An unlikely friend and fellow adventurer

It all began with a questionable decision to try wild swimming for the first time and the need for something to look after the towels and, most importantly, the car key on the beach. We decided to take one of my older, less well looked after and less often used Bags for Life with us.

We were braving the cold, murky water of Frensham Great Pond. On the beach sat our chosen companion: a bright orange bag with ‘BREAD’ in big letters on the side, with a loaf illustration, just in case the message was unclear. A very prominent and comforting presence. We made sure that we never ventured too far from the opening, through which we could see ‘him’ and were worried for his safety whenever anyone else got too close for comfort.

Since that first use, Bread has been a constant presence on any beach or shore whenever we have been wild swimming. One time, on a pebble beach on Hayling Island, a huge group of people arrived for a church service and barbecue while we were in the frigid depths and chose to settle immediately beside Bread. They were so close that their drinks were overhanging him as they stood chatting. We were incensed by this blatant invasion of Bread’s personal space and very concerned for his wellbeing.

As is often the case, the remainder of our time in the water was punctuated by new exclamations of annoyance when someone stepped yet closer to Bread, nearly trod on him, or just continued to threaten his general vicinity. Deep down, I suppose, we were really worried about our towels, clothes and secreted car key, which, if damaged or lost, could have caused us serious problems. But concern for Bread was all we ever voiced and seemingly only his welfare troubled us, not our vulnerability. And in this case, this hurried us from the water earlier than we may have liked.

He has developed into such a true companion that he is now branching out into other, non-swimming activities! We greatly enjoy taking Bread to ridiculous and inappropriate places, whether that be on a hotel room bed, holding snorkelling equipment on a boat in the middle of the bright turquoise waters surrounding the Cayman Islands, or, most recently, guarding the wharf steps while I braved the deep, clear and (definitely not really, but conspiracy theories were running rife) shark-infested waters of St Helena Island.

I was once asked the classic ice-breaker question: if you wrote a book, what would it be about? This first made me ponder the possibilities of telling Bread’s story. It could be funny, poignant in places, and bring in material for many different genres.

So here we are: Bread is ready to explore and I’m ready to document it – travel, lifestyle and exercise, one inappropriate location at a time. Welcome to ‘Adventures with Bread’!