Happy Fourth of July!

The parking lot at West Neck Beach was chock-full of cars when I arrived there shortly before the scheduled 8:00 group swim on this "Fourth of July" Thursday morning. A large flock of early-birds had already finished their swims and were off to run or ride, but there was still a record-size crowd gathered under the overhang of the lifeguards' station and spilling onto the beach to suit up for the 8:00 swim. In addition to the "usual suspects" there were a number of Pod returnees, here for their first open-water swim of the season, as well as a new crop of "newbies" joining the Pod for the first time....Because it was the Fourth of July, before we headed into the water we assembled on the beach in a solemn circle to honor the memories of the three children who drowned last July 4th in a tragic boating accident here in our harbor: Victoria Gaines, Harlie Treanor and David Aureliano....

Ceremony over, we unceremoniously jumped into the water,which was delightfully warm and clear, the surface only slightly ruffled by a westerly wind. As the "Big Dogs" again set out northward to the Sailboat while the main group headed south to the buoy and "New Beach," dozens of pairs of churning arms and beating feet inaugurated the West Neck Pod's 2013 "Froth of July" swim....

Happy Independence Day, everyone! See you in the Salt tomorrow!