Some of you know my recently found love for the cold water swimming. One of my neighbours started talking last year about the cold water pools near here, that fill with spring water, and that he was eager to try cold water swimming. I had been taking cold showers for almost a year by then, so naturally, I was intrigued. Scared, but intrigued. With cold showers at home, you are in total control. Either you want the cold shower or just turn it warmer, but with cold water swimming, when you go with buddies, you're gonna have to go in, whether you're ready or not.
After the first very scary time at the cold pools, I've been hooked since. Tried swimming in the sea at the marina - there's a specific place for cold water swimming with a sauna, but mostly stuck to the local spring water pools. The temperatures have been barely above zero usually, with blocks of ice often floating around.
But now most of the sports facilities are closed, so the next step for us was try lakes, where you can immediately jump into deep water, and do so without warming ourselves up later in sauna.
We did a first try without sauna at the coldwater spring pools before the facilities closed down the next day. Since we liked it, we progressed to visit nearby Maidla Lake at weekends, where there are floating bridges and pontoons, where you can jump into clear water and enjoy yourself.
But Maidla lake is 23 kilometers away and we have a much closer spot here. Possibly approximately 10-15 minutes of driving through the edge of the city, Lake Männiku, which is now also called Wakepark, due to the summer wakeboarding facilities, is much closer. I have ridden my bicycle here multiple times, you can take the forest roads or hit the pavement, whichever one you fancy best.
There's a bunch of cars here. What are all these people doing here? The cold winter breeze is blowing and fingers are feeling it. There's a closed disc golf track around the lake, but people are still playing. Oh well, if they keep their distance, they're not hurting anyone and really, people need fresh air, sport and even some kind of minor social life, to keep their health and mental wellbeing in check. Most seem to be in groups of two so all good, right?
Although the cold breeze is biting, the air is 4 degrees Celsius. No ice on the lake, so the water is probably around the same, 3-4 degrees. We just had heavy snow in the last two days, so anything is expected.
On this side of the lake, the sun is shining, but I'd rather not jump into the water here, since afterwards I'll have to change into dry clothes fast and it's not very nice to shuffle around in the sand then. This sand here on the sloping beach turns burning hot in the summers, so on some days it's impossible to walk here barefoot.
The next corner of the lake has bridges and clothing booths anyway, so we move closer there.
It's totally deserted. I guess I expected at least some couples walking here, enjoying the sunset, but all the young people are inside playing their PS4 these days or just doing something else. The "max 2 people in groups or families moving together" rule has hit hard. Or maybe just people don't like to spend time at lakes in the cold winter evenings.
Someone has moved an ugly store booth here from the marina. The address and the name on the booth reveal that it's the alcohol store from the main passenger terminal at the marina. Well, this place needed a proper cold beverage and ice-cream store with bank card payment options ages ago, so fine. But it's ugly, I hope they pretty it up for the summer.
Moving in. Since I'm not with my buddies today, I lack the team spirit and hesitate for a second. The wind is nasty and I'm still feeling the strong lunch we just had. "Best would just be to lazy around at home". After a moment of weakness, I shake these emotions off and strip and splash into the water.
It's perfect.