Category Archives: Uncategorized

Frozen toes. They are not pretty. And tonight I am making a public apology to my wee toes for freezing them to death, and thanking them for turning back to pink. Eventually. Open water swimming in November has a few downsides….this is one of them. Fortunately, or unfortunately, my toes take turns going numb nowContinue reading “November 12, 2020”

Last light. Racing the inky darkness and my own quickening heart beat, I rose out of the salty cold tonight just as the sky swallowed up the last window of sunlight. I swim to get away from one part of myself and back to another. At 5:12pm I stepped ashore at the landing to fightContinue reading “November 10, 2020”

Buddy Swim Report for this Monumental Day in the United (?) States of America. Swim Buddy: Dave C. Launching Point: Point White Pier Water temperature: 51 degrees Air temperature: 48 degrees Distance swam: 1 mile or so Swim Goals for today: 1. Get in, breathe deeply to calm down nervous system, heart rate and allowContinue reading “November 7, 2020”

I walked the beach today My footfall over a three inch blanket of shimmering seaweed, slow and sweet, stretching down the beach in shades of green and brown and red Waves broke, gently calling me back in—but no time today for a watery retreat Dark birds, backlit by the low hung autumn sun, rode theContinue reading “November 6, 2020”

From the beach I ended my swim today in fading light, a shifting palette of shades of grey coloring water, sky and land in every direction. Clouds to the west hung low over the first snowfall I’ve seen this year on the Olympics—a clear and silent reminder that winter is fast approaching. Today I wasContinue reading “November 5, 2020”

Leaves and a light bulb. Rain and wind now whip the windows, it’s pitch dark outside and well past midnight, and I’m wide awake and we don’t know yet who will lead this broken country next. I went to the water to escape today, hoping for a sign, any sign that somehow this election wouldContinue reading “November 3, 2020”

Long shadows today. And more firsts for me in the Salish Sea. Delighted to wake to glorious sunshine, I looked forward to picking my entry point for an afternoon swim on what would be my first open water swim in November. Energized by the light of the day and my desire for a little adventureContinue reading “November 1, 2020”

And the spider web of bamboo and kitchen string strung with candy and care in hopes that sweet children in gay costumes would soon appear…. Even now. Especially now. And they did. And I was so glad to see them all, bursting with delight and sugar. So was Greta, my swim buddy, pictured here. SheContinue reading “October 31, 2020”

Today during my swim I saw an extraordinary thing. Well, actually several extraordinary things. Where to start the story is the trick. I wish to draw you in and make you hold your breath in anticipation to find out what good things I found in the salty waters this afternoon. Like my swims, a goodContinue reading “October 29, 2020”

Oh the best laid plans. I had no plan to swim today, and after yesterday’s icy swim didn’t even consider when I’d dip in again. I made it less than 24 hours. Nature called me back. This afternoon I couldn’t sit still as I attempted my 3-month overdue project sewing more masks for family andContinue reading “October 27, 2020”