge managed to freeze over this winter...


Copyright Cambridge 2000

http://www.cambridge.../P20555395.html

[Pete Roberts]

HSEA2, on 17 March 2012 - 18:46, said:

Yes, the Cam/Ouse in Cambridge managed to freeze over this winter...

I'd have been able to experience that but of course here in the NW we had relatively mild conditions - so no ice swimming this past winter as the lowest water temp. I swam in was 2.5C


Meanwhile, an almost summery River Gipping, Gt.Blakenham, Ipswich, 22nd Mar '12: 10.0C

A concise history of the Gipping can be seen here:

http://www.rivergipp...es/History.aspx

and when the river reaches Ipswich itself it becomes the tidal River Orwell with its mouth situated between Harwich to the south, and Felixtowe. A certain Eric Blair had so much affection for the river he changed his name to George Orwell, best known for the classics 1984 and Animal Farm.

Incidentally, despite the competely different aspects, "Gipping upstream" and "Gipping downstream" were taken from midstream and I simply turned 180 degrees without moving. The two views could have been taken on different days in weather conditions, and illustrates how the camera doesn't always tell the truth.


Pete

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