A very positive outcome of this temperature blanket I’m crocheting is the way it motivates me to swim every day again. I swam a lot in 2023, but it was remarkable how quickly my daily habit from the year before fell away once I didn’t “have” to do it. It feels good to be getting… Read More January in Victoria
I have two major goals that implicate swimming in 2024. Number one is to finish my year-of-swimming memoir, which I spent last year busily working away on. Sometimes I think it’s nearly finished and sometimes I think I should throw it in the garbage. Number two is to make a temperature blanket: Each day I… Read More New Year New Swimming Schemes
A beautiful thick fog greeted us for our swim at the Albany Bulb this morning. I love a foggy swim, the way it erases all the familiar landmarks and you feel like you could be anywhere. I love the muffled feeling to the air, the mystery, the peacefulness that seems to settle over everything when… Read More Coldtober Day 15
Friday night Arwen, Sheila, and I ventured to Keller beach for a low tide, sunset swim. It was cloudy, but warm, the sky just barely tinged with color. The water was clear and cool and we had a love, relaxing swim. The next day, Sheila and I went back to Keller for a late morning… Read More Coldtober days 13 & 14
This morning was all pastel pinks, silvery greens and pelicans swooping in from every side. It was the most perfect kind of morning down at the Albany Bulb. No matter where I go or how beautiful those places may be, nothing beats my home waters. As Colleen said of my potential blog post this morning,… Read More Coldtober Day 12
Last month Sheila and I were signed up to do a two-mile swim at Whiskeytown lake. It was a decision made in a flurry of excitement after doing a race at Donner lake the month before. We were woefully unprepared, but were still very disappointed when the swim was canceled due to low participation. Given… Read More Whiskeytown Lake (Coldtober Day 11)
Today’s swim was a quick dip as we are starting the long road trip back and had to catch the morning ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles. Leaving this beautiful place (and especially my beautiful kids) behind leaves my heart heavy and a stormy swim was just the thing to fit my mood.
It was another beautiful day with the Cold Water Addicts. The weather was a little bit more seasonally appropriate and the clouds put on a spectacular show. So many friendly swimmers came out. The water was incredibly clear and, though it was hard to get in, I am acclimated enough now that once I was… Read More Coldtober Day 9
Eliza took Kevin and I to a beautiful lake today: Lake Durrance. Just outside of Victoria, it was a gorgeous oasis, surrounded by forest. We brought a picnic and lolled around in the sun, slightly putting off getting into the water because it was a little chilly with a cool breeze canceling out the warmth… Read More Coldtober Day 8
The last three days have been spent happily reuniting with Eliza and Hazel in Victoria. My heart feels whole being back with these two. But I’ve also been swimming. On the 5th we arrived in Victoria and after seeing Eliza’s beautiful house, meeting her roommates, and marveling at this side table she made… We went… Read More Coldtober Days 5-7