Swimming in the serpentine

A very nice afternoon swimming in the Serpentine at Hyde Park - to find the lido, the bit where you're allowed to swim in, look for the Diana Memorial, or it's on the Knightsbridge side, so just walk alonmg from K-Bridge along the park. It's four pounds, and there are lockers and a lifeguard on duty. They ought to include some sort of shower really, as it's possible to smell a little bit green afterwards. It's not as cold as the sea, which isn't as cold as Highgate Ponds. You'll see triathletes tootling up and down in wetsuits, mad old posh people that go everyday, and ordinary outdoor swimmers. Very nice to be swimming along past the trees and under the clouds, and it must be 100 metres long, which gives an ace workout. It's a bit eerie at first when you put your head under and can't see much apart from green, although you get to see your arms windmilling in front of you. After a while you get used to it, and the coolness of the water means you don't get tired as quick as ina pool. Another bonus compared to swimming pools is acres of water to swim through without having to worry about bumping into anyone.