Arwen and I met up at Keller this evening for a gorgeous, wild, sunset swim. The wind was racing and the bay roiling. Inside, though, the water was warmer than it’s been over at the bulb—55-degrees. Not sure if it’s the location or the time of day, but 55 felt nearly warm. It was impossible… Read More Wild Sunset (Day 332)
My Dad and Yasuko are visiting for Thanksgiving and they came down to the Albany Bulb with me this morning along with Kevin, Hazel, and Lulu. Arwen and Jorge were there, too, and I felt thankful for my family, glad for their company in my happy place. The joyful group of 7 o’clockers was getting… Read More Giving Thanks (Day 328)
It was another beautiful day down at the Albany Bulb. Arwen was back! It was lovely to swim with her again. Kim joined us and, though we planned for an earlier swim, we were slow pokes and wound up going with the 8 o’clockers. There was lots of skin today: maybe it was the sunshine?… Read More Glistening, Glittering Bay (Day 326)
I first learned about Brooks Island during the pandemic when Kevin and I kayaked out there and met Matt Allen, the park ranger who lives alone with his dog in the only house on the island and serves as its caretaker; keeping people away during the time of year when the birds are nesting there,… Read More Brooks Island Badge (Day 289)
While I have consistently managed to keep up my swimming for a remarkable 285 days, many of my other habits have eroded over the last couple of months. I’m struggling to keep up my journalling (something I’ve been pretty good about since the third grade!). I blame this blog for that one. By the time… Read More Habit (Day 285)
It was a swim reunion with Arwen and Sheila this morning. Sheila left for New York the same day we swam from Alcatraz and Arwen has been so busy with work (have I ever mentioned she makes beautiful music? You should go check out Cascada de Flores) that she hasn’t had any time for swimming.… Read More Chilly Water, Good Friends (Day 275)
A big gang of us went back to Heart’s Desire Beach in Tomales Bay today. As always with this crowd of Albany Bulb Swimmers, it feels like a celebration whenever we gather in any kind of numbers. Last time I swam here, I struggled mightily with the Moon Jellies, but eventually made a kind of… Read More Moon Jelly Madness (Day 268)
By 4:30 a.m. I was wide awake and nervous. I ate a couple of protein-packed muffins I’d baked yesterday, drank my coffee, and worried. At one point Lulu woke up and wanted to go outside and when I opened the front door for her, I was blasted by the wind. Oh no, I thought. It’s… Read More Alcatraz! (Day 260)
This morning I did my Lift and Sprint class before my swim. I’ve extolled the virtues of this class here before. I love it. It’s fun (an adjective I rarely use to describe exercise unless it’s swimming) and the time flies by even though I’m working hard. But there is one part I don’t love:… Read More Meat-Suit Meet Water (Day 250)
Arwen, Sheila, Angie, and I went out at the Albany bulb this morning—the first time the four of us were all swimming together since early June. It was cloudy and cool as we ventured into the low low tide. The bottom grew increasingly muddy, my feet sinking into the muck, as I searched out deep… Read More The Chatters (Day 224)