In the cold water season, I sometimes question whether I am swimming at all. Often, it’s more like a slow-moving modern dance sequence: gliding, turning, and floating, or simply becoming one with the icy water. But today, I actually swam. Kim and I headed down to the Albany Bulb this morning to meet up with… Read More Swimming (Day 324)
The wind was howling when I woke up this morning and I anticipated a wild swim in the bay. But when Angie and I arrived at the Albany Bulb, it wasn’t quite so dramatic. Still, it was windy enough that it was painful to strip off our warm gear and scamper down to the water.… Read More Wind (Day 323)
Yesterday was so brilliant that Angie, Sheila, and I decided to get out for an early swim again this morning. The colors were subtler today, but the dramatic clouds made up for it and, again, I found myself stopping to take pictures constantly. The thing about sunrise is that it’s changing every second; the colors… Read More Another Sunrise (Day 322)
This morning Sheila, Angie, and I went for an early morning sunrise swim at the Albany Bulb. What strikes me most every time I’m swimming in this magical morning hour is the way, instead of water, the bay appears to be filled with metallic light. Silvery blues in one direction; yellow golds and amber in… Read More Brilliant Sunrise (Day 321)
Today was a gloriously sunny day; the bay sparkled blue and the air was warm and clear. Angie and I met up with Maggie again. We are very happy she has fallen under the spell of the cold, open water. Like last time, she jumped straight in. I can never do that. Even after all… Read More Getting Cold and Getting Warm (Day 320)
Angie and I headed down to the Albany Bulb for 8, but were a little late as usual, so the 8 o’clock swimmers were already in the water and the 7 o’clocks were nearly dressed. The sun was shining, but there was a bit of a cold wind and getting into the water was hard.… Read More Timing (Day 319)
When planning an early swim, I often check the time of sunrise in the hopes of catching that brilliant spectacle of light when I’m out in the water. And, just as often, I’m dismayed to see day arriving long before that time. Daylight will be pouring over the streets as I drive down to the… Read More Civil Twilight (Day 318)
The Berkeley half marathon is on today and the streets are closed in confusing ways that none of us felt like dealing with so we opted for a midday swim. Kim, Tiana, Angie, Sheila, and I all met up at the Albany Bulb in the bright sunshine. It was a glorious day. The sky was… Read More Sunshine and Bagpipes (Day 317)
It was lovely to be reunited with Angie and Sheila for a swim this morning. I didn’t think I’d make it: I sent a message to the group at 3 in the morning when I was aching all over and feeling terrible. Don’t expect me. But then I woke up a few hours later feeling… Read More Reviving (Day 316)
Kevin and I drove all day long and, at the end of it, nothing felt quite so good as getting into the water at the Albany Bulb. I brought home a cold and mostly came home wanting to crawl into bed, but I didn’t feel bad enough to miss a swim and so off I… Read More Home (Day 315)