Our districts of Mediavalle and Garfagnana which cover the whole of the upper part of the Serchio River north of Lucca are well provided with swimming facilities. It’s a great area for wild swimming and there are many favoured spots along the Serchio River and its tributary, the Lima. It’s best, of course, to discover these places for oneself and then keep them secret: they must never become too popular! There’s wild swimming also available in the area’s lakes but one must ensure that it’s allowed since several are reservoirs and have strict regulations.
The only snag about wild swimming is that for some mountain waters can be very cold and, increasingly in my case, I worry whether my body can take it anymore! Perhaps I should start wearing a wet suit for the locations can be absolutely spectacular and it would be a real pity to miss out on them.
Recently, one of our own Valle di Lima most popular wild swimming spots, the wittily named ‘Miami Beach’ (actually it’s probably rather nicer than its American seaside counterpart) has suffered grievously at the hands of the river water authorities who have bulldozed the river bed and its shores as part of its ‘hydraulic safety measures’. I don’t think I’d want to go there this year if I want to lose my happy memories of this gorgeous place.
Public swimming pools are, in the main, very satisfactory in our part of the world. Here are some of the ones I’ve visited near to where I live.
Bagni di Lucca. Nestled in the Lima valley at the Villa Ada gardens its setting is quite spectacular. Facilities are good with three pools: main, diving and youngsters. Open from 9 am to 7 pm seven days a week.
Gallicano. It’s a less spectacular setting but just as good and a little less crowded.
Borgo a Mozzano. The pool is beautiful situated although, rather oddly, by the railway track which means that swimming train spotters will be particularly delighted. The usual Covid-19 regulations apply (green pass etc.) and one is directed to two deck-chairs under a sunshade.
Like other pools the lockers cannot be used because of the pandemic so don’t bring any irreplaceable valuables along. (Although the place is very safe). The bar, which sells pizzas, snacks Valdostane and ice-cream, is somewhat limited but friendly. What I like about Borgo’s pool is that it’s less full of tourists that Bagni, less crowded and certainly more of a family affair. It’s a good place to get away from the demi-monde at Villa.
Today, for a change, it’s grey skies and perhaps another sudden thunderstorm will make a quick entry such as we had the other day. Shall we go swimming or just let the rain fall upon our sun-tanned skin instead?
I simply adore free swimming in lakes and rivers and lochs but a word of caution so many young people have died this Summer from drownings in the UK so sad. Maybe they were not strong or good swimmers. The rivers often get faster and very dangerous which depends as to whether a sluice has been opened up stream or if further back rain or storm developed causing a surge of water to cascade which causes a peril to swimmers. Our good friend Phillip endured several of such events meaning that his beautifully appointed Mill House was 8 times victim to such events taking away parts of a well manicured maintained rose garden ducks and bridge isolating the beautiful home. I love to swim in crystalline waters with little fish and even enjoy just sitting in those icy waters so good for the soul and bodily health. This year though I have been denied such pleasures due to Covid19 I have got Shingles week 6 37 and days still very painful! Now of course hearing the exhaustion of getting papers permits green passes expensive useless inefectual tests why torture people thus we wish Reverend Jesse Jackson and wife a speedy recovery fron Covid19 as both are in hospital and were double vaccinated. All very odd.