On our drive down to the bulb for our swim this morning, Kim and I joked about the coming winter, the plunging water temperatures. “I can’t wait for my antidepressant to return,” I said. “I know,” she said, “I need my euphoria drug.” Many think we are crazy for loving the cold water as much… Read More Keep Swimming
. Angie joined me for one last 2022 sunrise swim at the Albany Bulb. Later today I’m off to England for some much colder swims. I’ll miss this place that has brought me such joy this year and was glad she saw me off with such magnificence this morning. Each sunrise swim is a surprise.… Read More One Last Sunrise for the Road (Day 353)
Today was a lovely swim at sunrise with friends. It’s rare that Sheila, Arwen, Angie, and I all manage to swim together these days and so it always feels special when it happens. A frigid wind blew as we got into the water and with each wince and groan, I thought, it’s going to be… Read More Greeting the Day with Friends (Day 350)
As is so often the case these days, I swam into the sunrise this morning. Sometimes as I’m setting off in the dark, I wonder why we keep planning these early swims and then I remember that we aren’t necessarily changing our patterns, but rather, it’s the sun that’s changing hers: rising a little later… Read More Another Sunrise (Day 348)
Sheila and I met at the Bulb at 6:30 for an early, sunrise swim. It was beautiful when we arrived; silvery and blue with a clear view of the city and bridge, dramatic clouds and calm water. We were cold getting in and, though the temperature was the same as yesterday (51), it felt colder.… Read More Blue Sunrise (Day 346)
Sheila and I met for a 6:30 swim this morning in the middle of a crazy storm. There was so much wind that branches were falling from trees on my drive down to the Albany Bulb. When I saw Sheila’s lone car in the dark parking lot I couldn’t decide whether I was glad she’d… Read More Stormy Swim (Day 344)
It’s kind of crazy that I haven’t posted this amazing swim yet. I got behind because it was the same day I left for Bakersfield, and I’m only getting back to it now. But, wow. What a beautiful swim it was! Sheila, Arwen, Kim, and I met at the Albany Bulb at 6:30. Right from… Read More Majestic Sunrise (Day 342)
In my ongoing quest to figure out a good swimming time on Mondays (my busy morning), I opted to join Colleen for a 6:30 am swim this morning. At the last minute, Angie, who returned from Ireland last night, decided to join us. When we pulled into the parking lot and I saw Kira was… Read More Early (Day 339)
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)
It was an icy cold morning, in and out of the water. Sheila and I met up with Edy, Catherine, and Colleen for a 7am swim down at the Albany Bulb. We arrived in time to catch the last of the pinks in the clouds and to watch the sunrise when we were in the… Read More Early Morning Cold with Seal (Day 334)