Today marked my thirteenth swim in a pool this year. So in 336 days of swimming, I’ve only swum in a pool thirteen times. I was surprised when I checked my blog and saw this number. In some senses, it made me happy; I’m glad I’ve enjoyed so many open-water swims. While I knew I’d… Read More Joan Brown, Drought, and a Pool Swim (Day 336)
Sheila had an early meeting and so we met at the Albany Bulb for a 6:30 swim, which worked out well because it started raining this morning, and getting in early meant we were least likely to be swimming through runoff. But arriving at the parking lot in the dark with the rain splattering and… Read More Beautiful Storm (Day 335)
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)
Discussions about the red tide continue to abound on all of my open water swimming groups. Should we swim? Shouldn’t we? My reading last night led me to believe it’s mostly okay to swim in. The particular algae spreading across the bay is called heterosigma akashiwo and, unless there is a strong odor, distinct discoloration,… Read More Does the water look red? (Day 228)
It was a spectacular day in the bay this morning. The air was clear and crisp; the city and mountains, the bridges and boats all sparkled in the morning light. The clouds were stretched and poofed out into layers of shapes and colors. It was almost as if, knowing it was her special day, Mother… Read More Earth Day (Day 112)
It was a spectacular morning. Colleen joined me again and as we swam out the sun rose behind us in pinks and purples and grays and golds, the clouds shaded and highlighted in changing colors as the morning progressed; the water a tangle of light. In front of us, a group of California brown pelicans… Read More Pelicans (Day 110)
I went to bed last night to the glorious sound of rain splattering against my windows and I woke up to the same, beautiful music. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so happy to see rain. I think the fact that in blogging about my daily swims, I’m also writing about the weather each day,… Read More Real Rain, Finally, Sort-of (Day 87)
I was so excited to wake up to the sound of rain against my window this morning. The relentless drought in California is like a constant pressure in the back of my mind; a niggling worry that never lets up. To hear that spattering of water filled me with relief and joy. Unfortunately, it didn’t… Read More Rain (Day 74)
A glorious, sunny, clear day greeted me at the bulb this morning. We had a swim visitor from Bainbridge Island. Rita had seen my query to the Western Washington swimmers on Facebook when I was looking for a place to swim during my road trip and that led her to my blog and our swim… Read More Megadrought (Day 47)
Jenny Swimming 