2013-07-28 - Let's go wild swimming - Dedham Vale

loving this concept, I'l all about the wild swimming. #missing london :'( might see if i can arrange to sleep over somethwere and make this.

Would be fantastic if you could make it, Ben! We could fit in some sprints to Manningtree Station for old times sake

This sounds right up my street and isn't much further than what I planned to do this weekend, but what kind of pace are you planning on? I don't think my post dun run legs can stand up to 80 more miles of hardcore non stop cycling.

Bloody nora, can't do Sunday, however I can do Saturday if anyone else is interested, its me a two pals, we were going to all tag along with you on Sunday, but someone has scuppered it. So I hope its alright to use the posted route. As payment I will post any obstructions or such and such.

Sunday 28 July - meet 8am, Pub on The Park, London Fields

80ish fixed-friendly miles from London Fields to Dedham Vale, with swimming at the end for those who want it. Trains back from Manningtree (about 20 mins ride) every half hour.

1. Whatok
   
2. Ian (conker)
   
3. Katy
   
4. Hairy
   
   

(I've cracked and started a list. Who's in, then?)

Not hardcore at all. Plan is to set off early and take it steadily. I think we had one longish stop last time (it was very hot), and a couple of little stops, but we definitely won't be racing it (not that I could even if I wanted to).

^^ Ah, shame.

yeah, I was looking forward to cycling with some strangers for a change (not weird is it).

Rad! I should be there then provided there are no extraneous circumstances :)

I'm out. My lady friend put up with me stumbling through the front door post-Dunwich and sleeping all day. Next weekend I've agreed to do things with her. Really will make it to one of these one day, I hope.

Hi guys, how fast are are you? I would love to join, but would not want to hold the group back..

Not fast ... but it's about 85 miles, so you need to be confident with the distance.

Ah perfect! Thanks KTBee, im not so much worried about the distance, its the speed + hills that may trip me over. Lets see how it goes =) how many hours do you normally take to get there?

I have a vague interest in tagging along. Possibly with gears as I'm not sure about doing it single-speed. If that's ok.

I might tag along too if that's kool.

I should be in for Sunday :)

Oli and I had a bit of wild swimming action on our London-Holyhead trip.

We had a paddle in Lake Vyrnwy, which is a Victorian reservoir which supplies drinking water to Liverpool (no swimming allowed, but we thought paddling was ok):

Then a paddle in an absolutely freezing mountain stream coming down off Cadair Idris. Given the water was coming straight down off the mountain I thought it would be good to drink too and it was, lovely and sweet.

Then we spent our rest day on Morfa Dyffryn, a massive golden sandy beach between Barmouth and Harlech. After we'd dragged our bikes through the dunes (difficult) we swam in the Irish Sea, which was surprisingly warm and crystal clear, and had little hermit crabs climbing over our toes!

Fox those pictures are lush!

^^ That looks absolutely glorious! Very envious.

I once slept on the top of Cader Idris - apprently it's meant to turn you mad or into a poet. Pretty sure I'm not interesting enough to be either of those.

I'm not sure the forecast for Sunday is quite so good - but the plan is to get wet at some point, I suppose.

Indeed, you should sell those pics to the Welsh tourist board Pete. And look how packed the beaches are! My stepdads got a little fishing boat based just up the coast at Aberdovey and gets amazing catches in the sea there, seems to get masses of sea bass and sea trout every time he goes and he even caught a cod there last year. And there's loads of dunes to do wild camping in round there.

And a few years ago when cycling from Barmouth through Happy Valley (great name) we saw a guy with a full drum kit hammering away on his own in the middle of field in the wilderness, very surreal. And they told us when we were in school that you were'nt a proper Welshman until you'd slept on Cadair Idris, you did well to escape with your gender intact Katie! They failed to mention we'd wake up either a poet or a madman, and of the group I went with there was definately more of the latter.

Sorry thread-jack, Pete and Oli got me pining for the valleys.

out! wedding! gaaaaahhhhh

1. 
   
2. Ian (conker)
   
3. Katy
   
4. Hairy
   
   
   

publicise this thread, guys! the list should be mahoosive..

Ah shame. Good point about publicising. I might try posting it on the internet ...

KT - what time would you expect to be in Dedham Vale?

I'm up for riding this Sunday and this looks good, the main issue I'll be facing though is the small matter of a party on Saturday night... staying awake all night then riding is no problem, but drinking a thousand cans of cheap lager might be an issue...

1. Ramaye
   
2. Ian (conker)
   
3. Katy
   
4. Hairy
   

KT - what time would you expect to be in Dedham Vale?
.

I think we got there about 3ish last time, but we were a bit delayed setting off, so hopefully a bit earlier. Would be great if you could make it, steaming hangover or not!

Excellent, well lets see what happens Saturday and hopefully I'll make it along!

not to put you off the wild swimming experience, this made me laugh

http://youtu.be/YsPFGiJjbvg