Okay, okay! It wasn't a blizzard, but a nice heavy thick snowfall with a slight breeze making the snow twirl in your face.
When I was drinking my morning coffee, the nice thick snow started... the weather was beautiful. Although our bunch usually goes to swim on Sundays, looking at the weather portal yr.no promising us +5 degrees Celsius for tomorrow, I couln't risk it. I've wanted to swim with this kind of weather for a while now, just never had the chance with this lousy skiing weather. Now or never!
Called up a bunch of guys, nada. Who's at their country home, who's at work assignment abroad, who is a sucker. Most just are afraid of a little splash of cold water.
So alone it is.
Everything is easier when you're with friends, luckily Raili and her son came with me, but they stayed far away from the water and rather tested some skis and enjoyed the weather.
But almost no parking space! I'm already at the end of the lot and still no free space. Luckily there was a tiny opening at the very edge of the lot and I managed to snag it. When we were walking toward the pools, some spaces opened up closer so I ran back and managed to get a rather good spot right at the door (we had a bunch of stuff). It seems the snowy weather has attracted every ski enthusiast in the city to the health trails in the surrounding forests. Good for them!
Oh crap, the pools are totally frozen!
A small corner only to swim in! And the hot tub didn't seem to work, there was a lid on it. And no swimmers in sight. Disappointment rushing in, I saw some half-naked lads running out at the last minute and removing the lid on the hot tub, revealing hot steam underneath. So it's back on!
Seems everyone else is here to ski, only a few brave sould want are here to enjoy cold water and a hot tub with strangers.
Standing in the line for my ticket and locker key, looking outside at all the people stepping on skis, I can't help but to think whether this was a good idea.
Finally when I run out of the locker room with nothing but my speedos, people look at me like an exotic animal, some people shudder, some take photos.
The thermometer reports the air at 0 degrees Celsius and water at 2 degrees, but remember, that people say this thermometer reports 1-2 degrees too much. So the water is near zero. Figures, with all the ice and stuffs...
Finally, when I have done a few laps in the pool and a few rounds in the hot tub, I feel good. I'm glad I came. We even managed to break some of the ice away with some lads, so we could have more room for swimming.
When are you coming?