A highlight of each summer at the lake is the Lawrence Irany Great Relay Race. Now in its 36th year, the race starts off with a 6.5-kilometer bike ride along the windy, gravelly ups and downs of the lake roads. The biker then hands the baton (sweatband) over to a runner for a 4.5-kilometer trek… Read More The Great Relay Race (Day 211)
It was a little cold and blustery today, as if Autumn was whispering from the other room; not here yet, but promising she’d be arriving soon. Isabelle and I went over to Karen’s to lounge in her lovely screened-in porch and soon Diane joined us, then Kevin, Eliza and Lulu. We drank tea and talked,… Read More Gratitude (Day 210)
Regardless of where I’m swimming (okay, maybe not the pool), I always spend at least a little time worrying about something. Am I getting too much sun? Is this water polluted and did I just drink a gallon of it? What creatures are lurking under me? Will there be waves? Are these currents getting stronger?… Read More Things I Worry About While Swimming (Day 206)
This morning was my last swim in the bay until August. The Albany Bulb sent me off with a wild last ride through crazy waves, fog that rolled in and out, and blustery winds. The waves felt an especially fitting goodbye since I will be spending the next six weeks swimming in a (mostly) tranquil… Read More Goodbyes and WTFs (Day 175)
We had a very fun celebration of fifty-four years of Angie this morning. Arwen, Sheila, Colleen, Kim, Kira, and I arrived early to blustery winds, gray skies, and choppy waves at the Albany Bulb. It was also low tide and so it was another mud slog and flop into the water kind of entry. But… Read More Celebrating Angie (Day 153)
It was another wild morning down at the Albany Bulb today. Angie and I met up a bit late, after my class and after we had driven our daughters to school, and we took our time getting into the rollicking water. For the first time in a long time I thought, why am I doing… Read More More Wind (Day 147)
It was a wild day down at the Albany Bulb today. The wind was whipping so ferociously when Angie and I arrived, sea foam was flying up the beach like balls of fluff. The waves were as big as I’ve ever seen them at our little beach. It was slightly intimidating as we got in,… Read More Wild (Day 146)
We are into our second (third?) week of heat and when I stepped out my front door this morning, I couldn’t believe how hot it already was. Get me to the water, I thought. But, surprisingly, it was kind of cool down at the bulb. A brisk wind blew in from the ocean and the… Read More Swimming and Talking (Day 145)
I swam with Colleen to the Point of the Point this morning. For anyone who is keeping track, we measure our swims according to four landmarks: The Little Tree, which is maybe a quarter mile out, depending on how we meander. In the winter or when we are feeling relaxed and chatty, The Little Tree… Read More The Point of the Point (Day 141)
I woke up uncharacteristically late today and it discombobulated me; threw my plans into disarray. I ended up heading down to the Albany Bulb by myself at 7:30—a group had gone in at 7 and another was going in at 8, but there I was betwixt and between. Part of me was looking forward to… Read More Monkey Mind (Day 140)