Twenty-four hours later, the gray landscape of yesterday was all blue skies and bright sun today. Edy, Catherine, Marcia, and I set off into the cool, clear water; Edy and Catherine with more gusto. Marcia and I dawdled a bit and then chatted with Lizzy and Becky, who were just finishing their swim. Eventually, we… Read More Curious Seal (Day 276)
At my 50th birthday swim celebration, a beaming light of a woman I’d never met before handed me a homemade crown. It was delightfully decorated and personalized and if it surprised me that a stranger would make me a 50th birthday crown, five minutes into knowing Edy, it wasn’t a surprise at all. She radiates… Read More Celebrating Edy (Day 264)
I had a plan to swim over at the St. Francis Yacht Club midday today in order to suss out the waters there; it’s where we swim to from Alcatraz tomorrow. But, as 8:00 approached, I felt I couldn’t wait until midday and so I popped down to the Albany Bulb for a quick dip.… Read More Jenny Two Swims (Day 259)
It’s the day after Labor Day; the day that should be the first day of school; the day that will always feel like the first day of school to me. Today is the day that says: summer is over, get your shit together. So, with the intention of setting myself up for a productive day,… Read More Peaceful Waters (Day 249)
Sheila and I arrived at the Albany Bulb to news that there was a shark carcass decomposing on the beach. We didn’t investigate and the water was as it’s been these last weeks; dark rusty brown and a bit murky, but still somehow beautiful and refreshing. We went earlier than we have in a while… Read More Dead Fish (Day 242)
Whitecaps and waves and a glistening clear view of the city after days of haze greeted me at the Albany Bulb today, telling me it was going to be a wild, wavy swim. It was. I headed out with the 8 o’clock crew, finding some folks at my pace and sticking close to them. Somehow… Read More Wild Ride (Day 233)
I was very happy to swim with Angie again this morning after more than two weeks of swimming separately. I’ve missed our chatty swims; the way that bobbing along in the water seems to imbue our conversations with an extra layer of meaning. The water was smooth and silky; occasionally ruffling in the wind, but… Read More Seal Sighting (Day 116)
My friend, Angie, comes from a family of swimmers. She grew up in Ireland swimming in the River Shannon with her brothers and sisters and in the sea with her grandmother, who swam every day. Her sister, Darina, who kindly put us all up for the night at her lovely house in Sebastopol, is also… Read More Doran Beach (Day 72)
It felt great to be home again at my familiar Albany bulb with my swimming gang. Crystal clear skies greeted us this morning, along with strong wind. I thought the water was going to feel warm after my significantly colder swims these last few days, but it did not. Maybe past a certain point, cold… Read More Home (Day 33)
Jenny Swimming 