Before I left Cornwall last year I read a book called Waterlog by the late Roger Deakin and I find it has stuck with me – memories of some of his wild outdoor water adventures have become permanent images in my imagination and they help me when I am hesitating to take the plunge. If he could fling himself into an icy lake in Cumbria then surely I can do the same in the Pyranees? Over the past year I have swum of course many times in the sea but also in mountain rivers, lakes, woodland pools and, for sometime in the future, there is the tantalising dream of a dip in a totally wild unspoilt natural hot water mineral pool.
This favourite pool is deep and mysterious and isolated – you walk a long way up river to get there and are rewarded with a magical setting. I am sure Les Dones D’Aigua live here. That strange shape is my reflection in the water – it was totally clear.
A deceptively gentle looking river – it was impossible to swim upstream against the current. Had to wear my bathing costume here so it lacked that ‘je ne sais quoi’ of wildness.
Duna’s first long swim – like me she prefers calm waters.
These last pictures are of another hidden pool in the mountains of Montseny. Almost too cold even for me – but I did it!
And the dream of an open air natural hot spring? I heard of one close to the Bains of St Thomas in Catalunya Nord but we were leaving that day so it waits for next time….
Look! I’m following you. I was just thinking about Blue and Bonny today, and here they are the darlings. x
Hello sister dear – I expect you were looking at the Dogs Dogs Dogs post? thank you for following me – that makes three which is thrilling!
I was going to call this one Naked swimming in wild places – do you think that is better? K x
Hi Kate,
Waterlog is such a special book (and I think you’d like his other two as well). All these pools look so enticing – no wetsuit, then?!
D xox
I loved reading Waterlog – how could he be so brave plunging down into places where he didn’t know he’d be able to get out of…makes me chilly to think about it. But your pool looks enticing even for water haters like me..
Hi Diana – thanks for commenting. I will try to get his other books – loved this one.
Hi Liz – I can’t wear wet suits as they have those tight necks that make me feel I am being strangled! I think I have only worn my bathers two or three times here – the best beaches are nudist and in the mountains there is noone about so you can get back to nature!
Kate xxx
!!! That looks amazing and you are so brave. Lovely pictures and great writing Kate!
I feel brave to go the market and ask for vegetables in Catala and to drive on the autopista but jumping naked into cold mountain streams just feels natural – Pep thinks it is because I am Scottish and a Celt! K x