Yesterday's swim in the rough, choppy water of Long Island Sound was a pony ride compared to the bucking bronco Pod members rode out to the sailboat this morning at West Neck Beach...which made for a fine "howdy-do" to Jim Imhof, whose first open-water swim of the season may be his last!
A stampede of huge, whitecapped waves (much larger in the water) tossed us this way and that and crashed over our heads as we struggled to find a stroke rhythm and even to breathe without gulping mouthfuls -- or lungfuls! -- of water. With the incoming tide pushing us and the ornery north wind now at our backs, the ride back (though still harrowing) was a virtual gallop, the waves that had been slapping our faces now slapping our flanks.
Spurring us on, too, were the celebratory donuts, bagels and coffee Ken had waiting for us on the beach, augmented by Sue Robinson's fresh-baked coffee cake and Margot's mimosas!
(also Margot's contribution: the Chuck E. Cheese inflatable crown that the royalty among us sported as they snacked....). 
After this morning's rip-roaring swim (which Rob Todd, who'd done it twice, proclaimed the hardest of the season so far!), and midway through this open water season that has seen extraordinary accomplishments by all of our Pod members, we all indeed had something to celebrate...
This cowgirl will be back in the saddle on Tuesday morning at 6:15 (and again on Wednesday and Friday). Giddyup!
No comments:
Post a Comment