Gwilym's Adventure Blog

To break up my journey home, I booked on a Hypothermia Immersion Course at Lochore Meadows Country Park. After a short theory session and safety brief we had 3 practical sessions Cold Water Shock - We only got in for around 30 seconds to watch initial response (I volunteered for this one) before getting warm fairly quickly and easily. 3 minute exposure - 2 willing volunteers (in picture( swam around a bit to see what happens once the shock passes, you catch your breath and you are in the stage where you can swim about. These two hardy souls were warmed up somewhat slower and needed some assistance and warm drinks. As long as you can - The last 2 volunteers (absolute heroes) managed around 6 minutes and needed lots of after care, warm water, full wrap in a blizzard bag and monitoring for some time. Always good to see the stages first hand and absolutely no regrets that I volunteered for the shortest session. Water Temp was 7.9 degrees and Air around 4.5 degrees

This week I have been at Adventure Activities base on the Isle of Wight working for Wet and High Adventures Ltd running a National Beach Lifeguard Qualification for some of their staff We had mainly sunny days but the water was still very cold and sub 10 degrees which made the open water sessions a little challenging at times. Good efforts from all candidates and all those who took the exam passed and there were some very impressive swim times in the pool.

Today I was down at Dawlish Warren mentoring a new Trainer Assessor and conducting some Quality Assurance on a RLSS National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification . In simpler terms this would be described as getting very wet on the beach whist watching some people get battered in the sea.

In order to help us recover form the descent yesterday, Rick and I cycled down to Lake Geneva for a swim, rest and lunch before cycling back along the lake and up to his house. The lake was about 24 degrees and although vis seemed a bit murky it was probably all the bathers. I could still see a few fish about. I am not sure that cycling uphill in 30 degree heat is to be deemed a rest day but it was good fun all the same. My short visit to Switzerland has been very successful but tomorrow morning I will be on the motorbike riding back to catch the ferry home. I hope the weather has been as good at home as it has been here.

 Llyn Padarn Trying to dry kit Today I was at Plas Y Brenin for the BMC Coaching Symposium . A lot of theory today but some of it was useful. Tomorrow is mainly practical so we will be able to put it into practice. After finishing such a classroom orientated day I was desperate to do something so managed to grab a swim in Llyn Padarn at Llanberis, but not feeling my usual brave self I wore a 2mm wetsuit.