The End of Things

And so we'd reached Friday. It had been a good week, but we were probably ready to have a break, from each other, certainly from driving, and probably from meeting swimmers. Almost everyone we'd met had been fantastic, but as the week wore on, we were less so. I didn't like to approach an interview with less enthusiasm that it deserved because I was feeling a bit jaded and wanted a day off. Nevertheless, there we were on Friday morning, swimsuits under our clothes and bags under our eyes, ready for a swim in Llyn Padarn with Vivienne Rickman-Poole.

We'd passed the Llyn the night before, when we arrived in Llanberis. It's an odd little town, charming enough but it's pull to tourists far greater than it might have been were it not located at the foot of Snowdon. It's from Llanberis you catch the Snowdon Mountain Railway, the train that'll take you to the summit, should you prefer this route (and forking out £27 per person to donning your walking boots). We were there to do neither today, and drove away from the bustle of breakfasting tourists and hikers, and towards the 'Lagoons' as Vivienne had temptingly called them in her email. The gravel car park was deserted, and we stepped from the car and tested the water, waiting for Vivienne to arrive. The water was cool and crystal, and reflected the shadow of the surrounding peaks perfectly, along with the morning's high white clouds. Vivienne arrived soon after and we made our introductions, thanked her for letting us share this place, and we entered the water.

One of the questions we've asked the swimmers this week is what water they like to swim in most. Is it lake swimming, or river, sea, even lido. For me, the water that I feel most at home in, and the landscape I most adore is the sea. I know that, if by the grace of God I get to old age I'll be found in a car park or cafe in Eastbourne or Aberystwyth, crepe hands clasped, staring at the ocean as it undulates, it's rocking leading me home. So it was with some surprise that as soon as the three of us lowered ourselves into this great lake, this swim would be my favourite. Maybe it was the poignancy of the week coming to an end, or Vivienne's unspoken understanding of the project, but as we swam a slow breaststroke towards the middle of the lake - Vivienne's favourite swim here and the best aspect from which to enjoy the glorious landscape - I felt almost overcome. The cool dark water gave an exquisite welcome to us, and the sky and the mountains parted in ripples, mirrored as they were in the depths. It was wonderful.

After pausing to enjoy the landscape, we turned and swam alongside a wooded island copse, and then Vivienne led us through to the lagoons. We swam in rich, shadowy waters under a canopy of green, it was quiet and it was beautiful. I don't remember who spotted the kingfisher, but we all saw it skid above us then turn in an ultramarine flask and return over our heads, dip into the water then fly away. Sometimes we need to pause, to grasp a moment, to think 'what did I ever do to be so lucky?' This was such a moment and I am so grateful to Vivienne for taking us there.

Becca