Continental Pool

After yesterday's saltwater dip in Australia's oldest pool (see pool 232, Dawn Fraser Baths), I've got the taste for more ocean-fed swims today.

I had planned a trip an hour south of Sydney down to Wollongong tomorrow, but a quick check of the weather suggests the weather is more suitable today. First, I can't miss my favourite Hilton breakfast: mushroom and spinach omelette with those elevated views over the Queen Victoria Building.

In the car and heading south. On the way, I jump off the motorway to join the winding scenic route that passes over the impressive Sea Cliff Bridge. Highly recommend a run down to Coalcliff if you're after a short drive out of Sydney.

I have two pools planned and a third in my back pocket, all ocean-fed saltwater.

First up, Continental Pool on the Blue Mile between Wollongong Harbour and North Beach. There's a 50 m eight-lane pool sitting right alongside a 45 m pool. Both technically qualify as separate tanks, but they're formed from the same concrete cut into the rock, only a couple of metres apart, so it doesn't feel right to count this as a two-pool venue.

Park on the road above the pool and head down the steps to the entrance just off the Wollongong boardwalk. The original pool (then called Continental Baths) opened in 1926, then extended to the current format in the 1960s, and the pavilion building with changing rooms was rebuilt in the mid-1980s. The pool is concrete, set directly on the rock where it meets the ocean. Fresh seawater constantly feeds in and drains out from the surface at opposite corners. The name 'Continental' comes from mixed-gender 'continental' swimming, seen as quite a step forward in 1926.

It's free to use. I pass through the entranceway, note two on-duty lifeguards (fantastic considering entry is free), and head to the changing rooms. No lockers here, so it's clothes in the swim bag on the side again. I'm always a bit nervous when phone and car keys are in the kit; I try to stash them away from foot traffic but still in view from the lane.

I jump into a lane with two others running steady laps. It's flipping freezing! My Garmin only gives a temperature for open water swims, but a quick Google says the ocean is 18.7 degrees. Hopping into the pool, it feels colder. I find cold water and earplugs let the mind wander, which is good as if I think about the swimming too much, I start over-correcting my stroke, the shoulder nags, and every set feels like it takes forever. Overthinking!

Plan today: three 1600 m (1-mile) swims, which should nudge me over the 20 km mark for the week so far.

Swim done, head to the changing rooms. In comedy form, I've brought a small hand towel again. Fine for the first swim, wringing wet for the second - will be useless by the third - and there's no sun today to quickly dry it! Quick shower, dry, then a walk up to the lighthouse - my other favourite thing, probably spurred by my love of the movie The Fog (the original John Carpenter, Jamie Lee Curtis one! - my annual Halloween goto movie!). I should probably write a side blog about all the lighthouses I've visited.