I've really got the open water bug this year. It's only just gone May and no time wasted. Jon and I were first in at Boundary Water Park this year - it was a chilling 11.5 degrees but soon warm enough once a few hundered metres of H2O were behind us. A second trip to Boundary on Sunday and the floaty feeling has already worn off. It's good whilst it lasts and a bit of a shame when it so quickly feels normal. With Manley Mere last night, that's three glorious sunny swims out of three and 4ish miles covered.
One thing's for certain, I wouldn't swap the face freeze and poor vis for the 6 months of black-line chasing, LA Fitness mind-numbing boredom that have just passed. It's refreshing in more than one way and a phenomenally different experience to pool swimming. All positive if you don't get spooked by the dark.
Here are this year's local (within 45 mins of Sparta) options as I see them. 6 days of OW if you can find the time. Good times.
Monday
My Open Water Swim, Pennington Flash 5.30-7pm
Salford Watersports Centre 6.00 - 8.30pm
Tuesday
Manley Mere 6-8pm
Salford Watersports Centre 6.00 - 8.30pm
Wednesday
Uswim, Dock 9, Salford Quays 5:30-8:00pm
Thursday
Uswim, Boundary Water Park 5:30-8:00pm
My Open Water Swim, Pennington Flash 5.30-7pm
Salford Watersports Centre 6.00 - 8.30pm
Friday
None as yet! let me know if you know of anywhere.
Saturday
Uswim, Dock 9, Salford Quays 8-11am
My Open Water Swim, Pennington Flash 8-10am
Manley Mere 9:30-10:30am
Sunday
Uswim, Boundary Water Park 1-3pm
...and of course there's Hatchmere anytime you like. You can't get more convenient than that for a Spartan, but be safe... buddy up, wear a wetsuit and know your own ability.