It was rainy and windy, Ralph was still asleep, I resolved to swim. As I stood, shivering and naked (but for my bikini), at the water’s edge, I realised it was the first time in my life I was to go for a proper swim on a cold day. And deliberately walking into that cold* water felt like one of the strangest decisions I have ever made**. Because there was no escape from the cold, it felt so unnatural (did I mention it was cold). But then the relief to find that I got used to the water as easily as if it was a hot day, and that I felt warm walking out (still naked, but for my bikini) and stayed warm. So being immersed in cold water warmed me up. Wot?!
A list of things that were not in Muizenberg 10 years ago:
Granadilla lollies
Oystercatchers
Starbucks
* Water temperature has ranged from 14* to 18*.
“Based on our historical data over a period of ten years, the warmest water in this day in Muizenberg was recorded in 2021 and was 19.9°C, and the coldest was recorded in 2009 at 16.7°C. Sea water temperature in Muizenberg is expected to drop to 17.3°C in the next 10 days. March average water temperature in Muizenberg is 18°C, the minimum temperature is 14.3°C, and the maximum is 20.7°C.”
** some weeks later, it still has the same strangeness of a conscious but unnatural choice being made.
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