tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34542446574632229922024-03-17T23:03:11.661-04:00The Water-BlogA chronicle of open-water swimming on Long Island's North ShoreUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-32454587460149738392018-07-13T13:43:00.001-04:002018-07-13T13:43:39.838-04:00West Neck Pod's 2018 "Swim Across America"<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XN6IqGsImXY/W0jcfUq_EjI/AAAAAAAAG34/Q3U-EBJ7-hoTFy7ZPDZEhZNZeUb4oVSIQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XN6IqGsImXY/W0jcfUq_EjI/AAAAAAAAG34/Q3U-EBJ7-hoTFy7ZPDZEhZNZeUb4oVSIQCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_1442.JPG" width="320" /></a>On<span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: red;"><em>Saturday, August 4th</em></span>, the members of <span style="color: red;">Team West Neck Pod</span> will once again be participating in the <span style="color: red;">"Sound to Cove" Swim Across America</span> event to raise money for local cancer research and treatment organizations. This is the eighth time<span style="color: blue;"> our West Neck Pod family of Salt-ophiles</span> has participated in this event, and together over the years we West Neck Pod teammates have raised more than $100,000 to support the cutting-edge research of the SAA beneficiaries, which again this year include our neighbor across the harbor, <strong>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</strong>, as well as the newly minted <strong>Swim Across America Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center</strong>, <strong>the Feinstein Institute of North Shore</strong>, and <strong>the University of Texas MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital</strong>. <br />
<br />
This ongoing fight against cancer is personal for all of us who swim in these events. Some of us are cancer survivors ourselves, and all of us have lost friends, family members, colleagues, co-workers or body-parts to this disease: <em><span style="color: blue;">Joanna Grossman's father. Paul Coster's "Mum." Joan Addabbo's brother. Tony Santomauro's mother. Tom Sherman's wife. Alice Rogers' mother. Bonnie Millen's breasts. Evelyn Cruise's father-in-law. Annmarie Kearney-Woods' best friends. My father, aunt, grandparents, and a rapidly increasing roster of dear friends...and just last month, even my beloved French bulldog Daisy Mae. </span></em><br />
<br />
On <span style="color: red;"><em>Saturday, August 4th</em>, Team West Neck Pod</span> will once again dive into the Salt in honor and in memory of all those whose lives have been impacted by cancer...Whether we swim one mile, three miles (5K) or six miles (10K), we know that we won't be curing cancer that day...but every stroke we take will be bringing us closer to the cure, and we dedicate our swims to those for whom our efforts may be too late. <br />
<br />
For those of you who are already members of the <strong>2018 "Team West Neck Pod,"</strong> thanks for joining (or rejoining) the fight. For those who've swum with us in the past, please consider "re-upping" this year -- and for those of you who've never participated in this event, come join our team as together, stroke by stroke, we continue our naval assault on our common enemy, cancer. <strong>See you in the Glen Cove Salt on August 4th!</strong> -- <em>Carol (a/k/a "The Fairy Pod-Mother")</em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e33WH3ZreT0/W0jcflq7YVI/AAAAAAAAG38/3lXn-r7d8esLAg0iKJmIFRCSTxHWjQUVwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e33WH3ZreT0/W0jcflq7YVI/AAAAAAAAG38/3lXn-r7d8esLAg0iKJmIFRCSTxHWjQUVwCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_1460.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0pgD08vgBww/W0jctkacAHI/AAAAAAAAG4A/qd9xDlCrcAgubhwE5m4DcYL93KgaXhKvgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0pgD08vgBww/W0jctkacAHI/AAAAAAAAG4A/qd9xDlCrcAgubhwE5m4DcYL93KgaXhKvgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0pgD08vgBww/W0jctkacAHI/AAAAAAAAG4A/qd9xDlCrcAgubhwE5m4DcYL93KgaXhKvgCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_1469.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>To join the Team or donate, follow this link:</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><a href="http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?team_id=19894&pg=team&fr_id=4761">http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?team_id=19894&pg=team&fr_id=4761</a></strong></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-7632971368939123542018-04-22T14:07:00.001-04:002018-04-22T14:07:15.666-04:00What Do April Showers Bring...?<em><strong>JELLY FISH! Lots of 'em, their brown, translucent bodies pulsing and glistening on the beach in the brilliant morning sunshine</strong></em>..."Ew," you may say, but that's actually good news for us open-water swimmers: When we see lion's mane jellyfish this early in the season when the water's still cold, it usually means they're too small to sting, and that they'll be gone by June and we can enjoy the rest of the swimming season! (No promises, though!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7t9AK2JEBiU/WtzBDGlwPxI/AAAAAAAAG2U/2uf_HiCNpb4G9QM2Fg8pXPrG4WuWRp08gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7t9AK2JEBiU/WtzBDGlwPxI/AAAAAAAAG2U/2uf_HiCNpb4G9QM2Fg8pXPrG4WuWRp08gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2747.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rJSrOa5ZHqI/WtzFl3gMz7I/AAAAAAAAG3M/4RhhhaZZw5Uja9EmRlUAeG8H9nD2a9zlQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rJSrOa5ZHqI/WtzFl3gMz7I/AAAAAAAAG3M/4RhhhaZZw5Uja9EmRlUAeG8H9nD2a9zlQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2771.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YYUECieF8as/WtzHd2DrJGI/AAAAAAAAG3Y/dtJQpZInH-oTmFiOzz6K1o64T9VyafhlgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YYUECieF8as/WtzHd2DrJGI/AAAAAAAAG3Y/dtJQpZInH-oTmFiOzz6K1o64T9VyafhlgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2740.jpg" width="240" /></a><strong><em>SAILBOATS! Yes, the races have already started, which means our beloved North and South Buoys can't be far behind!</em></strong> <br />
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-idrb_9kF6w8/WtzBC48OmsI/AAAAAAAAG2M/GduESANAv_MUm9Mk3yxNQDjaCWq6dReOQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-idrb_9kF6w8/WtzBC48OmsI/AAAAAAAAG2M/GduESANAv_MUm9Mk3yxNQDjaCWq6dReOQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-idrb_9kF6w8/WtzBC48OmsI/AAAAAAAAG2M/GduESANAv_MUm9Mk3yxNQDjaCWq6dReOQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2735.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBLHF_TM2ys/WtzBEJzdDZI/AAAAAAAAG2c/8d032T72RNc2SLktTDMI79Ayo60QM7pqQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBLHF_TM2ys/WtzBEJzdDZI/AAAAAAAAG2c/8d032T72RNc2SLktTDMI79Ayo60QM7pqQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBLHF_TM2ys/WtzBEJzdDZI/AAAAAAAAG2c/8d032T72RNc2SLktTDMI79Ayo60QM7pqQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2755.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pf7g4vkYu4o/WtzBDM8FwFI/AAAAAAAAG2Q/EbOZB4oK9lE3LYCqi204Gw7OleZfbj5lQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pf7g4vkYu4o/WtzBDM8FwFI/AAAAAAAAG2Q/EbOZB4oK9lE3LYCqi204Gw7OleZfbj5lQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pf7g4vkYu4o/WtzBDM8FwFI/AAAAAAAAG2Q/EbOZB4oK9lE3LYCqi204Gw7OleZfbj5lQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2742.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<strong><em>TUNAFISH?? This may be the first time anyone's found <u>tuna</u> washed up on the beach at West Neck! Usually it's bunker, bluefish or bass -- and not usually in cans!</em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QPwyMTWT_k/WtzBEuq-tLI/AAAAAAAAG2g/M4PDBeI1dusfHBnAenNAtKkLWtYhoi7dACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QPwyMTWT_k/WtzBEuq-tLI/AAAAAAAAG2g/M4PDBeI1dusfHBnAenNAtKkLWtYhoi7dACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QPwyMTWT_k/WtzBEuq-tLI/AAAAAAAAG2g/M4PDBeI1dusfHBnAenNAtKkLWtYhoi7dACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2758.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QPwyMTWT_k/WtzBEuq-tLI/AAAAAAAAG2g/M4PDBeI1dusfHBnAenNAtKkLWtYhoi7dACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QPwyMTWT_k/WtzBEuq-tLI/AAAAAAAAG2g/M4PDBeI1dusfHBnAenNAtKkLWtYhoi7dACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">KAYAKS</span></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><em>SPRAY PAINT?? NO, darn it! The tide was so low Daisy and I were able to walk along the beach from West Neck to the White Rock...It would have been a great opportunity to "freshen up" the...(*shhhh*). Next time!</em></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CjijNv2PcEo/WtzBFDjaQcI/AAAAAAAAG2k/zr3wB9O7tVQxaf76QUgYG_pwEe-zrMjAgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CjijNv2PcEo/WtzBFDjaQcI/AAAAAAAAG2k/zr3wB9O7tVQxaf76QUgYG_pwEe-zrMjAgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2760.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em>AND ME...!</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em>Hope to see you all in the Salt again soon!</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z0vjm6cPmI0/WtzBFslJfKI/AAAAAAAAG2o/6ra-tkswKbEVVlz1OMzCTrgTbBsr14dkgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="481" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z0vjm6cPmI0/WtzBFslJfKI/AAAAAAAAG2o/6ra-tkswKbEVVlz1OMzCTrgTbBsr14dkgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2762.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-21455711086225000312018-04-14T21:23:00.000-04:002018-04-14T21:23:55.473-04:00West Neck Pod News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JEfnMPrhxmI/WtKnWjEVkII/AAAAAAAAG10/DqYfNqBLgV0DWavAoUa0ZlgVLpvFhZdNgCLcBGAs/s1600/lider%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JEfnMPrhxmI/WtKnWjEVkII/AAAAAAAAG10/DqYfNqBLgV0DWavAoUa0ZlgVLpvFhZdNgCLcBGAs/s320/lider%2B2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-74bGUILY7Pw/WtKnLkTdZyI/AAAAAAAAG1s/5ixUpOyiDhwg-VLC5KSUsaETV8YUz9dfACEwYBhgL/s1600/lider%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-74bGUILY7Pw/WtKnLkTdZyI/AAAAAAAAG1s/5ixUpOyiDhwg-VLC5KSUsaETV8YUz9dfACEwYBhgL/s320/lider%2B1.JPG" width="240" /></a><strong>THIS JUST IN:<em> Lider Raynor!</em></strong> — whose ten-minute immersion in the<em> 41° water of Cold Spring Harbor today </em>confirmed him as the winner of the until-now-nascent "First-In" competition for the 2018 Open Water Swim season! Fortuitously there at West Neck Beach to bear witness to Lider’s feat was long-ago Pod member <strong>Annmarie Bishoffberger,</strong> who announced her plans to re-join us in the Salt this year if (*ugh*) wearing a wetsuit helps her avoid the allergic reaction to unseen sea critters that has kept her pool-bound for lo these many years! (Fingers crossed, Annmarie!) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oh0VQImXP68/WtKnWa5f_aI/AAAAAAAAG1w/yjPpXK-cxj8ba53Q2CO-IrXkEDcaxS2QQCLcBGAs/s1600/lider%2B3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oh0VQImXP68/WtKnWa5f_aI/AAAAAAAAG1w/yjPpXK-cxj8ba53Q2CO-IrXkEDcaxS2QQCLcBGAs/s320/lider%2B3.png" width="240" /></a></div>
Still to come, the "Last-Out" competition – and, as not-quite-Polar Pod-member <strong>EJ Voss</strong> urges (perhaps sensing a competitive advantage), the "Last-In" award as well! <br />
<br />
Looking forward to seeing some of you in the Salt very, very soon, and the rest of you, well...I guess I’ll see you when I see you! <br />
<br />
<em><strong>Happy Spring, and Welcome Back, West Neck Pod!</strong></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-66726013168493647472017-07-30T17:45:00.001-04:002017-07-30T17:59:55.744-04:00Sea Changes<strong>Dear West </strong>Neck<strong> Pod:</strong> I wish you all (and apologize for) a very belated "welcome" to the <em><strong>2017 open-water swimming season.</strong></em> As you know the season got off to a slow start when, first, Mother Nature pelted our area with a seemingly endless series of torrential-and-potentially-toxic-runoff-generating Springtime rainstorms and, second, the Town of Huntington suddenly altered its long-standing practice of early-morning beach openings, and swimmers arriving at West Neck Beach for their morning swims inexplicably found the gates still lowered and locked. Numerous emails, phone calls, and in-person visits to Town Hall by distraught and angry Pod members were successful in turning the tide, and, thanks to your efforts, the gates to West Neck Beach are now open every morning at 6:00! (and the resultant flurry of ticketing of cars without Town of Huntington beach parking permits before the beach "officially" opens appears to have abated).<br />
<br />
But Town enforcement policies and practices aside, I’m sure you all have noted some subtle and not-so-subtle changes in the West Neck Pod. One such obvious change is in the Pod’s leadership, which, informal though it is, has been largely informed and coordinated by the emails, Facebook posts, and "Water-Blog" blogposts of my alter ego, the "Fairy Pod-Mother." Recent sea changes in my personal life have compelled me to shift my attention and energy in other directions, and you may have noticed that my blogposts have become almost nonexistent, and my emails and Facebook posts less frequent. This season, my physical presence for West Neck Pod group swims has been sporadic, in part because I have found a new heart-home upstate where I have been spending most of my weekends, and to which I hope to retire someday – although "Chatham" is maddeningly land-locked. Until then, I am still swimming with my fellow Pod members on weekday mornings and one weekend a month, and you will see me in the Salt as often as I am able get myself there! I am confident that our Pod-elders will swim up to fill any void created by the absence of the Fairy Pod-Mother and to ensure that open-water swimming is as safe and accessible as we have made it for each other for all the years that the West Neck Pod has plied the waters of Cold Spring Harbor and Long Island Sound (and here I tip my swim cap to our founding Pod-father, <strong>Rob Martell</strong>!).<br />
<br />
Indeed, our West Neck Pod adventures in the Salt have made West Neck Beach synonymous with open-water swimming, and our home beach has become a mecca for "newbies" to the open water, as well as for recreational swimmers, competitive swimmers and triathletes from both near and far, all of whom have embraced and been embraced by our inclusive membership requirement, which is, simply, if you swim with the Pod, you’re a member of the Pod! There are no dues, no fees, no requirements other than that you listen to the acquired wisdom of the Pod elders, who are knowledgeable about water conditions, tides, wind speed and direction, boat traffic, swim courses, "floaty bags" and other factors that affect our safety and well-being "out there." <br />
<br />
One consequence of this increased visibility and recognition of the West Neck Pod is that the need and impetus for group swims seems to have diminished somewhat, as more and more little Podlets form whose members cherry-pick the dates, times and buddies for their swims, so that now, virtually anytime you come down to West Neck Beach you will see open-water swimmers "out there" beyond the swim lines. I think this evolution is a good thing – and a reflection of what occurs in nature, among the whales and dolphins whose extended "pod" families gave our open-water swimming group its name so many years ago. <br />
<br />
Official group swims continue, though – with posted group-swim times on Friday/Saturday/Sunday mornings at 8:00 (and I am advised that the newly reconstituted "Pokey-Pod" has been swimming regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:45 a.m. if that’s more your speed). As for other dates and times, rely on your fellow Pod-members to post their swims on the West Neck Pod Facebook page, and please welcome others to join your own "Podlet" swims. <br />
<br />
One of the things that has suffered as I transit between upstate and downstate is my role as Captain of <strong>"Team West Neck Pod’s" Swim Across America.</strong> For the first time in my many years of participating in this event, to date I have done no recruiting for the Team, and no fundraising – although the Swim is less than a week away. Ironically, it was the death of my dear friend Karin Ralph from lung cancer earlier this year that stunned and immobilized me – and it was not until her July 8th memorial service on the day of what would have been her 72nd birthday that I reconnected with my commitment to the fight against cancer. And so I will be swimming on Saturday, August 5th, with my amazing teammates <strong>Lider Raynor</strong> (who is swimming his first 10K!), and cancer survivor <strong>Bonnie Millen</strong>, and whoever else reading this is inspired to join us, last-minute though it may be. Our staunch teammate <strong>Merry Lewin</strong>, alas, is down for the count with a torn meniscus and will not be in swimming shape by August 5th, and I have been plagued with back problems that make my usual 5K unthinkable now, so I will be swimming the one-mile event this year. I know that I will be joined in spirit by Karin, who introduced me to beautiful Makamah Beach on Long Island Sound, and with whom I swam there, side by side, more times than I can count. I swim, also, in honor and in memory of the (too) many cancer survivors and victims whose names adorn my pink "floaty-bag," and whose courage and spirits will again carry me through my "Swim Across America."<br />
<br />
<em>To join Team West Neck Pod</em> (I hope you will), or to support my swim (or that of your fellow Pod-mates), follow this link: http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?team_id=18972&pg=team&fr_id=4365<br />
<br />
And if you’re not able to participate in this year’s Swim Across America, Pod-member <strong>Evelyn Cruise,</strong> Volunteer Coordinator for the "West Neck Swim," is looking for additional volunteers to help with this year’s swim, which is scheduled to be held at West Neck Beach on Sunday, August 6th. If you can help, please reach out to Evelyn at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><u><span style="color: blue;">evelyn.cruise@gmail.com</span></u></a> or westneckswimvolunteers@gmail.com.<br />
<br />
It has been an unutterable joy to help weave the threads that collected this motley crew of swimmers into the beautiful fabric that is the West Neck Pod. I love all of you, and what we have created together. Please take care of it, and each other. <em>See you in the Salt.</em><br />
<br />
Love, Carol (Fairy Pod-Mother Emeritus)<br />
<br />
P.S.: I’m attaching a link to a blogpost I wrote seven years ago about my love for open-water swimming, which some of may remember and others may never have seen. It is all still true for me. See you in church. <a href="http://thewater-blog.blogspot.com/2010/08/open-water-swimming-love-story_09.html">http://thewater-blog.blogspot.com/2010/08/open-water-swimming-love-story_09.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-72390318015337996802016-11-07T22:10:00.000-05:002016-11-07T22:10:00.922-05:00I Vote We Go In !!<em><span style="color: blue;">There was a lot of head-shaking going on at West Neck Beach yesterday morning, as one by one we would-be November swimmers arrived for our planned 10:45 "in-the-water" swim....</span></em>It was a gloriously sunny day, the air temperature a moderate 53 degrees, but an 18 mph northwesterly wind was pushing up two-foot whitecapped waves that washed chillingly over our feet as we dithered at the water’s edge about what to do...<em>what to do?</em> We weren’t worried so much about the water temperature (52 degrees? 53?) as about what that wind would feel like on the back end of our swim when/if.... <br />
<br />
Finally, newly minted Polar-Podders <strong>Lider Raynor</strong> and <strong>Pedro Xavier Palacios</strong> – already in their wetsuits – announced that they were going in anyway, while <strong>Gae Polisner</strong>, <strong>Annmarie Kearney-Woods</strong> and I had quietly tumbled into the "NOT!" column as we stood there shivering in the wind....And then Gae made that crack about how "Hillary Clinton would be ashamed of us," which got me tugging off my sweatpants and t-shirt and pulling on my wetsuit...Not for Hillary herself (although I will be voting for her tomorrow), but for the recognition of what it has taken for a woman – finally– to be actually on the brink of possibly becoming the next president of the United States of America; <em>and for the remembrance that every season, it is we women of the West Neck Pod who are always the first in and the last out</em>, and if November 6th wound up being the last swim of this 2016 season, that would be the end of that tradition! So ultimately there were five of us Polar Podders (with our wounded sister Joye Brown on the beach taking pictures) who edged our way into the breathtakingly chilly water yesterday morning, and who emerged an exhilarating half hour later, smiling and happy and ineffably proud of ourselves and each other. Thank you, Lider, Pedro, Gae, Annmarie, and Joye (and Eleanor Roosevelt) for always encouraging and enabling me to do the thing I think I cannot do. <br />
<br />
Please go out and vote tomorrow. See you in the Salt...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-44017297331584815362016-06-15T23:27:00.002-04:002016-06-15T23:27:50.465-04:00What the...??? or, Apocalyptic Swim... <span style="color: blue;"><em><strong>For nearly a week, an unrelenting wind had been whipping across the Island, bending tree limbs and rustling leaves and whipping up whitecaps across the water everywhere....Saturday was relatively calm, but by Sunday the blustery wind had returned, and midway through our 8:00 morning swim it changed direction and intensified, forcing the handful of stubborn stay-ins to stick close to shore to avoid head-on collisions with unseen mooring balls or other swimmers.</strong></em></span> Conditions were much the same for the Tuesday morning 6:30 swim, as <strong>Margot Edlin</strong> and I fought our way to the North Buoy against the northwesterly wind and then fought our way back against what we’d thought would be an incoming tide but felt awfully outgoing....<br />
<br />
So when <strong>Gae Polisner</strong> and I arrived at West Neck Beach for the Wednesday morning 6:30 swim, we were relieved to find the flag hanging limply against the flagpole and the water flat and still, though the air was chilly at 55 degrees. As we pulled our wetsuits on in the parking lot, deeming the water still too cold for bathing-suit-only swimming, we discussed our options for the swim. According to my iPhone’s tide app, as confirmed by Gae’s, the tide was still incoming, with high tide not until 8:57. So, taking into account our years of observed wisdom that the tide actually turns about an hour earlier in Cold Spring Harbor than the tide table reflects, we figured we still had a good hour’s worth of swimming on an incoming tide before it turned, so our first "Sailboat swim" of the season was our objective. <br />
<br />
As we headed to the water, though, our attention was caught by a long, breaking wave out in the middle of the harbor directly in front of the beach. The wave kept breaking in place, curling over itself, and we could hear the sound of the water moving long before a series of rolling waves washed over the beach. Other than a few stationary clamboats dotting the harbor, there was no boat traffic, though, and we wondered, somewhat anxiously, what was out there causing the water to move like that...Fish...?? Big fish...?? How big...?? And how many...??<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzYMYAKM1IjnRDMkO6yWdLJkj8xyzA-SudBi3eeIg0eD797yR3ElFtARDS1TPu2PUhbGFVEA_wpFW0sjl7Iuw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Gae pointed out that the swim lines were bowing, despite the lack of wind --but not in the direction we would have expected with a still-incoming tide. Once we waded in (we were there to swim, after all, and the water was so clear and clean and calm and lovely despite the unknown force "out there"), we realized that our bodies were moving, too, just like the swim lines, and we were being pushed northward, as if on an outgoing tide. It made no sense – high tide was still at least an hour and a half away, but there was no doubt that the water was moving northward towards the Sound, and pretty forcefully, too, and we were moving with it. <br />
<br />
We quickly readjusted our swim plan: To the South Buoy against the apparently though inexplicably outgoing tide, then to the North Buoy and then in, for a mile-plus swim. Off we went, but both with a sense of uneasiness, a feeling that something is off, that things are not what they’re supposed to be....<br />
<br />
We had been talking on the beach, of course, as I imagine people all across the country and even the world have been, about the deliberate and merciless slaughter of my gay brothers and sisters in Orlando and the apparent ease with which this latest mass-murderer (who I believe was more of a crazy person than a Muslim terrorist) obtained the assault weapon that made killing each of them and so many of them so easy...so easy.... <br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WcKmGoRzkq0/V2IadRHigZI/AAAAAAAAGxs/1mnG-2OJ6zowK37regIGFXSaAv3ZR-6KACLcB/s1600/orlando%2Brainbow%2Bflag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WcKmGoRzkq0/V2IadRHigZI/AAAAAAAAGxs/1mnG-2OJ6zowK37regIGFXSaAv3ZR-6KACLcB/s320/orlando%2Brainbow%2Bflag.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
In Orlando...and before that San Bernardino, and before that Charleston, and before that Newtown, and before that Aurora, and before that Columbine...and so many more in between -- all of those innocents, taken so easily from their families and their friends and their futures....<br />
<br />
It is no wonder that the winds are raging, that the tides are unpredictable, that the earth is erupting, that our human hearts are breaking along with that of our Mother the Earth...and that Gae and I felt so vulnerable swimming in the face of all this to the South Buoy and then to the North Buoy and then in....<br />
<br />
Like Isak Dinesen (or because of her), I believe that "the cure for anything is salt water"....But this is going to take a lot of swimming...a lot of swimming....<br />
<br />
<strong><em> See you in the Salt...and be mindful of the shifting tides....</em></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-86566504309365692672016-05-31T23:20:00.000-04:002016-05-31T23:55:13.335-04:00Memorial Day Weekend 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oiVvzKa2lhs/V05avZ67MYI/AAAAAAAAGxQ/sJQLXit42kwTdnklKnynwekoKkeTM2oiQCKgB/s1600/P1000817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oiVvzKa2lhs/V05avZ67MYI/AAAAAAAAGxQ/sJQLXit42kwTdnklKnynwekoKkeTM2oiQCKgB/s200/P1000817.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<strong><em>Our official season opener on Saturday morning</em></strong> saw a dozen swimmers hit the still-chilly but deliciously invigorating waters of Cold Spring Harbor, in a somewhat aimless swim southward, the yellow racing buoys we’ve affectionately dubbed the "South Buoy" and "North Buoy" being still conspicuously absent (as detailed in my blogpost from that date at <span style="color: blue;">http://thewater-blog.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-2016-ows-season-begins.html</span>)....<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iXXDZN--xEQ/V05PwwUKG_I/AAAAAAAAGwc/EzxRwNbVWUkufxWSIPTNAnDmkXWLq7wxACLcB/s1600/20160529_091934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iXXDZN--xEQ/V05PwwUKG_I/AAAAAAAAGwc/EzxRwNbVWUkufxWSIPTNAnDmkXWLq7wxACLcB/s320/20160529_091934.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margot Edlin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
By Sunday morning, though, the buoys were miraculously restored, and an even larger cadre of swimmers happily plied their way from buoy to buoy in water that to my bare arms may even have been a teensy bit warmer than the day before. Back in the Salt on Sunday for the first time this season were, among others, <strong>Margot Edlin</strong>, whose Facebook pictures I’ve purloined to post here, having forgotten my otherwise ubiquitous camera – an omission probably habituated by my more recent Polar Pod excursions where cold-numbed, gloved fingers were useless for operating the camera’s tiny buttons. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vk6FTsW_BNE/V05PP02BMUI/AAAAAAAAGwU/I6z9hnPWBBUuGIsVP0S3GfHRD49N1dORwCKgB/s1600/20160529_091807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vk6FTsW_BNE/V05PP02BMUI/AAAAAAAAGwU/I6z9hnPWBBUuGIsVP0S3GfHRD49N1dORwCKgB/s320/20160529_091807.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joanna Grossman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong> </strong>Also back – for what it turns out may be one of her last swims with the West Neck Pod – was <strong>Joanna Grossman</strong>, who announced that she and her husband and fellow law professor Grant will shortly be relocating with their family to Dallas, where fabulous new teaching jobs await them, but Salt water will be in short supply. I’m so sad to see Joanna leave – and not only because she’s been an integral and longstanding member of "Team West Neck Pod" for our annual cancer-fighting "Sound-to-Cove" Swim Across America! We’ll miss you, Joanna, and wish you and your family much happiness in the Big D. <br />
<br />
Joanna may be leaving, but back in the Salt for the start of her <em>fourth season with the West Neck Pod</em>, and now signed up for her second stint as a member of Swim Across America’s "Team West Neck Pod," was <strong>Merry Lewin</strong> – who started her training on Sunday for her<em> first 5K swim with the Team!</em><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pzNMOIhf8vU/V05cIkulUeI/AAAAAAAAGxc/V08HdfdWk10fPha3SllTIGe5jIJD7NpRgCKgB/s1600/20160529_080853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pzNMOIhf8vU/V05cIkulUeI/AAAAAAAAGxc/V08HdfdWk10fPha3SllTIGe5jIJD7NpRgCKgB/s320/20160529_080853.jpg" width="180" /></a>Welcome back, too, to Polar Podders <strong>Annmarie Kearney-Wood</strong> (who will soon have her daughter Missy married off and can then return to compulsive open-water swimming if we can overcome her recent Cross-Fit obsession) and <strong>Tony Alizzi</strong> (whose chiseled Roman good looks seem only to have been enhanced by his recent faceplant on a Manhattan street), as well as to <strong>Rob Todd</strong>, <strong>Marc Leahy</strong>, <strong>Joan Addabbo</strong>, <strong>Gary Baker</strong>, <strong>Denise Tirino</strong> and everyone else who was there whose name or face I can’t quite conjure up now. (Oh, and a hearty Pod-welcome to Denise’s gutsy friend "<strong>Josee</strong>," an open-water newbie whose caring and concern for Denise – who was temporarily hung up and struggling to make headway "out there" against the outgoing tide -- managed to overshadow her own fear and anxiety...That’s what makes us a Pod...Just sayin’...).<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jpb4hyFU9tY/V05RXtU9xNI/AAAAAAAAGww/reQ6ZF_grOURUqHA1IkQ6q05_QgTNo9XACLcB/s1600/lifeguards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jpb4hyFU9tY/V05RXtU9xNI/AAAAAAAAGww/reQ6ZF_grOURUqHA1IkQ6q05_QgTNo9XACLcB/s320/lifeguards.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia, Connor and Gabby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Though I’d optimistically planned to fete the </span>Memorial Day</span> swimmers with bagels and coffee, the weather forecast for Monday turned out to be accurate, and the rain that fell periodically throughout the night was still soaking Huntington by the time I posted on Facebook that the day’s swim was cancelled. Even though I'd officially cancelled the swim because of the then-pelting rain, I couldn't resist heading down to the beach anyway, because even though I wasn't planning to swim, I still like to look and see what I’m missing....I wasn't expecting to find any swimmers there, so I decided to bring bagels and coffee for the lifeguards instead, who have been so patient with us swimmers and so tolerant of our annoying habit of thronging the beach- house and overhang and taking over every inch of bench space every weekend morning...The lifeguards were there (<strong>Julia, Connor and Gabby</strong>), and, to my great surprise, so were <strong>Marc Leahy, Stephen Leung and Pete Ventura</strong>, already suited up and ready to get into the water (with Pete’s wife <strong>Vicki</strong> watching from the bench)! The rain, of course, had stopped completely by then, so <strong>Daisy-Mae</strong> and I walked the beach as Pete, Marc and Stephen swam first to the North Buoy and then made their way towards the South Buoy. Midway through their swim the sun started to peek through the clouds, and I felt a twinge of regret – I wonder if this is what it’s like to be a meteorologist! Daisy and I left before they returned, but I hope the lifeguards shared some coffee and bagels with them! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--DqJyCBqBUg/V05S2CsGExI/AAAAAAAAGxA/t9utBhZ_vC8BvHaccVkCJmxF72f1dIMywCLcB/s1600/daisy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--DqJyCBqBUg/V05S2CsGExI/AAAAAAAAGxA/t9utBhZ_vC8BvHaccVkCJmxF72f1dIMywCLcB/s320/daisy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy Mae</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This week of spiking summer-like temperatures holds the promise of much warmer water this coming weekend, when I hope that I’ll see the rest of you back in the Salt for the <em>first group swims of June!</em> <br />
<br />
Scheduled <span style="color: magenta;">weekday morning group swims</span> will begin next week, most likely on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 6:30 and Friday mornings at 8:00 – but please feel free to share your swim plans with your fellow swimmers by email or on Facebook: (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/(https://www.facebook.com/WestNeckPod/?fref=nf)."><u><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/WestNeckPod/?fref=nf).</span></u></a><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Summer’s coming!</strong> <strong>See you in the Salt!</strong></span></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-6596824366652738172016-05-28T23:00:00.000-04:002016-05-29T00:04:20.238-04:00The 2016 OWS Season Begins...!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ6JMdykGsc/V0pkxW3bG3I/AAAAAAAAGv0/oKB3OOZbHho7lfMAaoY8sIofAO0NnO1UwCLcB/s1600/P1000815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ6JMdykGsc/V0pkxW3bG3I/AAAAAAAAGv0/oKB3OOZbHho7lfMAaoY8sIofAO0NnO1UwCLcB/s320/P1000815.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ4FH0fr4QI/V0pkxMELKUI/AAAAAAAAGvs/6lDwg5J4j8gmxY5I6UHukdS8eN8xBbX4QCLcB/s1600/IMG_3166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ4FH0fr4QI/V0pkxMELKUI/AAAAAAAAGvs/6lDwg5J4j8gmxY5I6UHukdS8eN8xBbX4QCLcB/s320/IMG_3166.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: blue;"><em>A dozen swimmers showed up at West Neck Beach this first day of the Memorial Day weekend to inaugurate the 2016 OWS season in near-perfect conditions:</em></span> The sky was blue and clear, the air warm and nearly windless, the water relatively flat and calm, and its temperature comfortably welcoming even for those swimmers who were returning to the open water for the first time since last Fall (who, it must be noted, were all gratefully wearing full wetsuits). Polar Pod regulars <strong>Gae Polisner and I</strong> (giddily sleeveless) together with <strong>Jimmy Kwong</strong> were joined by the slightly-less-Polar <strong>Merry Lewin, E.J. Voss, Steve Albright and Brett Emsden</strong>, and even <strong>Scott Kessler</strong> forsook Chlorine for Saline today! Also joining us, from NYC, were <strong>Chris, Claire and Jean</strong>, who last swam with us in September 2015 (and another guy – who was that??). Since the tide was outgoing (though it felt suspiciously incoming), we swam south toward what would have been the South Buoy if it were in place, which it’s not yet – and wound up reconnoitering at the red, green and white buoys of the Lloyd Harbor Beach mooring field. Our round trip left us just short of a mile, and Gae and I (after stripping off our wetsuits) and E.J. tacked on an extra leg to the dock and back to give us a mile+ for the morning’s swim....Everyone agreed that it was a beautiful start to the 2016 open-water-swimming season....<br />
<br />
Tomorrow’s supposed to be sunny and warm...I’m expecting an ever bigger turnout, and looking forward to seeing everyone again after this long winter hiatus....<br />
<br />
There’ll be bagels and coffee on the beach on Memorial Day, compliments of the Fairy Pod-Mother...<strong><em>See you in the Salt!</em></strong> <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-em6ul0a_R_o/V0pkxeFQzcI/AAAAAAAAGvw/TxLUJcmSV30sE3QlGvB9qNLvHHrqYJchgCLcB/s1600/P1000817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-em6ul0a_R_o/V0pkxeFQzcI/AAAAAAAAGvw/TxLUJcmSV30sE3QlGvB9qNLvHHrqYJchgCLcB/s320/P1000817.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">E.J. Voss, Merry Lewin, Gae Poliser and Jimmy Kwong <br />
in the foreground (and thanks to Bondy for taking this <br />
and other pictures posted here!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sP4ujmsY79A/V0pkxm1aq6I/AAAAAAAAGv4/oNya-6nORxAGVY3O_Ug7ZdDPtvoSmDO7gCLcB/s1600/P1000820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sP4ujmsY79A/V0pkxm1aq6I/AAAAAAAAGv4/oNya-6nORxAGVY3O_Ug7ZdDPtvoSmDO7gCLcB/s320/P1000820.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CmgfaeK3M2U/V0pkxjzb9GI/AAAAAAAAGv8/gebcLjAsK1wB2z5FrPYhK57-4xUWOrrdgCLcB/s1600/P1000823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CmgfaeK3M2U/V0pkxjzb9GI/AAAAAAAAGv8/gebcLjAsK1wB2z5FrPYhK57-4xUWOrrdgCLcB/s320/P1000823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e6Z8ziVGf2g/V0pkx65evQI/AAAAAAAAGwA/RiN7o70fmykBAiTAYGY_Lex677GPpOfsACLcB/s1600/P1000831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e6Z8ziVGf2g/V0pkx65evQI/AAAAAAAAGwA/RiN7o70fmykBAiTAYGY_Lex677GPpOfsACLcB/s320/P1000831.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gae Polisner and Carol Moore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iDLNNpL5BNM/V0pkx9olO1I/AAAAAAAAGwE/t6pNAi0V4IUWHTDNIzRaN_8Ih6dkl4HfgCLcB/s1600/P1000833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iDLNNpL5BNM/V0pkx9olO1I/AAAAAAAAGwE/t6pNAi0V4IUWHTDNIzRaN_8Ih6dkl4HfgCLcB/s320/P1000833.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">E.J. Voss</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-72207799917927946622016-05-24T23:55:00.000-04:002016-05-24T23:55:41.918-04:00Looks Like We Made It....Again!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1jxdVcAfb_0/V0Uc2vUm_JI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/pLHhaV-XR7cYf2dUnGrz8p6ws0HPSRFugCLcB/s1600/seal%2Bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1jxdVcAfb_0/V0Uc2vUm_JI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/pLHhaV-XR7cYf2dUnGrz8p6ws0HPSRFugCLcB/s320/seal%2Bday.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 31st swim, with Joye Brown, me, Gae Polisner, and <br />
Annmarie Kearney-Wood -- and an anonymous harbor seal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<em><strong><span style="color: blue;">Well, that wasn’t so bad, was it? The Winter, I mean – especially compared to the last several years of bone-chilling cold and seemingly endless snowstorms.</span></strong></em> This Winter the West Neck Polar Pod managed to eke out at least one swim in every month except February, so <em>we’re</em> pretty well acclimated and ready for the <strong>official start of the 2016 open-water-swimming season on Memorial Day weekend!</strong> It’s been a cool Spring, though, despite its early start, and the water temperature has been slow in making its way up into the comfort range for most swimmers. But by Memorial Day weekend, I’m anticipating that the water temperature will have nudged its way into the 60s...at least the low 60s...and that it will be tolerable for some if not most, at least in wetsuits (no, not you, "Princess Rabbi"!).
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
The water conditions have otherwise been lovely, though, with extremely clean, clear water throughout most of the pre-season. On my last couple of swims with the Polar Pod I kept thinking I was about to scrape the water bottom, which seemed just inches beneath my outstretched hand, but with each panicky stop I found that the water was still well over my head, and <strong>Gae Polisner</strong> reported on our last swim that she saw a couple of crabs hugging the bottom as she swam above them. You may remember that last summer, Cold Spring Harbor and Long Island Sound were widely reported to have been visited by a number of <strong>Beluga and humpback whales</strong>, and this winter the West Neck Polar Pod was astonished when it was joined on one of its swims by a lone <strong>harbor seal</strong>, who perhaps mistook our black-wetsuited selves for its friends and relatives. These recent sightings may be signs of our harbor’s steadily improving health – or of more dire conditions elsewhere – but I am heartened to see these changes, and look forward to welcoming the dolphins when they, too, return to our harbor. </div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S3mbiKrmYTc/V0UdbyPIiuI/AAAAAAAAGvY/DKEJ5ooVtkcHdsKaAEECN-h8msrJ-dM1ACLcB/s1600/Tony%2Btoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S3mbiKrmYTc/V0UdbyPIiuI/AAAAAAAAGvY/DKEJ5ooVtkcHdsKaAEECN-h8msrJ-dM1ACLcB/s320/Tony%2Btoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April Fools -- me with Gae Polisner and Tony Alizzi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
In the meantime, it looks like we’ll be welcoming more newbies to the West Neck Pod, based on the steady stream of emails and Facebook messages that I received as the winter season waned. The West Neck Pod is still the only truly "open" open-water swimming group on Long Island, with no formal membership or dues, and we continue to welcome all swimmers to join us in appreciating and reveling in the many gifts of the open water. Whether you’re a recreational swimmer, a competitive swimmer, an Ironman triathlete or anything in between, you’ll find a home and fellows here at West Neck Beach. If you’re on our email list or want to be (by request only to <a href="mailto:westneckpod@verizon.net"><u><span style="color: blue;">westneckpod@verizon.net</span></u></a>) or have "liked" our West Neck Pod Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WestNeckPod), but you haven’t yet joined us for a swim, then maybe this is your year (at your own risk, of course, for competent swimmers only – and be sure to read the disclaimer on our Facebook page)! </div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<span style="color: magenta;">Though Summer is still nearly a month away, this coming weekend marks the official start of our open-water swimming season, with group swims scheduled for Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Memorial Day) mornings at 8:00!</span> This weekend schedule will continue throughout the season and the post-season, and as the morning air and water temperatures continue to rise, a schedule of weekday morning swims will evolve and be posted by email or on Facebook and/or "The Water-Blog" (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/editor/static_files/(http://thewater-blog.blogspot.com/)"><u><span style="color: blue;">http://thewater-blog.blogspot.com/)</span></u></a> (and hopefully my personal and time constraints will enable me to return to more regular blogposts, which regretfully have been few and far between of late!). </div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_yc7WMakHPQ/V0Uc0cCHaNI/AAAAAAAAGvM/GZwzILl13y0T4E1o4lFLLYusi6NkY-clwCLcB/s1600/pink%2Bcaps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_yc7WMakHPQ/V0Uc0cCHaNI/AAAAAAAAGvM/GZwzILl13y0T4E1o4lFLLYusi6NkY-clwCLcB/s320/pink%2Bcaps.jpg" width="320" /></a> As our Pod continues to grow and expand, so do the number of impromptu or ad hoc "Podlet" swims, and now, at virtually any time of the day, you can see swimmers ducking under the swim lines and making their way to the South or North Buoy or The Sailboat or beyond (hopefully sporting the brightly colored "floaty-bags" which have become the ubiquitous symbol of the West Neck Pod’s commitment to safety "out there"). We encourage you to post and share info about these informal swims with your fellow Pod members...(and to buy and use those International Swimming Hall of Fame-developed "SaferSwimmer" flotation devices). </div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj_99NYFt78/V0Ucyoa1w7I/AAAAAAAAGvI/P5mHzN7780cYrHFNHayExCxMhk5thb82wCLcB/s1600/gae%2Band%2Bjoye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj_99NYFt78/V0Ucyoa1w7I/AAAAAAAAGvI/P5mHzN7780cYrHFNHayExCxMhk5thb82wCLcB/s320/gae%2Band%2Bjoye.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gae Polisner and Joye Brown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
As you begin to "get in the swim" again this year, here are some important upcoming events to post in your calendar:</div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
This year, for the fifth time, our home West Neck Beach will be the site of Long Island’s premiere open-water swimming event, the "West Neck Swim," with one-mile, two-mile, and 5K events. This year, the Swim will be held on July 31<sup>st</sup> (race organizers changed the original date from June 26<sup>th</sup> to avoid conflict with the Huntington Tri and to take advantage of warmer water temperatures and the high-tide schedule). Registration information will be posted on the West Neck Swim website (westneckswim.com) and the West Neck Pod Facebook page.</div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
Then, in August, the West Neck Pod will once again be participating in the annual<strong> "Sound-to-Cove" Swim Across America</strong> in Glen Cove. Since we first started participating in 2012, <strong>"Team West Neck Pod"</strong> has raised nearly $100,000.00 to help support local cancer research, treatment and support services. Like so many Long Island families, our West Neck Pod family has been deeply and personally touched by cancer, and many of our members have lost friends and family members to this disease or are cancer survivors themselves. Each year, the members of Team West Neck Pod pledge our swimming bodies to the fight against cancer – a fight the recent research shows we are winning! To help in the fight against cancer in our community, join Team West Neck Pod – or make a generous donation on behalf of the Team or your favorite swimmer. (<a href="http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?team_id=18308&pg=team&fr_id=3944">http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?team_id=18308&pg=team&fr_id=3944</a>). </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<strong><em> See you in the Salt!</em></strong></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-109vvvwu6Zc/V0Ucws53RdI/AAAAAAAAGvE/c2EFM4XUOsIK73SnCZbZXi2SxV9f46s2ACLcB/s1600/13062031_1053383798048686_3290106828637847964_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-109vvvwu6Zc/V0Ucws53RdI/AAAAAAAAGvE/c2EFM4XUOsIK73SnCZbZXi2SxV9f46s2ACLcB/s320/13062031_1053383798048686_3290106828637847964_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Coster and Kevin Flannery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-55401366173185719122016-01-01T23:50:00.000-05:002016-01-02T01:03:34.907-05:00Waving-In the New Year<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1PAD0P8d7Q/VodjP7UzrfI/AAAAAAAAGuw/7Dd0bSQdmH8/s1600/New%2BYear%2527s%2BDay%2B2016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1PAD0P8d7Q/VodjP7UzrfI/AAAAAAAAGuw/7Dd0bSQdmH8/s320/New%2BYear%2527s%2BDay%2B2016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimmy, Sharon, me, Tony and Stephen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
The sun had almost but not quite burned its way through the clouds, so the air was decidedly chilly at 41 degrees. A west-northwesterly wind was roughing up the surface of the water, which looked stern and cold as the West Neck Polar Pod arrived for its annual New Year’s Day swim. <strong>Jimmy Kwong, Stephen Leung, Tony Alizzi, Sharon Berg Hochberg and I</strong> were there to swim, but bikini-clad Pod-member<strong> Nancy Aboff</strong> was there, too, hunkered in her SUV, steeling herself for her first-ever polar plunge. Her friend Karen, who was there for moral support, decided to join her at the last minute, and as we wetsuited swimmers huddled at the shoreline adjusting gloves and goggles and nerves, Nancy and Karen, both wearing only bathing suits, ran headlong into the swells, laughing and shrieking like...well, like they were running nearly naked into ice-cold frigid water! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxuVLFF-6S_a8peycBr_-WMXSD8onXb2w_xbAH_JvOqVZevaDIhAziKAEBWqy1_saxs0VVQHXyqEOvZeJ6EMQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /><br />
The rest of us soon followed suit as fellow Pod member <strong>Mark Heuwetter</strong>, there just to cheerlead, encouraged us from the beach while taking pictures and videos of our progress (including the ones posted here - thanks, Mark!). The wind-driven chop made swimming difficult, and several of us struggled with leaking, fogging goggles that were impossible to adjust with cold, gloved hands. Back at the beach, Jimmy’s friend <strong>Bondy</strong> waited for our return, intent on taking her own first polar plunge, which Jimmy had promised he’d join her in after our swim. That was all I needed to hear to be inspired myself, and when the Polar Pod’s brief but exhilarating excursion was over, Jimmy and I both stripped off our wetsuits and joined Bondy in a bathing-suit-only bone-chilling New Year’s polar plunge before dashing back to our cars to dry off, warm up and drink hot tea.<br />
Cold-water swimming certainly isn’t for everyone. For the members of the West Neck Polar Pod, our compulsion to push the boundaries of the "open-water swimming season" is motivated less by a fondness for cold water and goosebumps than by a stubborn unwillingness to relinquish the delicious freedom of the open water for the finite container of the pool (though the cold water definitely kicks up our endorphins!). That’s why we were out there today on this first day of 2016...and why we’ll be out there again as often as the weather and our personal constraints allow. So if you weren’t able to join us today (<strong>Gae Polisner, Annmarie Kearney-Wood and Joye Brown</strong>,<em> you know I’m talking to you!</em>), don’t worry – <em>you’ll have 364 more chances this year!</em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Happy New Year, everyone!</strong></span></em> <strong><em> See you in the Salt!</em></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-83408450262141964252015-06-14T19:27:00.000-04:002015-06-15T14:36:12.031-04:00Goodbye, June-uary...Hello, Summer!<span style="color: blue;"><em>"Welcome to ‘June-uary,’"</em> my cousin posted in response to my recent Facebook lament that I was still wearing flannel pajamas to bed (thanks for the coinage, <strong>John Austin Totter</strong>!).</span> It’s been that kind of a schizophrenic month weather-wise, as air temperatures repeatedly ping-ponged from the 50s into the 90s and then back down to the 40s. The water temperature never had a chance, and it held a narrow range between the low 50s and low 60s while Spring-minded Podders and triathletes with looming upcoming events blinked and shrugged as weekend after weekend they tiptoed into water that still felt like the ice floes that had thronged the harbor throughout the seemingly endless winter. One of the earliest events of the season, the Huntington Sprint Triathlon, held on May 31st, saw numerous swimmers pulled from the 52-degree water at Crab Meadow Beach, several of whom were taken to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia. Reportedly most of those were not wearing wetsuits, and I’m guessing this might have been their first venture into the open water since last season. (The best defense against hypothermia? <em>Acclimate, acclimate, acclimate! – but not on the day of the event!</em>) <br />
<br />
Happily, all swimmers recovered, and so did the temperatures, with this weekend of more "seasonal" weather and water temperatures in the mid-60s finally giving swimmers a taste of the Summer to come and, for those who are so inclined, an invitation to shed bulky full wetsuits for long-johns/janes or just bathing suits. <strong> Tony Alizzi</strong> kindly volunteered (i.e., was drafted!) to step in as "Podmaster" this weekend while I was away, and in addition to offering guidance on the tide and the suggested route, helped to orient a fresh batch of "newbies" and provide loaner "floaty-bags" for the unprepared. <br />
<br />
More good news: <strong>Weekday swimming has resumed</strong> at 6:00 ("in the water") on Wednesday and Friday mornings and, for us lazybones, at 8:00 on Friday mornings. And of course our regular weekend schedule of 8:00 a.m. swims continues until...well, until ice floes return to the harbor!<br />
<br />
Next weekend Summer officially begins, with the Solstice this year taking place on Sunday, June 21<sup>st</sup>! As the water temperature continues to rise (look for temperature postings on the West Neck Pod Facebook page), we’ll look forward to seeing more and more of our "poolie" brethren joining us in the Salt, along with the "newbies" who continue to seek out the West Neck Pod for their first open-water experiences. <br />
<br />
The following weekend, the Fourth Annual<strong> West Neck Swim</strong> will take place at West Neck Beach on Sunday, June 28<sup>th</sup>. This highly acclaimed event offers 1-mile, 2-mile, and 5K events with both wetsuit and non-wetsuit divisions. If you’re registered for the Swim, you still have time to check out the venue and "test the waters" with the seasoned swimmers of the West Neck Pod. If you’re not registered,<em> what are you waiting for?</em> Visit the West Neck Swim website at westneckswim.com for details and registration link. <br />
<br />
Next Sunday, June 21<sup>st</sup>, is also <strong>Father’s Day</strong>. Not to be a downer, but on Father’s Day 2010 I was nearly chummed by a speeding motorboat as I swam towards the south buoy with a bunch of fellow swimmers (see my blogpost at <a href="http://thewater-blog.blogspot.com/2010/06/happy-fathers-day.html?m=0" target="_blank">http://thewater-blog.blogspot.com/2010/06/happy-fathers-day.html?m=0</a>). That close call (I mean,<em> close:</em> I could read the serial number on the boat’s Evinrude motor as the boat driver swerved to avoid me at the last possible second!) ultimately led me to discover and purchase the "SaferSwimmer" flotation buoy from the International Swimming Hall of Fame, which they developed to help protect open-water swimmers from boats and other hazards in the open water. Now, five years later, nearly 100 West Neck Pod swimmers have purchased "floaty-bags," which you can see dotting the surface of the water virtually any day at any time! That’s my long-winded and roundabout way of wishing everyone a <strong>Happy Father’s Day</strong>, and of doing my part to help ensure that those among us who are fathers, or who have or had fathers, always come home....<br />
Speaking of families, all of us in the West Neck Pod family have friends, family members, colleagues or co-workers who have been affected by cancer in some way, or are themselves cancer survivors. That’s why for the fourth year in a row, <strong>the West Neck Pod is participating in the annual "Sound-to-Cove" Swim Across America to raise funds for local cancer research.</strong> Last year <strong>"Team West Neck Pod"</strong> raised more than $38,000.00 to fund the cancer research and treatment and family-support efforts of institutions and agencies right here in our own backyard, including Cold Spring Harbor Research Laboratory right across the harbor. This year, <strong>Tony Alizzi</strong> will be our Team Captain, and I urge you to join our team and help your fellow swimmers raise money to fight cancer, stroke by stroke by stroke. For more information about the Sound to Cove Swim (at Morgan Park in Glen Cove on Saturday, August 8<sup>th</sup>, follow this link: <a class="parsedLink" href="http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?pg=entry&fr_id=3383" lid="no &lid" lpos="" s_oid="http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?pg=entry&fr_id=3383" s_oidt="0" target="_blank">http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?pg=entry&fr_id=3383</a><br />
<br />
To register as a member of Team West Neck Pod, follow this link: <a class="parsedLink" href="http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?pg=entry&fr_id=3383" lid="no &lid" lpos="" s_oid="http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?pg=entry&fr_id=3383" s_oidt="0" target="_blank">http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?pg=entry&fr_id=3383</a><br />
<br />
For more information, contact Tony Alizzi at <a href="mailto:anthonyalizzi@gmail.com">anthonyalizzi@gmail.com</a>.<br />
<br />
<strong><em>See you in the Summer Salt!</em></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-75959701389762858212015-01-03T19:00:00.001-05:002015-01-03T19:00:09.296-05:00Happy (*eeeeeek!*) New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-puKFv3uZAJs/VKhzPiLjFFI/AAAAAAAAGr4/iO5Hn8slWIw/s1600/new%2Byear's%2Bswim%2B2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-puKFv3uZAJs/VKhzPiLjFFI/AAAAAAAAGr4/iO5Hn8slWIw/s1600/new%2Byear's%2Bswim%2B2015.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The annual New Year's Day open-water swim at West Neck Beach has become a hallowed West Neck Pod tradition, and the newly arrived 2015 was no exception. Despite near-freezing temperatures, white-capped waves and a ferocious wind, three other mermaids answered
the siren call of acting mermaid-in-chief <strong>Joye Brown</strong> on New Year's Day, and took the
Pod's first plunge into the 2015 Salt (I was away on vacation and missed the swim, alas!). <strong>Gae Polisner</strong>, the only one of the four
not wearing a wetsuit, stripped off boots and pants and ran in barefooted and waist-high, staying in only long enough to utter the high-pitched, pitiful scream you can hear distantly at the end of this video, taken from the dashboard of Gae's parked car. Sorry for the poor image quality, but it's worth sticking through to the end just for the audio! Gae was followed into the churning waves by Joye and her wetsuited cohorts <strong>Kathy and Carole Wickham</strong> who went for the full monty (no, not the movie kind!)...The icy rain that's falling now is predicted to last into tomorrow, so prospects for a reprise on this first weekend of January 2015 are dim...but we'll keep you posted! <strong>Happy New Year -- <em>See you in the Salt!</em></strong><br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy47DlhHyn4cp5vzH0gwucVMsAShS7eRDykGDK2IbYrDY815Ve9P3WScyAi1MN0RG-ZTWFumsGN525yoa0tvg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-81130329738503507542014-08-10T18:19:00.002-04:002014-08-10T18:19:41.142-04:00Team West Neck Pod "Makes Waves to Fight Cancer"...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--bKJR3IxNv0/U-fdmdBv8EI/AAAAAAAAGpM/v-MLCmKnEdI/s1600/saa+logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--bKJR3IxNv0/U-fdmdBv8EI/AAAAAAAAGpM/v-MLCmKnEdI/s1600/saa+logo.gif" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MPHANd3GfXw/U-feuIlNCNI/AAAAAAAAGpY/-w6UuZwM36Y/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MPHANd3GfXw/U-feuIlNCNI/AAAAAAAAGpY/-w6UuZwM36Y/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud Team Captain displaying <br />
our Team plaque</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<i>Weather conditions were perfect for this year's <b>"Sound-to-Cove" Swim Across America</b>, an annual event to raise funds for local beneficiaries in support of cancer research, prevention and treatment. </i>A total of 160 swimmers, inspired by the courage and strength of loved ones fighting cancer, or the memory of those who'd lost their battle, waded into Long Island Sound in Glen Cove on Saturday, August 9th, to swim distances of 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 5K or 10K. The swim marked the culmination of months of inspired and dedicated fund-raising, and for the third year in a row, a team of swimmers from the West Neck Pod ("Team West Neck Pod") participated, collectively raising <i>more than $35,000! </i>to fund local organizations like<b> Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Fighting Chance, The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and the Feinstein Institute of North Shore-LIJ. </b><br />
<br />
This year’s team members included <b>Evelyn Cruise, Kara Horn, Bonnie Millen, Alice Rogers and Teri Tiso </b>swimming the one-mile; <b>Tony Alizzi, Paul Coster, Margot Edlin, Joe Kasper, Steve Moskowitz, Vincent Tophoff and me </b>swimming the 5K; <b>Annmarie Kearney-Wood and Gae Polisner </b>swimming the 10K; and <b>David and Maureen Birnbaum </b>kayaking alongside us. As of this writing, the total amount raised by this year’s "Sound-to-Cove" swim is nearly $304,000! <br />
<br />
Many, many thanks to the valiant members of the <strong>2014 "Team West Neck Pod"</strong>; to our families, friends, fellow swimmers and coworkers who supported and encouraged us and contributed so generously to this cause; to the SAA organizers and volunteers, and the kayakers who guided us from buoy to buoy and kept us from straying too far off course; and to the beneficiaries of Swim Across America, whose dedicated research efforts – funded by our contributions – bring us ever closer to a cancer-free world! <b><i>See you next year when Team West Neck Pod once again "Makes Waves to Fight Cancer! </i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mv_PdNbMG1Y/U-fiBiGhSMI/AAAAAAAAGqE/DBtLxxYaPO0/s1600/P1050348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mv_PdNbMG1Y/U-fiBiGhSMI/AAAAAAAAGqE/DBtLxxYaPO0/s1600/P1050348.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8uSRvN8672o/U-fh_oa55gI/AAAAAAAAGp0/y5AOx88zgLU/s1600/P1050349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8uSRvN8672o/U-fh_oa55gI/AAAAAAAAGp0/y5AOx88zgLU/s1600/P1050349.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5K swimmers Steve Moskowitz, Carol Moore, <br />
Paul Coster, Margot Edlin and Tony Alizzi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sOxOeRfHjnE/U-fh-DDk8_I/AAAAAAAAGps/2dC7gqGhzlk/s1600/P1050366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sOxOeRfHjnE/U-fh-DDk8_I/AAAAAAAAGps/2dC7gqGhzlk/s1600/P1050366.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s0AePNvIOL8/U-fiAt8_LRI/AAAAAAAAGp8/AkrBtF33W4g/s1600/P1050376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s0AePNvIOL8/U-fiAt8_LRI/AAAAAAAAGp8/AkrBtF33W4g/s1600/P1050376.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top individual fundraiser Joe Kasper(!) with fellow 5Kers Carol Moore, <br />
Vincent Tophoff, Margot Edlin, Tony Alizzi, some guy, and Steve Moskowitz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ctY2CQ7heiU/U-fqowmtq3I/AAAAAAAAGq0/Wn1y5aQeUSc/s1600/P1050402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ctY2CQ7heiU/U-fqowmtq3I/AAAAAAAAGq0/Wn1y5aQeUSc/s1600/P1050402.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our kayakers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E5MS0z53uYM/U-fiB75VB1I/AAAAAAAAGqI/8lKlykfDpCU/s1600/P1050393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E5MS0z53uYM/U-fiB75VB1I/AAAAAAAAGqI/8lKlykfDpCU/s1600/P1050393.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie Millen, Margot Edlin & Tony Alizzi chatting with <br />
photographer Steve Pfost, who covered the event for Newsday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YeH856eEMX8/U-fiGl012EI/AAAAAAAAGqc/vB10xvERaAI/s1600/P1050396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YeH856eEMX8/U-fiGl012EI/AAAAAAAAGqc/vB10xvERaAI/s1600/P1050396.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our exhausted but triumphant 10K+ swimmers, <br />
Gae Polisner and Annmarie Kearney-Wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1PA7Zb14XrQ/U-fiDrk8bdI/AAAAAAAAGqU/UkeIu4gbKfk/s1600/P1050400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1PA7Zb14XrQ/U-fiDrk8bdI/AAAAAAAAGqU/UkeIu4gbKfk/s1600/P1050400.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10K swimmers pose with their plaques</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GILgm4EjwbU/U-fevhrj0cI/AAAAAAAAGpg/LLx77B04CqI/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GILgm4EjwbU/U-fevhrj0cI/AAAAAAAAGpg/LLx77B04CqI/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buoys in a straight line?? I don't think so!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<i>(Note: donations to Swim Across America are still being accepted through the Fall! You can still donate on behalf of Team West Neck Pod or one or more of your favorite open-water swimmers at: </i><br />
<a href="http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?team_id=9540&pg=team&fr_id=2760">http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/NassauSuffolk?team_id=9540&pg=team&fr_id=2760</a>)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-53650022281320410262014-08-06T23:53:00.002-04:002014-08-07T00:01:01.558-04:00Team West Neck Pod's 2014 "Swim Across America"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QEV3QNKZV80/U-L07vJ69zI/AAAAAAAAGo8/2jd8_NQRg1g/s1600/P1020281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QEV3QNKZV80/U-L07vJ69zI/AAAAAAAAGo8/2jd8_NQRg1g/s1600/P1020281.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2013 "Team West Neck Pod"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="color: blue;">For the third year in a row, members of the West Neck Pod are taking up arms against cancer, as we participate as part of "Team West Neck Pod" in the "Sound-to-Cove" Swim Across America to raise money for local cancer research and treatment programs. Like so many Long Island families, our West Neck Pod family has been deeply affected by cancer. Several of our members are cancer survivors themselves, and virtually all of us have lost friends, family members and co-workers to this disease. Last year, Team West Neck Pod raised nearly $20,000 to support organizations like Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Fighting Chance, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, and our neighbor across the harbor, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. The cutting-edge research that is funded by our fundraising efforts and those of thousands of other swimmers across the country help enhance the longevity and quality of life for cancer patients and their families in our community. Our individual swims honor the memory of loved ones we have lost to this disease and the courage of those whose struggle continues.</span></h4>
<strong><em>The members of Team West Neck Pod thank you for your generous support!</em></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #222222;">You can make a credit card donation by clicking on the link below and donating on behalf or one or more of your favorite open-water swimmers, or send a check made payable to Swim Across America to Charles A. Barragato & Co. Attn: Angelo Pirozzi, 950 Third Ave., 20th Floor, New York, NY 10022 (please indicate that the donation is in support of "Team West Neck Pod" or a specified team member). </span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
<a href="http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=2760&team_id=9540">http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=2760&team_id=9540</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
<span class="quoteItalicRed">Swim Across America</span>, Inc., [<span class="quoteItalicRed">SAA</span>] is dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events. With the help of hundreds of volunteers nationwide and past and current Olympians, <span class="quoteItalicRed">SAA</span> is helping find a cure for cancer through athleticism, community outreach and direct service.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-62262445698906806322014-07-27T12:26:00.003-04:002014-07-31T23:37:39.832-04:00"West Neck Swim" 2014: Picture Perfect..<strong>The Third Annual Huntington/Cold Spring Harbor Swim (a/k/a "The West Neck Swim")</strong> was a splashing success again this year, with nearly 250 swimmers participating in the 400-yard, 1-mile, 2-mile, or, for the first time this year, 5K (3.1-mile) events. Conditions were picture-perfect and all nine waves went off smoothly, thanks to the impeccable planning and coordination of the West Neck Swim Planning Committee and all of the many volunteers who helped get the swimmers off to a smooth start, stay on course and return safely! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vt4FZGQmtq8/U9UnGyRPnTI/AAAAAAAAGig/tY4LCaRb7gI/s1600/P1040958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vt4FZGQmtq8/U9UnGyRPnTI/AAAAAAAAGig/tY4LCaRb7gI/s1600/P1040958.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3VbJpNG-EwU/U9UnFy-scII/AAAAAAAAGiM/f_KKQiuWheE/s1600/P1050004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3VbJpNG-EwU/U9UnFy-scII/AAAAAAAAGiM/f_KKQiuWheE/s1600/P1050004.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bNkmmH8mPkU/U9UnGI4UBmI/AAAAAAAAGiQ/h5AuSAdRPWU/s1600/P1050019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bNkmmH8mPkU/U9UnGI4UBmI/AAAAAAAAGiQ/h5AuSAdRPWU/s1600/P1050019.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Coyle (#213) and Paul Coster (#212) at the start of the 5K with Michael Raspantini looking on</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kV1TiIgLkUs/U9UnHX34LPI/AAAAAAAAGik/e0K2-OXHvQ4/s1600/P1050044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kV1TiIgLkUs/U9UnHX34LPI/AAAAAAAAGik/e0K2-OXHvQ4/s1600/P1050044.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FlXbn5k0M-s/U9UnHEsgvoI/AAAAAAAAGic/OPoigIWYrzg/s1600/P1050050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FlXbn5k0M-s/U9UnHEsgvoI/AAAAAAAAGic/OPoigIWYrzg/s1600/P1050050.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jane McWilliams and Alice Rogers give the West Neck Swim a thumbs-up...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xl152KqRA2Q/U9UnH07OzvI/AAAAAAAAGio/5rGLO2L1OHU/s1600/P1050062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xl152KqRA2Q/U9UnH07OzvI/AAAAAAAAGio/5rGLO2L1OHU/s1600/P1050062.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
More photos (<em>yes, you're in them!)</em> available here (sorry -- attempts to embed the slideshow not working!): </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101213847005616295077/WestNeckSwim2014?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCN7Fwv6I5oP5Qg&feat=directlink">https://picasaweb.google.com/101213847005616295077/WestNeckSwim2014?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCN7Fwv6I5oP5Qg&feat=directlink</a>!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strong><em>See you next year!</em></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer%22%3E%3C/embed"></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-35845770851157920802014-06-15T20:42:00.001-04:002014-06-15T20:42:23.884-04:00The Pod Is Back!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DjP0TazhHYk/U54msYW5X5I/AAAAAAAAGUI/y7Unh58S4KA/s1600/P1040895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DjP0TazhHYk/U54msYW5X5I/AAAAAAAAGUI/y7Unh58S4KA/s1600/P1040895.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;">Attendance has been sparse at weekend morning swims since the unofficial (and disappointing) start of the open-water swimming season on Memorial Day Weekend (see previous blogpost!).</span> An unusually cool Spring has kept both air and water temperatures low, keeping many erstwhile open water swimmers pool-bound, and it seems that the weather has not yet caught up with the calendar. Last weekend the water temperature finally edged up to 67-68 degrees, but after a week of chilly, rainy weather the water temperature yesterday had dropped to 63, and by this morning it had dropped even further, to 60-61 degrees! But with just one more week of Spring swimming left, and the Third Annual "West Neck Swim" just a week away, West Neck Beach was thronged with returning swimmers this morning. Most -- even those without wetsuits -- made their way all the way to the Sailboat, undeterred by the still-ripping incoming full-moon tide and the uneven chop of a brisk northwesterly wind. It looks like the 2014 open-water swimming season has finally begun in earnest! Even weekday morning swims may resume shortly, with a first open water swim tentatively scheduled for Wednesday morning at 6:30 a.m. (check Facebook for updates and other info about <em>ad hoc</em> swims). <br />
<br />
Next Saturday, June 21st, marks the Summer Solstice and the official beginning of Summer 2014! It's also
your last weekend chance to try out the venue and "test the waters" if you're
registered or planning to register for this year's <strong><span style="color: red;">WEST NECK SWIM</span>,
</strong><em>which will take place Sunday, June 22nd, at West Neck
Beach. </em> The deadline to register for the 1-mile, 2-mile, or new 5K event is
Tuesday, June 17th, so time is running out! For registration and other info
about the West Neck Swim, follow this link: <a href="http://www.westneckswim.com/" target="_blank">http://www.westneckswim.com/</a>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mshzxyhmhm0/U540HhYQGJI/AAAAAAAAGUY/u6XTSzAMhHg/s1600/P1030626-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mshzxyhmhm0/U540HhYQGJI/AAAAAAAAGUY/u6XTSzAMhHg/s1600/P1030626-2.jpg" height="120" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<strong><em>See you in the Salt!</em></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-32867836024430339752014-05-25T23:30:00.000-04:002014-05-27T00:15:45.911-04:00"Crappy" Start to Memorial Day Weekend OWS!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hu8A5SAIT-U/U4QIgi95SVI/AAAAAAAAGRM/CijqZJCuTUY/s1600/P1040799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hu8A5SAIT-U/U4QIgi95SVI/AAAAAAAAGRM/CijqZJCuTUY/s1600/P1040799.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>As the 2014 Memorial Day Weekend approached, <em>Newsday </em>reported that <em>125,000 gallons of partially treated sewage</em> had accidentally been released into Oyster Bay, and that six Nassau County beaches -- some directly across the harbor from West Neck Beach! -- were closed as a "precaution." That information -- combined with Friday evening's torrential rains and the concomitant threat of additional toxic contamination -- was not enough to cause the closure of West Neck and other nearby Suffolk County beaches despite their close proximity to Oyster Bay. But West Neck Podders, forewarned by the <em>Newsday</em> article as well as by Facebook and email posts (and undoubtedly further deterred by continued unseasonably low water temperatures), stayed away from Saturday morning's official season-opening open-water swim in droves....Even I was sufficiently disconcerted by the prospect of sewage-laden water to decide not to risk a swim, but I headed down to West Neck Beach anyway to see if anyone was crazy enough to venture into the Salt. The early morning clouds were just giving way to brilliant sunshine, which reflected off the surface of the pristine-looking water -- no sewage in sight! Four intrepids were suiting up in the parking lot, nonplussed by the sewage spill, which as they pointed out was "partially treated" and so practically innocuous -- indeed, more so than the water temperature which was somewhere between 56 and 58 degrees. (<strong>Lorraine Huether </strong>was happy for the coldish water in anticipation of her Alcatraz swim next weekend!) While I watched from the shore (quite happily, I might add), <strong>Marc Leahy, Stephen Albright, Anthony Sarchiapone and Lorraine </strong>boldly struck off for the north buoy (yes, the buoys are back!) and then continued onward to the yellow sign. All returned safely and without any apparent ill effects (or significant discoloration), and, with the expectation that conditions would only improve with a few more tidal flushes, I looked forward to my own first open-water swim of the official 2014 season on Sunday.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j8B0mbXsmS0/U4QIu2IqyEI/AAAAAAAAGRU/HJzxGd9JU6U/s1600/P1040806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j8B0mbXsmS0/U4QIu2IqyEI/AAAAAAAAGRU/HJzxGd9JU6U/s1600/P1040806.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tb414JbfuvM/U4QIu7Dql-I/AAAAAAAAGRc/Pu2F4QXrmRU/s1600/P1040818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tb414JbfuvM/U4QIu7Dql-I/AAAAAAAAGRc/Pu2F4QXrmRU/s1600/P1040818.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yDqm-J7hFmw/U4QIu40CG6I/AAAAAAAAGRY/bie9njeXkyA/s1600/P1040819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yDqm-J7hFmw/U4QIu40CG6I/AAAAAAAAGRY/bie9njeXkyA/s1600/P1040819.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QviEqyq4qOk/U4QIvkYT38I/AAAAAAAAGRk/wRLA62ETjOg/s1600/P1040824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QviEqyq4qOk/U4QIvkYT38I/AAAAAAAAGRk/wRLA62ETjOg/s1600/P1040824.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pPDyJVhJ0Ns/U4QIvl588aI/AAAAAAAAGRs/VI2C5_mLWOY/s1600/P1040830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pPDyJVhJ0Ns/U4QIvl588aI/AAAAAAAAGRs/VI2C5_mLWOY/s1600/P1040830.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheerleader Susan Robinson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
By Sunday, not only had there been no reported fatalities as a result of Saturday's swim, but Marc, Lorraine and Stephen all returned for another dose of Salt, joined by me and by <strong>Tim Sullivan</strong> for his first open-water swim since November 1st! We swam to the north buoy and then on to the yellow sign. Enjoying the near-perfect conditions (but for a surprising number of lion's mane jellyfish sightings), and forgetting my pre-swim admonition that the tide turns about an hour earlier than the tide tables reflect, we decided to continue on to the White Rock -- just in time to have to slog back against a just-turned tide. After a winter of very little swimming, I was just barely up to the challenge -- as my aching shoulders and wetsuit-bitten neck can attest. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_aijWgm8uXg/U4QPxUm780I/AAAAAAAAGSI/FzgrTno-nhI/s1600/P1040833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_aijWgm8uXg/U4QPxUm780I/AAAAAAAAGSI/FzgrTno-nhI/s1600/P1040833.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2PAPKub1WL8/U4QPxQXjJOI/AAAAAAAAGSM/T8K1xx5Aghc/s1600/P1040836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2PAPKub1WL8/U4QPxQXjJOI/AAAAAAAAGSM/T8K1xx5Aghc/s1600/P1040836.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc -- sleeveless but not gloveless</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nVXrndw0duA/U4QPxciOCbI/AAAAAAAAGSE/pFnL_u0WhOc/s1600/P1040838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nVXrndw0duA/U4QPxciOCbI/AAAAAAAAGSE/pFnL_u0WhOc/s1600/P1040838.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhwlycdnVSE/U4QPyWVxn6I/AAAAAAAAGSY/W-Q9QItYoUU/s1600/P1040839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhwlycdnVSE/U4QPyWVxn6I/AAAAAAAAGSY/W-Q9QItYoUU/s1600/P1040839.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ynWv6J5AUmM/U4QPymzq4aI/AAAAAAAAGSg/sCmKPpSHZI8/s1600/P1040843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ynWv6J5AUmM/U4QPymzq4aI/AAAAAAAAGSg/sCmKPpSHZI8/s1600/P1040843.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p4vzhI7_61o/U4QPynylVhI/AAAAAAAAGSc/ebbBV_x3TCI/s1600/P1040847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p4vzhI7_61o/U4QPynylVhI/AAAAAAAAGSc/ebbBV_x3TCI/s1600/P1040847.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The White Rock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Fortunately, there's a whole season of swimming ahead for me to build up my endurance and speed and regain my swimming chops again -- but I'm taking tomorrow off! <em><strong>Happy Memorial Day, everyone -- See you in the Salt!</strong></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-53831605866440036732014-04-12T23:00:00.000-04:002014-04-13T08:38:05.964-04:00It's Open-Season for Open-Water Swimming!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXkm3ZPLAF4/U0p8qa2V5JI/AAAAAAAAGQc/61ml1ZM_lK4/s1600/P1040729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXkm3ZPLAF4/U0p8qa2V5JI/AAAAAAAAGQc/61ml1ZM_lK4/s1600/P1040729.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
After a l-o-n-g, brutal winter that kept even the West Neck "Polar Pod" out of the water since mid-November, and delayed by several weeks the telltale signs of Spring, the slowly emerging crocuses and tulips and daffodils began to give hope of an eventual return to open-water swimming. The Polar Pod optimistically scheduled a "Resurrection Swim" for April 19th, the Saturday before Easter. But when the temperatures were forecast to go into the 60s this week, Annmarie Kearney-Wood was quick to urge us into the water sooner -- just in case the weather decided to go south again. <br />
<br />
Five Polar Pod members took up the challenge, and on Saturday, April 12th, <strong>Annmarie, Joye Brown, Carole Wickham, Sharon Hochberg and I</strong> tiptoed, with winter-tenderized feet, over the low-tide rocks that poked and bruised even through our insulated booties. The booties kept the cold at bay, but not our necklines, and when, one by one, we lowered ourselves into the 40-degree water, our wetsuits filled with icy daggers that sheared our skin and stung and burned our unacclimatized faces. But the sun was shining brilliantly and glinting on the flat, calm water that looked <em>so</em> inviting....Joye reminded us that we'd swum in worse conditions in November, and when she said, "We can do this," of course we did! It was -- as our cold-water swims always are -- incredibly invigorating and energizing, and the Polar Pod is all fired up to do it again tomorrow! <strong><em>See you in the Salt!</em></strong><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3wNLUtf1Hg/U0p8vKhPZTI/AAAAAAAAGQk/NFBeIUpK824/s1600/P1040733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3wNLUtf1Hg/U0p8vKhPZTI/AAAAAAAAGQk/NFBeIUpK824/s1600/P1040733.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carole, Joye, Carol, Annmarie and Sharon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rKYCB3OErqo/U0p8yT-HFPI/AAAAAAAAGQs/ta6Z8gS880k/s1600/P1040737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rKYCB3OErqo/U0p8yT-HFPI/AAAAAAAAGQs/ta6Z8gS880k/s1600/P1040737.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basking in the sun and drinking hot tea afterwards</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-38432261936570213612013-11-15T18:47:00.001-05:002013-11-15T18:47:32.855-05:00Would you like that OWS straight up? or on the rocks?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V4JLxZq46zU/UoasMiJjegI/AAAAAAAAGNM/aL4wboSG7oc/s1600/cold.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V4JLxZq46zU/UoasMiJjegI/AAAAAAAAGNM/aL4wboSG7oc/s320/cold.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, those are frozen smiles on our faces...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong><span style="color: blue;"><em>Now </em>that<em> was refreshing!</em></span></strong> <br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>Gae Polisner's</strong> earlier Facebook plea for company in a mid-afternoon swim "if it gets sunny" (it did!), was met with a flurry of wistfully regretful declines, but <strong>Carole Wickham and I</strong> were able to answer the call, and a Polar Tri-Pod entered the "Oh-my-god-I-can't-believe-how-cold-this-is" water at about 2:45 this afternoon.... <em>"How cold was it,"</em> you ask? According to my trusty laser thermometer -- employed at mid-thigh depth as it is every time -- and which most recently gave a temperature reading in the low (very low!) 40s -- <strong>the water temperature this afternoon was an unbelievable <em>35-36 degrees!</em></strong> Just to put things in perspective, the coldest water the West Neck Polar Pod has swum in previously was a bone-chilling 37 degrees -- and that was in January! If it were not for the relatively warm (55 degrees) air temperature today, and a relatively sedate 4 mph wind, we probably would have opted to go out for cheeseburgers instead...But we were there, already half-suited up, and it would have been unthinkable to turn around and leave without even getting wet...So we swam -- with flash-frozen faces, hands and feet -- not far (back and forth between the dock and the jetty), and not long (20+ minutes) -- but enough to get our endorphins pumping and</span> <span style="color: blue;">make the swim and the effort completely and utterly and unforgettably worthwhile....!</span> <br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Naturally we'll be doing it again tomorrow! <strong><em>See you in the Salt!</em></strong> </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">(By the way, salt water doesn't freeze until the temperature reaches 28.4 degrees Fahrenheit -- <em>so we've still got lots of open-water swimming ahead of us!) </em></span><br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-60292582615267177992013-11-01T21:11:00.001-04:002013-11-01T21:11:45.247-04:00Open-water swimming now? Just say “NO”-vember!!<span style="color: black;">The first open-water swim of November 2013 was as hair-raising and spooky as yesterday’s Halloween swim should have been....</span>Though the fearsome southwesterly wind did not quite reach the nearly 40 mph gusts that were predicted, it was still blowin’ quite a gale when we arrived – just in time for the pelting rain – shortly before our scheduled 10:30 swim. A thin ribbon of fog was forming on the opposite shore and stealthily making its way across the harbor, threatening to obliterate the South Buoy we’d be swimming toward on an outgoing high tide. But the air temperature was nearly in the mid-sixties, the air felt summer-warm, and the water looked so inviting, despite the white-capped waves crashing on the beach, that it would have been torture not to be able to swim (especially for <strong>Annmarie Kearney-Wood</strong>, who’d driven up from the South Shore so as not to miss this first November swim). <strong>Joye Brown</strong>, who’d just checked in with the weather-gods, assured us that this was just a passing squall, and that the thunderstorm/lightning warning for the area (who knew!) would be lifted at 10:30, just in time for our swim. As it turned out, Joye and the weather-gods were right, and we only had to wait in our cars for a short while before the rain stopped and the fog lifted and we could finish suiting up and head into the swirling Salt for our first November swim....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1CoR4S7JQmc/UnRLqx6O6bI/AAAAAAAAGLM/nVS6JZs_JJ0/s1600/P1040570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1CoR4S7JQmc/UnRLqx6O6bI/AAAAAAAAGLM/nVS6JZs_JJ0/s400/P1040570.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joye Brown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojV0LLVcC2A/UnRLqj7H47I/AAAAAAAAGLI/_TxHYKNppyo/s1600/P1040574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojV0LLVcC2A/UnRLqj7H47I/AAAAAAAAGLI/_TxHYKNppyo/s400/P1040574.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gae and Annmarie and waves...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzUe8xDM4qY/UnRLqx3hofI/AAAAAAAAGLQ/2gA9GZKuktw/s1600/P1040577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzUe8xDM4qY/UnRLqx3hofI/AAAAAAAAGLQ/2gA9GZKuktw/s400/P1040577.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object id="BLOG_video-UPLOADING-1" class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="UPLOADING" width="320" height="266" ></object></div>
For <strong>Gae Polisner</strong> and Annmarie, who haven’t been swimming regularly in this post-season and were not completely acclimatized to the cold water, "The-House-Formerly-Known-as-Blue" was a sufficient target, and they made their way there, hugging the shoreline (which was easy, since that’s where the wind was pushing them!). The rest of us (<strong>Carole Wickham, Joye Brown, Steven Leung</strong> <strong>and I</strong>) continued on to the South Buoy – not an easy trek even for Steven, who’d be a West Neck Polar Pod "Big-Dog" if there were any other Big-Dogs out here to swim with him! The way back was a lot easier, though, with the tide and the wind conspiring to whoosh us homeward. Getting out was a breeze, despite the wind, and we were warm enough to enjoy the still-flowing outside showers despite the lack of sun. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TDt4bxfPF8E/UnRLrvGbLbI/AAAAAAAAGLc/oF7hWO7AhAI/s1600/P1040579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TDt4bxfPF8E/UnRLrvGbLbI/AAAAAAAAGLc/oF7hWO7AhAI/s400/P1040579.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Buoy in November (with Joye, Carole and Steven!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1TPnbsjCp_w/UnRLrXYn9UI/AAAAAAAAGLU/j8qCdw2y62c/s1600/P1040590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1TPnbsjCp_w/UnRLrXYn9UI/AAAAAAAAGLU/j8qCdw2y62c/s400/P1040590.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holdouts Joye and me, both reluctant to get out of the water....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While the others showered and dressed and Joye and I dawdled on the beach, still in our wetsuits, our attention was suddenly caught by a figure at the far end of the parking lot edging across the sand towards the water. She? – we nearsightedly assumed – was clad only in bikini briefs, and though her arms were crossed in front of her chest, she appeared to be topless! We all watched as she stepped tentatively over the rocks and into the water, then kept going.... Momentarily panic-stricken, I thought, "Oh, no, is this a suicide attempt?" and watched in anguish as the woman forged ahead and then suddenly threw herself forward, disappearing beneath an oncoming wave. She popped up again a moment later and, to my great relief, immediately turned towards shore, found her footing, and made her careful way back onto the beach, her arms again folded discreetly across her otherwise bare chest....No, I realized, this was no suicide attempt – this was the <em>opposite</em> of a suicide attempt! This was a woman daring to <em>feel herself alive</em>...throwing herself into the Salt, <em>giving birth to herself</em>, <em>baptizing herself</em>...She was here to <em>live</em>....<em>She was here for the same reason we were...!</em> I raised my arms in salute and whooped with approbation and solidarity, and she smiled and nodded in recognition and acceptance as she made her solitary way back to the parking lot and her car....<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uOh3zUiEdX0/UnRLga8Mz_I/AAAAAAAAGLA/Crvff8GTUKE/s1600/photo+3+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uOh3zUiEdX0/UnRLga8Mz_I/AAAAAAAAGLA/Crvff8GTUKE/s320/photo+3+(3).JPG" width="320" /></a>Joye, who by now had stripped off her wetsuit, tossed me a sidelong look, grunted something unintelligible, then set off resolutely towards the water. I knew, and I knew Joye knew, that there was no way our wetsuited/begloved/bootied swim to the South Buoy and back could match the chest-clutching, bare-breasted heroism of that unknown woman on the beach, and I knew that Joye was on a mission to rectify that. Of course I followed her, stripping off my wetsuit in the Salt, while Joye, shoulder-deep, busied herself beneath the waves. Moments later, she held her bathing suit aloft, and as our now-dressed-and-ready-to-leave woman-hero’s car drove slowly past the beach, I pulled my bathing suit down to my waist and raised my arms in a bare-breasted salute to her, to Joye, to my Polar-Pod fellows cheering us on from the beach, to the Salt, to Life....<br />
<br />
Of course Gae took a picture, but I’m not posting that....<strong>See you in the Salt tomorrow at 8:00 for the <em>second </em>open-water swim of November 2013! <em>L’chaim!</em></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-54154118527952317222013-10-31T20:37:00.003-04:002013-10-31T20:37:56.735-04:00Halloween Swim...Wicked Fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aydvwQGFjHc/UnLyZTagHlI/AAAAAAAAGJk/J8ofJsdynuU/s1600/P1040534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aydvwQGFjHc/UnLyZTagHlI/AAAAAAAAGJk/J8ofJsdynuU/s400/P1040534.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="color: orange;"><em><strong>No icy fingers reached up to grab our unsuspecting ankles and drag us soundlessly down to Davy Jones' locker... no bloated corpses leered up at us from the murky depths below...no sea monsters from the deep swallowed us whole...and we were not churned to mincemeat by the outboard motors of a deranged boat captain bent on mayhem....</strong></em></span>In fact, this morning's pre-dawn <span style="color: orange;"><strong>Halloween</strong> </span>swim was pretty benign, and the five of us who suited up in the early morning darkness -- <strong>Carole Wickham, Joye Brown, Jimmy Kwong, Tony Alizzi and I</strong> -- had an eerily nice time! Unlike the hair-raising swims of last week, this morning there was absolutely no wind, the water was, well, <em>dead</em> <em>calm,</em> the air temperature was a practically balmy 50 degrees, and the water, back up to 52-53 degrees, did not invoke the usual ear-splitting shrieks as it crept into our wetsuits...In honor of the occasion we wore bright orange Halloween caps, and Joye handed out glowsticks that made our floaty-bags glow like jack-o'-lanterns as we swam to the yellow sign and back. It was even warm enough to shower on the beach afterwards -- yes, the showers are still on! -- and then...<strong><em><span style="color: orange;">our</span></em></strong> <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">last open-water swim of October 2013</span><span style="color: orange;"> was over....!</span></em></strong> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strong><span style="color: orange;">But November swimming begins tomorrow<em>....</em></span><span style="color: orange;"><em>See you in the Salt!</em></span></strong></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46hm5-iRfCc/UnLyZDwxAZI/AAAAAAAAGJg/CAk0SsJf1xQ/s1600/P1040532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46hm5-iRfCc/UnLyZDwxAZI/AAAAAAAAGJg/CAk0SsJf1xQ/s400/P1040532.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bI16AW8dp4o/UnLyY3WDp9I/AAAAAAAAGJc/6ZCJtAQPcGg/s1600/P1040537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bI16AW8dp4o/UnLyY3WDp9I/AAAAAAAAGJc/6ZCJtAQPcGg/s400/P1040537.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimmy and Tony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0zt_92qKbYY/UnLyajyudnI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/hL3vqWo34CU/s1600/P1040538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0zt_92qKbYY/UnLyajyudnI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/hL3vqWo34CU/s400/P1040538.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GeQVj0sK7S4/UnLyah0dFOI/AAAAAAAAGJ8/yswRyFLiGoQ/s1600/P1040540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GeQVj0sK7S4/UnLyah0dFOI/AAAAAAAAGJ8/yswRyFLiGoQ/s400/P1040540.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFlvCVNOTPQ/UnLyazl6CdI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/KhxxX1UPA5E/s1600/P1040541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFlvCVNOTPQ/UnLyazl6CdI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/KhxxX1UPA5E/s400/P1040541.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Boo!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b79tXuWpJNY/UnLzY8qkPXI/AAAAAAAAGKg/g-4Xqqw7U0I/s1600/P1040547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b79tXuWpJNY/UnLzY8qkPXI/AAAAAAAAGKg/g-4Xqqw7U0I/s400/P1040547.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like there were some Halloween ghosts out there after all!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MAKP9g7g_ec/UnLzY5Yk51I/AAAAAAAAGKc/xlV43by7Bns/s1600/P1040550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MAKP9g7g_ec/UnLzY5Yk51I/AAAAAAAAGKc/xlV43by7Bns/s400/P1040550.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joye's floaty-bag glowing under the water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A3z7RSvrCuw/UnLzYzvUvFI/AAAAAAAAGKY/JT-j49TYFPs/s1600/P1040554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A3z7RSvrCuw/UnLzYzvUvFI/AAAAAAAAGKY/JT-j49TYFPs/s400/P1040554.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eKE1mYg6PU0/UnLzaY4289I/AAAAAAAAGKw/ZUgI1psRwTo/s1600/P1040560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eKE1mYg6PU0/UnLzaY4289I/AAAAAAAAGKw/ZUgI1psRwTo/s400/P1040560.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Halloween!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-25679643039648039882013-10-22T21:41:00.003-04:002013-10-22T21:41:35.263-04:00Another Fall Mourning <div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tX5qoz9riWU/UmcnrHJdhEI/AAAAAAAAGIs/vX9iRc9LQtI/s1600/moon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tX5qoz9riWU/UmcnrHJdhEI/AAAAAAAAGIs/vX9iRc9LQtI/s400/moon.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<em><span style="color: blue;">The waning full moon was still faintly illuminating the surface of the water when <strong>Joye Brown</strong> and I arrived at West Neck Beach in the early morning darkness for a 6:45 swim....By the time we got in the water just before 7, both water and sky had brightened somewhat, and we could actually see the buoy we were swimming towards. As the moon light faded and the sun dawned, lighting up the opposite shore, the colors of the changing leaves on the distant trees glowed like embers....</span></em><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"><em>This is heaven, this October swimming. This is heaven. If only it could last forever....</em></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2q4ZA7ukRKw/Umclvh0VnzI/AAAAAAAAGH8/rbGHoggfE0s/s1600/P1040443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2q4ZA7ukRKw/Umclvh0VnzI/AAAAAAAAGH8/rbGHoggfE0s/s400/P1040443.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZO4F9-jKgnI/Umcl61M37eI/AAAAAAAAGIE/1pD3QI_j_Uw/s1600/P1040444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZO4F9-jKgnI/Umcl61M37eI/AAAAAAAAGIE/1pD3QI_j_Uw/s400/P1040444.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-klTMg3VdNKc/Umcl7JC4k3I/AAAAAAAAGII/TfAC45T4YXE/s1600/P1040449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-klTMg3VdNKc/Umcl7JC4k3I/AAAAAAAAGII/TfAC45T4YXE/s400/P1040449.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jgnj3pZv2ew/Umcl7JJHrVI/AAAAAAAAGIM/7U3Pv7mh7-4/s1600/P1040455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jgnj3pZv2ew/Umcl7JJHrVI/AAAAAAAAGIM/7U3Pv7mh7-4/s400/P1040455.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mnXlpXrRchk/UmcmEaGfgBI/AAAAAAAAGIk/gB6M02iAnN4/s1600/P1040451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mnXlpXrRchk/UmcmEaGfgBI/AAAAAAAAGIk/gB6M02iAnN4/s400/P1040451.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
</div>
</span><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JiZpzJ4jj98/Umcl8CiKpHI/AAAAAAAAGIU/PXYiQMy6RY8/s1600/P1040465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JiZpzJ4jj98/Umcl8CiKpHI/AAAAAAAAGIU/PXYiQMy6RY8/s400/P1040465.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strong><em>See you in the Salt!</em></strong> </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-87643938690154127702013-09-21T22:00:00.000-04:002013-09-22T09:31:37.322-04:00Swimming to "The Other Shore"<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOiTBNW98QM/Uj3gAJNVA7I/AAAAAAAAGEY/YIi_xNBmItI/s1600/IMG_7428.JPG+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOiTBNW98QM/Uj3gAJNVA7I/AAAAAAAAGEY/YIi_xNBmItI/s320/IMG_7428.JPG+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a>Conditions could not have been more perfect for today's long-awaited and long-imagined "Cross-County Swim" from our home beach in Suffolk County directly across the harbor to Cove Neck in Nassau County! The morning was overcast, but the sun kept bursting through great, gorgeous cloud formations that were as dramatic as the occasion. The air temperature was comfortably in the high 50s and rising, there was virtually no wind, and the 67-degree water looked as inviting as that opposite shore....Nearly 30 swimmers turned out for the adventure, along with a fleet of paddleboarders and one kayaker who'd volunteered to escort us across and protect us (we hoped) from the boats that regularly criss-cross the harbor. Though we'd hoped that the late September date would mean there'd be less boat traffic to worry about, I watched with growing uneasiness as one boat after another sped northward past the distant yellow buoys marking the path where we would be swimming. I counted ten boats by the time we were suited up and ready to go -- an unheard of number for an early Saturday morning in late September -- even in this busy harbor. But the distant shore was beckoning, and no one was backing out despite the obvious risks, so off we went toward "The Other Shore"! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3cva6CJm5sk/Uj7UaoG2s1I/AAAAAAAAGGo/ruAsCtz12Io/s1600/boat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3cva6CJm5sk/Uj7UaoG2s1I/AAAAAAAAGGo/ruAsCtz12Io/s400/boat.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boat #9?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gBOrFu5I9tM/Uj4MqRjTRlI/AAAAAAAAGFE/jeuEKA2fH78/s1600/P1020959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gBOrFu5I9tM/Uj4MqRjTRlI/AAAAAAAAGFE/jeuEKA2fH78/s320/P1020959.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpZh59E5Ojo/Uj4QlTJ54SI/AAAAAAAAGGM/xDBpDgZw9J8/s1600/P1040002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpZh59E5Ojo/Uj4QlTJ54SI/AAAAAAAAGGM/xDBpDgZw9J8/s320/P1040002.JPG" width="320" /></a>We swam in three tightly packed groups spaced widely apart and kept a vary eye out for approaching boats, as did our escorts. Though the round-trip distance -- a little less than two miles -- was not much more than a typical "Sailboat" swim, which most of us do regularly, the fact that we were so far from shore and swimming across an active boat channel made it seem much, much farther....So when we suddenly saw the flashing lights of the Oyster Bay Constable's boat approaching, and watched it take up a watchful position alongside the phalanx of swimmers, we were greatly relieved -- at least once we realized he was not there to arrest us! We all relaxed a little bit and were able to really enjoy the fabulous swimming conditions and the extraordinary view of our home beach from far out in the harbor. When we had all arrived safely at the beach at Cove Neck, without having seen another boat crossing the channel or bearing down on us, we were elated -- and then we remembered that we still had to swim back! After a brief rest (too brief -- I forgot to look for my flip-flops which had drifted away a few weeks before on an easterly wind -- I know they're here someplace!), we started back across the harbor, in the same three-group formation, but a little more practiced at keeping ourselves together and swimming at the same pace. The Bay Constable's boat followed us all the way back to West Neck Beach and, despite the early traffic, we didn't encounter any other boats and all arrived safely "home." There, swimmers, paddleboarders and friends enjoyed an end-of-Summer feast of bagels, donuts, muffins, crumb-cake, watermelon and hot coffee and tea -- and the exhilaration of having completed what for many of us has been a long-term dream! Many, many thanks to our group leaders <strong>Rob Ripp</strong> and <strong>Carole Wickham</strong> for keeping us organized and in formation, and to our kayaker and fellow-Podder <strong>Nancy Reycraft</strong> and paddleboarders <strong>Sal, Nick, Edgar, Linda, Jamie, Jackie, Katie</strong> (and one other whose name I didn't get) for keeping us safe and on course! For those who missed out on today's adventure, you can count on us doing it again next year....<em><strong>See you in the Salt!</strong></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LCq_F6Qigb4/Uj4OCmjo8lI/AAAAAAAAGFs/T8Tl0JbNctA/s1600/P1020991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LCq_F6Qigb4/Uj4OCmjo8lI/AAAAAAAAGFs/T8Tl0JbNctA/s400/P1020991.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQfH5HIGnXg/Uj7wVkmM9YI/AAAAAAAAGG0/UESvhl5Bnqc/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQfH5HIGnXg/Uj7wVkmM9YI/AAAAAAAAGG0/UESvhl5Bnqc/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Nick's paddleboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eUk6pez4WLk/Uj4NAQKMh6I/AAAAAAAAGFg/weNc_jXz7Fg/s1600/P1020982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eUk6pez4WLk/Uj4NAQKMh6I/AAAAAAAAGFg/weNc_jXz7Fg/s400/P1020982.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at "The Other Shore"<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uv__CKAJKQQ/Uj4Odk6aw6I/AAAAAAAAGGA/xQDBkD-b8xc/s1600/P1040006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uv__CKAJKQQ/Uj4Odk6aw6I/AAAAAAAAGGA/xQDBkD-b8xc/s400/P1040006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home again....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eUk6pez4WLk/Uj4NAQKMh6I/AAAAAAAAGFg/weNc_jXz7Fg/s1600/P1020982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mhkISrSMT_I/Uj4IJdsq_jI/AAAAAAAAGE4/UBcOMVtOEow/s1600/IMG_7450.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mhkISrSMT_I/Uj4IJdsq_jI/AAAAAAAAGE4/UBcOMVtOEow/s400/IMG_7450.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XdhDA0RI0fc/Uj4OCTfy2PI/AAAAAAAAGFo/pXoPGbohdXU/s1600/P1040020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XdhDA0RI0fc/Uj4OCTfy2PI/AAAAAAAAGFo/pXoPGbohdXU/s400/P1040020.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paddleboarder Linda with fellow paddleboarder Jamie's mom Amy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fUe7A3OXR2I/Uj4OCxrwxCI/AAAAAAAAGFw/oQjnbCO356M/s1600/P1040023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fUe7A3OXR2I/Uj4OCxrwxCI/AAAAAAAAGFw/oQjnbCO356M/s400/P1040023.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming/paddling across the harbor makes you <em>hungry!</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzuhMoNqMAO5vA5BsKeh_7c58SWWLlE1-nd_dthTO0RTZaP5wvym9sU_9yZCWA28U6pLNiSKhKQZ9ryV07laQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The harbor two hours later...</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-67426727777482500592013-09-14T22:00:00.000-04:002013-09-14T23:51:59.771-04:00"Coney Island" Comes to West Neck Beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g9HXA2FmRoE/UjUpgSZvnWI/AAAAAAAAGD4/0tTxWIWaSVM/s1600/P1020809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g9HXA2FmRoE/UjUpgSZvnWI/AAAAAAAAGD4/0tTxWIWaSVM/s320/P1020809.JPG" width="320" /></a>The white-capped waves were plainly visible from the roadway as I turned into the parking lot at West Neck Beach this chilly September morning, and as the rest of the morning swimmers continued to arrive, they joined the growing throng on the beach incredulously watching the rolling waves as they raced past us from north to south. The wind driving the waves was from the northwest and though the still-high tide was already going out, the wind was clearly winning the battle, and howling its victory. The madly pitching boats in the mooring field gave some clue to the bum's rush we swimmers could expect were we to venture out there. Of course we regulars were game, but two returning "newbies" from last week's introductory workshop, and a clutch of brand-newbies, stood wide-eyed and open-mouthed on the beach as they contemplated entering the turbulent scene in front of them. Incredibly, every one of them did, joining the rest of the Pod as we pitched and yawed and clawed our way over the tops of the biggest waves only to plummet to the bottom of the wave troughs -- like riding the roller coaster, the Ferris wheel and the drop tower all at the same time! But the water was clear and clean and still summer-warm, and we'll be back tomorrow at 8:00 to see what the open water has in store for us...! <em><strong>See you in the Salt!</strong></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxyp1BMkv9Cyv_HuyNMJ6gnS2HONYGG9KsJcicXDpAicCEQP0TOrbeybYI2tnio6HqqLJDR1-mFijiq42Om' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hU0aFbVUz9A/UjUdwXVLaPI/AAAAAAAAGCw/LwMmsqwTaMk/s1600/P1020818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hU0aFbVUz9A/UjUdwXVLaPI/AAAAAAAAGCw/LwMmsqwTaMk/s400/P1020818.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzuKoWgDfeJ5Gcj5bX1Km49PKszvsUYT2Uq9kwAWnkq6XdEYfOB8i3pokVYKaNF7oB1ft-lSnBVFbI6oPxtVw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ox2wlQZEucU/UjUd1cLrYNI/AAAAAAAAGC4/J61Sfewv-nA/s1600/P1020837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ox2wlQZEucU/UjUd1cLrYNI/AAAAAAAAGC4/J61Sfewv-nA/s400/P1020837.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reconnoitering at the Yellow Sign</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fHLwDsIdbbs/UjUd6gRy27I/AAAAAAAAGDA/Fml6PEP0MGM/s1600/P1020841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fHLwDsIdbbs/UjUd6gRy27I/AAAAAAAAGDA/Fml6PEP0MGM/s400/P1020841.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephanie's first OWS with the West Neck Pod</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I2tdDz8xnM8/UjUeEcLgkaI/AAAAAAAAGDQ/JXJJzOHJtao/s1600/P1020850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I2tdDz8xnM8/UjUeEcLgkaI/AAAAAAAAGDQ/JXJJzOHJtao/s400/P1020850.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophia at the Sailboat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iD92jnnayK0/UjUeEQAklbI/AAAAAAAAGDU/Ifj-EOBVgEc/s1600/P1020854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iD92jnnayK0/UjUeEQAklbI/AAAAAAAAGDU/Ifj-EOBVgEc/s400/P1020854.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KwO9WivvwuE/UjUuqZ_0tNI/AAAAAAAAGEI/1JR9M61Omus/s1600/P1020852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KwO9WivvwuE/UjUuqZ_0tNI/AAAAAAAAGEI/1JR9M61Omus/s400/P1020852.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helen at the Sailboat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454244657463222992.post-47362865940720055182013-09-07T14:47:00.003-04:002013-11-08T21:47:28.178-05:00"Open Water 101"....<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rN9OhMVgEYk/UitvnfW3AXI/AAAAAAAAGCI/OoGKf0_fMC4/s1600/IMG_7387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rN9OhMVgEYk/UitvnfW3AXI/AAAAAAAAGCI/OoGKf0_fMC4/s320/IMG_7387.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orientation on the beach (photo by Gae Polisner)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<em><span style="color: blue;">The West Neck Pod’s first formal "‘Newbies’ Intro to the Open Water" was a splashing success today, with nearly a dozen novitiates gaining or honing their open-water chops under the watchful guidance of seasoned Pod "mentors," who buddied up with newbies one-on-one and accompanied them as far as their skill, comfort level and endurance permitted.</span></em> The newbies ranged in age from 10 to 60, and their<span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: black;">bright yellow caps</span> dotted the water all the way from the dock to the Sailboat (to which three of the newbies actually ventured with their mentors alongside!). The weather could not have been more accommodating, and the newbies were treated to bright warm sun, clear blue skies, and sparkling clear water, with just a light wind rolling in gentle waves from the west (and relatively few of the nibbling brine shrimp that had been plaguing swimmers earlier in the week – most of which were concentrated around Gae today, to hear her tell it!). <br />
<br />
Congratulations to our new "newbies" <strong>Jonathan Zeit, Gina Foglia, Anthony Sarchiapone, Amy Baker, Chris Nugent, Miriam, Alexis Napoli, Sarina Napoli and Dana and returning newbies Peter Dennin and Merry Lewin</strong>; and many, many thanks to the Pod members who volunteered as mentors: <strong>Joye Brown, Gae Polisner, Annmarie Kearney-Wood, Bonnie Millen, Margot Edlin, Dana Termini, Will Spencer, Jamie Scholfield, Joan Addabbo, Tony Alizzi, Nancy Reycraft, Karen Barbosa, Rob Todd, and Rob Ripp</strong><em> (with special thanks to Dana Termini for providing the delicious tea and snacks afterwards, and to Rob Todd for his early morning deployment of the foot-saving Floating Pod Sandal Station!).</em> <br />
<br />
The morning’s activities were documented and photographed by <strong>Sylvia King-Cohen</strong> and <strong>Heather Walsh</strong> of <em>Newsday</em>, which is planning a story on open-water swimming (though it probably won’t appear until next April, they warn us). Their unobtrusive presence, thoughtful questions, and obvious admiration for what we do "out there" made them welcome visitors and earned them both honorary Pod-member status (though we’re hoping that Heather, a swimmer herself, will eventually come out and join us in the Salt as a full-on member of the ever-growing West Neck Pod).<br />
<br />
There are still two weeks left of summer and plenty of open-water swimming time left in this 2013 season....Hope to see today’s "newbies" in the Salt again soon! <strong><em>Next group swim: tomorrow morning at 8:00!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OWu7pFcDw-Y/Uitu8okkcNI/AAAAAAAAGBY/9OKRzLfYQqk/s1600/P1020656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OWu7pFcDw-Y/Uitu8okkcNI/AAAAAAAAGBY/9OKRzLfYQqk/s400/P1020656.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heather Walsh captures Carole Wickham in the morning light</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nx4mO-koMKM/Uit0WUs4UtI/AAAAAAAAGCc/McWqT9zCEWo/s1600/P1020661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nx4mO-koMKM/Uit0WUs4UtI/AAAAAAAAGCc/McWqT9zCEWo/s400/P1020661.JPG" width="400" /></a></em></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<strong><em><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i5bYKwQlv-Q/Uitu9JIAqJI/AAAAAAAAGBk/cDARvxnneyU/s1600/P1020663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i5bYKwQlv-Q/Uitu9JIAqJI/AAAAAAAAGBk/cDARvxnneyU/s400/P1020663.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sylvia King-Cohen of <em>Newsday</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJndQToRsbk/Uitu8tlCmcI/AAAAAAAAGBc/IgWEMPGtLvU/s1600/P1020679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJndQToRsbk/Uitu8tlCmcI/AAAAAAAAGBc/IgWEMPGtLvU/s400/P1020679.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"My" newbie, Chris Nugent</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pU874Qw4_04/Uitu99WH9aI/AAAAAAAAGBw/UPz730ykdGI/s1600/P1020681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pU874Qw4_04/Uitu99WH9aI/AAAAAAAAGBw/UPz730ykdGI/s400/P1020681.JPG" width="400" /></a></em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SjiDzQVAuSk/Uitu93j5e0I/AAAAAAAAGB0/VZBhMLM65B8/s1600/P1020683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SjiDzQVAuSk/Uitu93j5e0I/AAAAAAAAGB0/VZBhMLM65B8/s400/P1020683.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2013 "FPSS"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6jrB1NYo7VY/Uitu-ZpgtrI/AAAAAAAAGCA/e3TywenivJ0/s1600/P1020686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6jrB1NYo7VY/Uitu-ZpgtrI/AAAAAAAAGCA/e3TywenivJ0/s400/P1020686.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newbies Miriam and Chris</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</em></strong> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0