Total Immersion

This is the title of a swimming coaching book by Terry Laughlin and John Delves and of the method contained therein; the book was lent to me by YJ to help me improve my freestyle performance. However, yesterday the phrase could more aptly be applied to a dunking of a more impromptu kind.

Let me explain.

Yesterday's run appeared as though there would only be three of us on the start line, Christa, JtE and Yours Truly. However the (very) late arrival of t'Y meant that four of us set off to meet EYJ on Two Lads - why I am besmirched with the 'Unready' title when t'Y seems to glory in arriving an average of ten minutes late?

On the way we picked up JR who was loitering on George's Lane and carried on to Two Lads where EYJ was waiting. Then it was the trig point, Hordern Stoops and Lead Mines Clough, where, at my suggestion, we set off up the east bank of Limestone Brook to view the waterfalls. I led, and as the going gradually got more precarious I was aware that I was gradually becoming a leader with no followers - I believe Christa was the last to desert me.

As the sides of the clough became progressively closer to vertical (look at the contours round about SD 631 165) I had to abandon dry land and resort to paddling up the stream. Things went reasonably well until I came to a series of cascades, then progress slowed. The rocks were not just wet, they were covered in green slime (algae to the botanists amongst you). Got up the first steep section with some difficulty and then nearly to the top of the second, but then found I could get no purchase at all. Took off a shoe to see whether my sock had any grip, but that was no better. Donned the shoe again before it had a chance to make a break for the Ribble Estuary - Limestone Brook joins the Yarrow lower down the clough before that watercourse enters the Yarrow Reservoir before it meets the Douglas west of Croston.

At that point I turned to retrace my steps, but lost my footing and sailed majestically (?) downstream to a lower pool. The water was cold, but not as cold as anticipated. I emerged like some prehistoric creature escaping from the primeval soup on to the west bank (no, not the disputed Israeli/Palestinian one) climbed to the path at the top and set off to find my companions. Went to the Bomber Memorial first, but no one was there. Then headed north to the bridge near the open moor at the top of the clough, but still no one. Then back to the Memorial, then home, before hypothermia set in.

Rang JtE later who told me that he and t'Y had turned for home, early on the climb up the clough; but what became of the other three? I just hope they're not still out there looking for me.