Back to (nowhere near) normal

                                   

After an early bike ride today, that involved driving to a quite spot where we would be able to go up and down a few little hills, turning at a dead end at one end and riding back past our start point in the middle. Then turning at the end of that road where we have another turn point before reaching the main road. So, we are avoiding traffic but we are getting in a regular favourite session that we repeat until one or other of us calls a halt when we have had enough. We then store the bikes back in our van and return to base as a rule which we are well practised at now.

Since it had been announced that swimming and sports centres are now cleared to open, we drove to our home centre on the seafront road at the edge of town, Littlehampton Wave. We were still in our bike kit of course when we got out and walked to the entrance to read the many notices placed on the glass frontage.

While we were standing there reading all about the restrictions the friendly face of the centre manager Paul Douglas-Smith of Freedom Leisure walked by inside the building, purely by chance.

He smiled and waved and came outside to talk to us. That was a huge bonus because he was able to explain much better and in half the time it would take us to make sense of all the notices.

There was no possibility of writing things down to better remember but I think I have most of the new arrangements that will be so until the next review that would/might be in September.

Littlehampton Wave will open on Saturday of this week July 25th

It would be a case of bookings only by telephone if you wanted to swim.

Things will be very different due still to the advice for stage opening of leisure centres from government.

There will be no membership advantage since effectively there are no memberships at this time.

There will be 4 lanes only with a maximum of ten swimmers per lane,

You will only be allowed to stay in the water for 45 minutes when you will be asked to leave the pool by the pool staff.

Swimmers need to arrive changed and ready to swim.

You may be able to shower before swimming but there will be no showering after the swim.

There will be no use of the cubicles or the lockers.

You can leave your own belongs but at your own risk.

The area will be cleaned after each session in the 15 minutes between sessions.

As for triathlon clubs like Trinity, which is our group, and Tuff Fitty Triathlon Club the two clubs train at the same time on Saturday evening; The club sessions will not be included until September at the earliest.

Please don’t hold me to this being completely correct since this information was spoken not written.

Well it’s a start isn’t it. I feel for the staff because they will be working harder than they ever did and will face a lot of moans and groans I’m sure.

We will swim in the sea until things change.