So I finally did my first open water swim of 2011 on Friday.  With the unseasonally warm weather here in the UK at the moment, the water temperature at Lake 32 (near Cirencester) wasn't bad at all.  I think the fact the lake is quite shallow helps the water temperature rise more quickly than some of the deeper quarry lakes.

As someone who is a self-confessed hater of crowded swimming pools and the monotony of 25 metre lengths (oh for a 50m pool...!) it was so nice to get away from chlorine, slower swimmers blocking your way and the featureless landscape of swimming pool tiles.