An 'Otterly' Unexpected Morning Swim

There was a slight nip in the air this morning as I left the house (note to self - it may be time to start packing a few warmer pieces of clothing).

I had arranged to meet a swim sister at one of our local broads.  I was first to arrive so made ‘base camp’ on a nearby bench but it wasn’t long before she joined me and we were on our way into the water.

The broad has many buoys dotted around and each one usually holds a flag - some are numbered and others are coloured. This morning we picked one that was way off in the distance after its vibrant markings caught our eye.

Wroxham Broad

The water was calm and a tad chilly - I guess autumn is on its way.  We chatted in hushed tones as we swam and admired the wondrous nature of the early morning.

Ahead of us, a couple of grebes took turns at diving - disappearing beneath the water’s surface and popping back up in the most unpredictable of places. But they weren’t the only company we had…

We were making our way back to the bank when suddenly right there in front of us - and I mean right there in front of us - up popped an otter. It had its breakfast clamped firmly in its jaws, whiskers twitching, fangs on full display!

Startled and delighted, we watched as it eyed us with equal curiosity.  It lingered until it had completely finished devouring its fish and then showcased its slick back and tail as it swiftly dived back under.

We swam on, nerves tingling with excitement and admiration.  Just as we caught our breath - it surfaced again with a second fish in its mouth.  This second encounter was even closer, and I instinctively swam nearer to my friend, both of us amazed at how bold and unbothered the otter seemed - unlike us!  The otter was completely unfazed by our presence and it soon vanished again beneath the surface leaving us to marvel at our luck.

We kept an eye out for our new companion even from the bank as we got dressed and poured ourselves a cuppa. The otter made a few more appearances, dipping and diving in the distance before finally disappearing from view.

It was a simple morning swim, but the unexpected encounter made it feel extraordinary. We left feeling grateful for the experience, reminded of how nature can surprise us when we least expect it.