The Sanderlings stole the show this morning. It’s not uncommon to see a murmuration or two as I’m swimming at the Albany Bulb. But usually, these are short bursts; flashes of white and black making patterns across the sky. There’s never any time to get out my camera and capture them. Today, though, the sanderlings… Read More Murmuration (Day 303)
Angie and I met up for an unprecedented afternoon swim at the Albany Bulb. We usually avoid it because the very few times I have gone to the bulb in the afternoons, the kitesurfers have been out in force, which makes for an intimidating swim. There were no kite surfers today, but the water looked… Read More Afternoon Waves (Day 302)
The milestone of 300 swims seems somehow less momentous than 100 or 200 did. Maybe it’s because I’m so close to the end of my year of swimming: 365 is the number on my mind these days; 300 is just a signpost telling me it’s coming soon. But maybe it’s also because daily swims have… Read More 300 Days of Swimming
I went for a late morning swim with Charlotte at the Albany Bulb. It was a gorgeous sunny day. The water was calm when we arrived and a couple of swimmers were drying off, bubbling with the excitement that comes from a beautiful swim. As we made our way in, the glassy water turned more… Read More Sunny Swim (Day 299)
Everything felt soft and lovely down at the Albany Bulb today. Angie and I arrived a little late and missed joining the 8 o’clock swimmers, so there was no pressure to hurry in. We slowly immersed, just like I like. The water temperature was 60 degrees and that two-degree difference from yesterday’s Tomales swim was… Read More Soft Morning (Day 298)
After our birthday swim celebration at the Albany Bulb yesterday, we continued Arwen’s celebrations with a surprise (to her) trip to Tomales Bay. We stayed at Dancing Coyote in Inverness and woke up to this stunning view. Once we’d lingered and eaten and caffeinated, we went for a swim. At 58 degrees the water felt… Read More Celebrating Arwen Part II (Day 297)
The summer after 6th grade I moved with my dad and brother to an apartment complex on the campus of UC Irvine. Lonely and awkward, I spent my days in the playground, sulking on the swings, trying to figure out if I was still a kid or a teenager. One day, this adorable girl my… Read More Celebrating Arwen Part I (Day 296)
While I was in the water, I had an idea for what I was going to write about today, but now it’s hours later and I’ve forgotten it. Looking at my pictures I think maybe it had something to do with the beautiful clouds. Stretched like cotton across the sky, the clouds took center stage… Read More Clouds (Day 295)
Over the course of this year, I’ve become evangelical about wild swimming. When something makes you feel as good as swimming in the open water makes me feel, you want to spread the word; recruit converts. Today, Maggie, a friend from the Point San Pablo Yacht Club (Kevin’s second home), joined us for our morning… Read More Recruiting (Day 294)
Sheila, Angie, Kim, and I met up for a sunrise swim at the Albany Bulb today. We arrived in the darkness to discover we weren’t the only early birds: at least four lit-up buoys bobbed out in the bay and several towels, shoes, and piles of clothes littered the concrete circle. The sky was clear… Read More Swimming in the Dark (Day 293)