Evelyn "Cruises" Through Her Last OWS of the Season!!

Despite the "warmish" air temperature of 48 degrees, the steady northwest wind made the prospect of plunging into the icy water at West Neck Beach at 9:30 this morning a daunting one, particularly to Evelyn Cruise, who was determined to earn her Pod swim cap -- a red one, she decided. After an earnest parking lot consultation, the tri-Pod of Evelyn, Carole Wickham and I decided to proceed with our open-water swim, but at a different venue, more sheltered from the wind. 


We rendevouzed at the new site a short while later, coffee cups in hand, and enjoyed a gentle, relaxing open water experience in the clear, calm waters of the Carol(e)s' hot tub!  With my ubiquitous camera swim mask in place, I documented the event for posterity (including capturing images of all of us proudly wearing our new brightly colored Pod swim caps!

There, Evelyn took her last few strokes of the 2010 open water season, demonstrating the smooth, effortless, high-elbow form she perfected over the last several months, and bid a sorrowful goodbye to the open water...until next year!

Meanwhile, some members of the Pod remain unconvinced that the open-water-swimming season is over, and will be convening at West Neck Beach tomorrow morning at 8:00 to prove it.  Of course I'll be joining them!  See you in the Salt!

Saturday's OWS

Early arrivals at West Neck Beach this morning were greeted by...even earlier arrivals, with the 6:30 early-early group just hitting the waves as the 7:00 group was suiting up! No traffic tie-ups though, as we swam out in opposite directions, the first group heading to the southern buoy and the second making for the Causeway first, intent on a long, 3-mile loop from house to buoy and back to the beach.

A strong outgoing tide and brisk southerly wind made for a choppy ride, especially for the Causeway group, which had to contend with the waves slapping our faces all the way back to the southern buoy -- a long, hard slog! Great practice, though, for the 5K/10K in the Bay!







Chris and I stopped at the beach on the way back and picked up the third wave of swimmers! for the leg out to the buoy and back. Cap-count total for the morning: 22! Tomorrow's forecast promises the same southerly wind, with an outgoing tide after 6:25 a.m., if you're up for a Father's Day Swim! See you in the Salt!

Wednesday's OWS

True to Deputy Town Supervisor Laure Nolan’s word, the gates at West Neck Beach were open wide to welcome us at 6:00 this morning – an auspicious contrast to the dramatic and traumatic prelude to yesterday’s open-water swim.

This morning the weather welcomed us as well, with the sun poking through a cloud-mottled sky, and not even a ripple lifting the surface of the water (which has resumed its warming trend, I’m happy to report!).








Our Pod hero Joye, after much arm-twisting, reluctantly posed for us in front of the lifeguard stand (per Carole’s instructions), and then we all (nine of us!) plunged in for a long, delightful and uneventful swim!(except for Margot’s having forgotten her goggles and having to swim ocularly-impaired!).

Seems like Thursday will be a day of rest for most of us – anyone looking to swim tomorrow should reach out for your like-minded brethren and sisthren by e-mail – and we’ll see the rest of you on Friday.

Those of us who are training for the July 11th 5K/10K in the Bay are planning on starting at 6:00 to get in some extra distance – otherwise we’ll see you at 6:15!