DISCLAIMER: Open-water swimming is inherently dangerous. Open-water swimmers risk drowning, hypothermia, hyperthermia, heart attacks, panic attacks, cramping, jelly fish stings, fish bites, boat or jet-ski collisions, collisions with floating or submerged objects (including other swimmers), and other calamities that can be injurious, disabling or fatal! The "West Neck Pod" is an informal association of open-water swimmers who swim "outside the lines" with no lifeguard protection, it has no formal membership, organizational structure or legal identity, and its participants, including the author of this blog, make no representations and assume no liability with respect to its group open-water swims. All swimmers who participate in West Neck Pod group open-water swims do so at their own risk. Be careful out there!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Perfect Day for a "Big Swim"!

There’s still nearly a week until the Equinox and the official beginning of Fall, but the swim lines, boats and moorings are already gone, there’s a distinct chill in the morning air, the water is noticeably cooler, and – as of yesterday -- the showers are turned off (sorry, Ken!). The end of the 2010 open-water-swimming season seems imminent – and perhaps that’s why eight of this morning’s group of 15 swimmers decided to continue northward from the sailboat mooring to Fort Hill Beach for an impromptu “Big Swim” – the first ever for Annmarie, Evelyn, Carole, and Tim! Most commemorated the event by jumping off the floating dock (which, like the sailboat mooring, is still there to give us a target to swim towards!) before starting the long swim back (approximately 2.1 miles round trip, by my reckoning). The return trip on an outgoing tide was grueling, making the accomplishment for the first-timers all the more impressive! Conditions were perfect, though – the early clouds finally gave way to sunshine, and the water already has the crystal clarity of early autumn....Though the season is winding down, there are still plenty of swims left, and the next one will be tomorrow at 8:00! See you in the Salt!

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