I try to go swimming every day, but when the weather is cold
and rainy and I am given the choice between braving the elements to walk to the
pool to jump into a basin of cold water, and staying indoors with a pot of tea
and a plate of cookies, I rarely choose the former. Today, however, I was tricked – for my own
good – to abandon the cookies and go to swim.
It rained all day today, and having gotten soaked first when
going to the Therme and later when going to lunch, I was in no mood to leave
the house again to walk the fifteen minutes to the La Bourboule Pool. But suddenly, at six in the evening, the sun
came out! It looked so lovely that I
couldn’t resist. I grabbed by swimming
bag and off I went. The sunshine lasted
exactly five minutes until after I reached the pool!
But I am not complaining, because today’s pool experience
was the best I ever had! The La
Bourboule Pool is rather a splendid affair.
It is brand new, having only opened two years ago. There is a large main pool, with two lines
reserved for serious swimmers, as well as secondary pools with fountains,
whirlpools, and a slide. It has glass
walls from top to bottom on three sides, so one can watch the dramatic
mountainous landscape while doing one’s rounds.
Today, as on previous days, I saw fog-shrouded mountains and
rain-drenched shrubbery. But unlike on
previous day, this did not depress me!
I had the good fortune to share the pool with a group of
ladies who were exercising in the water to the sound of uplifting music with a
regular beat. This did wonders for my
swimming, because, just like my walking speed adjusts itself automatically to
whatever music I happen to hear, my swimming speed does the same. I raced up and down the pool like greased
lightning (well, sort of) and felt full of the joys of autumn.
When the group left the pool only I and another swimmer
remained. The three pool attendants
turned off most of the lights, and since neither of us complained about the
music, amused themselves by playing ever wilder songs. I swam to Glen Miller, the Blues Brothers,
and Bill Haley. Every time I thought I
really should stop and get out of the pool the music kept me swimming. Soon the other swimmer left, and it was just
me and the three pool attendants.
Since I clearly had no need of them, the pool attendants
started to get into the grove. First
they just tapped their feet and clapped their hands, then they nodded their
heads, and eventually they started to dance!
At first it was a bit half hearted, but when the speaker boomed
‘Twisting by the Pool’ by Dire Straits the music really took hold of them and
they did just that. It was just
brilliant; there I was doing my rounds in the dimly lit pool with three people
in red uniforms twisting by the pool in the setting sun to the sound of Dire
Straits!
It was too good to last, of course. Some officious supervisor type came in,
pointed meaningfully to the large clock on the wall, and waved me out of the
pool. I guess he had a point – I had
swum for over an hour and it was past closing time. I walked home utterly exhausted – usually I
swim for half an hour and much more slowly – with a beatific smile on my
face. What a wonderful experience I
had! Wouldn't have missed it for the
world!
