I’ve often walked along the river Wensum from Norwich railway station to the cathedral and Cow Tower, but never, in 14 years in Norfolk, seen much appeal in the place from riverside ambles. That is until we moved here, 7 weeks ago now.
There’s a Facebook group (that I’m not a member of, as groups drive me mad) called Cow Tower Dippers and my wife, Tricia, is a member and relays information to me – like she used to from the community Facebook group on Bluebell Meadow. They meet every Saturday at 10 am at Cow Tower and swim to Jarrold Bridge or the Ribs of Beef individually or in small groups, totalling usually about 10 people.
I did due diligence on the river, like I do with a new client when they ask this Norwich freelance web designer to work with them, and decided the alarmist news items about bacteria, e coli and pollution made river swimming there an absolute no.
Last Saturday, though, I ignored the naysayers and decided to swim in there.
Enjoyed it immensely so indulged again today with TikTok as evidence here.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not about to rush from our 5th floor apartment in St James Quay and load my Chilly bottle with Wensum water and swig it nonchalantly. Absolutely not. I know it’s polluted like most rivers and lakes, but, by not putting my head under water and not swallowing water, I figure it will be safe. It is. I’ve had no reactions from either swim.
But what it does is something that is widely documented but bears repeating. The initial walk into a river, lake, sea alarms and invigorates in equal measure, but once shoulders are submerged, there is little in life, in terms of exercise and exhilaration, to beat it. Now the Wensum is an ancient chalk stream, it has little tidal pull, it has weeds aplenty below the surface. It’s no Dordogne or Ardeche in spate – places I’ve canoed. It induces though this tremendous feeling of calm and composure. I’m a strong swimmer and have been since childhood and so there is no sense of peril whatsoever – apart from that initial coldness on first plunge.
What I would say too is that the river is no longer just a place we used to walk along and admire. It has become part of our lives. We can see it from our balcony – we regularly spot boats, canoes, wild swimmers, paddle boarders on there and it has become arterial and meaningful for us, if that doesn’t sound too much like writing flannel.
We’ve connected with the river with swimming and paddle boarding in there and with the exceptional summer we’re having, the urge to head abroad has disappeared. Our home and its location is like being on permanent holiday to be honest, with the south facing balcony, luxury accommodation and views to buy for as Hill Homes puts it.
I’ve other motives for embracing cold water swimming too. It is great physical exercise, but also wonderful mentally. I don’t have the highs of getting drunk now, the euphoria of a few pints, a gin and tonic. I did suffer from clinical depression from 2013 to 2016.
Cold water swimming though is better than the high of drinking, and it has none of its associated lows as a known depressant.
I’m not sure, come winter, that I’ll become a fully fledged Wim Hof disciple – but, with a new wet suit purchased last winter, who’s to say?
Google the river Wensum and quickly turn your back on it, as I’ve done for weeks; but, instead, head in with tow float and swim socks, keeping your mouth closed, and I guarantee you will feel differently when you experience Egyptian geese close by, roach circling, swans protecting broods, and dragonflies dipping in the gentle current.
They are living their best lives – we are too.
