I swam by the cigarette butt you casually flicked into the gutter this morning; the empty Cheetos wrapper you dropped on the sidewalk; the rotting orange you tossed into the grass; the baggy that got away from you and you didn’t bother to chase; the plastic bottle top you chucked, laughing, at your friend, which… Read More Dirty Water (Day 106)
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)
We arrived at the bulb before sunrise in hopes of repeating the magical full moonset/sunrise swim from last month. The sky had other plans for us. Dramatic plumes of clouds greeted us: gray on gray, light on dark, swirling and changing moment to moment. Sheila, Arwen, and I were swimming this morning and we didn’t… Read More Dramatic Sky (Day 78)
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)
It was another gray day with spectacular clouds, full of drama but not much action. Hoping for the deluge we desperately need, I optimistically signed up for a slot at the pool before I went to bed last night, but it wasn’t necessary. We had a little bit of rain through the night, but not… Read More Dark clouds, little rain (Day 63)
Our most substantial storm in weeks arrived this morning. I was hoping for a rainy swim, which we didn’t get, but the clouds were stunning and the waves rollicking. Colleen, Angie, Kim, and I went out today. The coldest part was running through the wind to the bay in our bathing suits. Once there, the… Read More Stormy (Day 62)
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)
Swimming in the rain is particular magical. In the summer there’s nothing better than jumping into the lake in a downpour; the water seemingly everywhere, you just an insignificant speck of nothing in the midst of mother earth’s joyous cleansing. Sadly, we are advised against swimming in the bay for up to 72 hours after… Read More Beautiful Rain (Day 4)