The Crazy Life of a Cape Town Mother and Wife: The Polar Bear Swim Challenge.

Gotta admit, turning 50 can do things to a girl's head, and let's not mention the other body parts right now, shall we? I got wind of an icy water swim to be held in midwinter in a dam in the Drakensberg, and immediately set my heart upon doing it. Why? Well, why not? I love swimming, had managed to keep up my daily laps in our unheated outdoor pool the previous winter, being a gal who loves the great outdoors and really doesn't enjoy the confines of gyms, not to mention the lane rage types I've encountered there. Also, I had a desperate desire to break out of my middle aged maternal role and DO something a bit wacky and wild. Ann Gray, the organizer told me that absolutely no wetsuits would be allowed ("it's meant to be a challenge!") and that the funds raised would go to the Estcourt SPCA. Well, being the proud owner of a rescue hound, there was no further reason not to go, and I dreamed of returning to the Champagne Castle region to take in all that long forgotten crystal clear air, majesty and beauty and take up the challenge. No more Suzy Q the shrinking violet!

Mr SQ generously offered his flight miles to his wife, whose sanity he was seriously beginning to doubt, and his daughters who had no option but to be party to this middle aged madness, as Mr SQ suddenly had to be elsewhere at the time. Easier said than done, however, as crises will occur on cue when Mom wants to do something, but yet again, boer maak 'n plan, and the girl's roadshow arrived in one piece. We thrilled at the sight of the mountainscape, but I took a sharp intake of breath when I arrived for a recce of the Dragon Peaks dam. This was REAL. "Oh help," I yelped, a little like Maria arriving at the gates of the von Trapp homestead, all bravado but zero confidence. An expanse of muddy water with the wind whipping little frosty peaks across the surface did not look at all enticing to me. Ok, it was actually only 100m for the official swim, but I'm a little nervous of open stretches of water to say the least, and joined the rest of my family in questioning my state of mind. I had definitely heard "menopausal" mumbled more than once or twice in my vicinity. The Misses SQ, it transpired, had not even told their very best friends where they were and why they had been dragged there. Fortunately the deal included a lovely weekend in the Champagne Castle Hotel on one of their reasonable all inclusive winter promotions if we survived the ordeal, so there was a little sweetener for them. I decided to stretch my aching muscles and have a swim in the hotel pool on arrival to literally test the waters and the altitude. Man, was it COLD!? The folks huddled in their great coats sipping afternoon tea on the verandah nearly choked on their scones as I did my first few mountain laps. A good dinner and a warm bed made up for a long day.

The day of the swim, midwinter indeed, dawned crisp and clear, a perfect day for Polar Bears! After a quick hike to the Sphinx we headed to the dam, and joined the throng of nervous and excited participants. There I finally met Ann (Mama Bear) Gray and paid my entrance fee and made my dog food donation. I had a number marked on my arm (in case they had to identify my body!?) so decided to ceremoniously hand over my jewellery to my daughters, just in case. They had skulked off, but not unnoticed, and were thronged by local yokels, who had rather hoped that they would be removing their outer apparel and joining the swim rather than their mental mother.

At the noon day gun we were set off at five minute intervals. The 11' water was bracing to say the least, but the swim was over so quickly, rather like the trip up Table Mountain, that I was almost disappointed to be hauled out of the water so soon at Bunny Island to the sounds of Queen's "We are the Champions." There was a raging bonfire and a welcome glass of gluhwein to warm the cockles. Success, I'd done it, and was so pleased and proud of myself, but honestly, the lengths a gal will go to for a mug of mulled wine.

The Misses SQ heaved the hugest sigh of relief that their ordeal was almost over, but not before the prizegiving, where I received my certificate and a special mention for travelling so far for this worthwhile event. Over R3000 was collected for the SPCA as well as donations of pet food and blankets. All in all, a well organized and fun filled day was had by all. The next Polar Bear Challenge is to be held at noon at Dragon Peaks Dam on Saturday June 23rd 2012. Contact Ann Gray 082-8280401 to join the Mountain Madness.