Sheila and I arrived at the Albany Bulb to news that there was a shark carcass decomposing on the beach. We didn’t investigate and the water was as it’s been these last weeks; dark rusty brown and a bit murky, but still somehow beautiful and refreshing. We went earlier than we have in a while… Read More Dead Fish (Day 242)
Today Eliza left on her road trip back up to Victoria for another year of University. I sat on the stoop and watched her drive away, my heart full of the complicated mixture of pride and sadness that is becoming a familiar part of parenting a young adult. I wanted to go inside and sob… Read More Crying into my Goggles (Day 241)
I was back at the Albany Bulb this morning. Sheila and I met up with the 8 o’clocks and set out under gray skies and relatively calm, though energetic, water. One thing I love about going with this group is that I don’t have to make decisions. Because I’m always in the back, I just… Read More The Joy of Not Making Decisions (Day 240)
This weekend Angie and I are on a sailing trip to Benicia (well, I drove here, but everyone else sailed). We had a fun night of shenanigans last night and I woke up desperate for a swim. Colleen, always up to try a new swim spot, met us at a park in Benicia where a… Read More Benicia (Day 239)
Angie and I joined the 8 o’clocks today, but we were a little late and they were already heading into the water when we arrived. We raced to catch up with them; a hopeless task, but it kept us working hard. The water was calmer than it’s been, nearly silky, but not quite. My arms… Read More Working Hard (Day 238)
If I’m going to get sick from this red tide, today will be the day it happens: I swallowed and/or inhaled so much water my lips are puckered. I swam with the 8 o’clock swimmers today; this time dragging Angie and Kim along with me. Gray skies with glimpses of the city greeted us, along… Read More Drinking in the Bay (Day 237)
The OWS google groups continue to be awash in red tide discussions; some have opted to steer clear of the bay for now, others have experienced itchy skin or irritated eyes, and others (like myself) haven’t had any noticeable effects at all. I continue to swim through the sepia-toned water of the bay (one person… Read More Does This Water Look Bioluminescent? (Day 236)
Sheila and I met at 7 am at the Albany Bulb, both of us in the mood for a good, hard swim. The water looked tumultuous but calmer than it’s been and the low tide made for a lovely, early morning beach scene. Getting in isn’t as easy as it was last week–the temperature is… Read More To the Point (Day 235)
Sheila recently joined the South End Rowing Club in San Francisco’s Aquatic Park and she invited us over for a swim there this afternoon. It’s a remarkable place in many ways. First: the location. It sits directly on the beach, next door to its sister (rival?) swimming club, the Dolphin club, in the heart of… Read More South End Rowing Club (Day 234)
Whitecaps and waves and a glistening clear view of the city after days of haze greeted me at the Albany Bulb today, telling me it was going to be a wild, wavy swim. It was. I headed out with the 8 o’clock crew, finding some folks at my pace and sticking close to them. Somehow… Read More Wild Ride (Day 233)
Jenny Swimming 