Here we are a new week and time for 59,000 meters, I glance at the forecast to get a feel for how to dress for the first of my 6 swims this week, ” Right then, time to bust out the Irish hat, the sweat pants and cozy sweatshirt, looks like a wet and wild week”, I think. ” How kind of Vermont to turn down the thermostat down for me, chilling the water, and looks like Mother Nature is going to deliver me some good waves later in the week with the common theme, 15 mph winds, EXCELLENT!
Out comes the umbrella when I arrive to swim this morning , ” gotta wonder what you are thinking when you pack an umbrella to go swim right’, I joke with Paula, Deb and Robbin as I bounce the umbrella, along with my Aloha Rubber Duck into the kayak…..what can I say I am easily entertained while I swim, the duck makes me laugh.
We make quick work of peeling off our layers of clothing and get into the water, out the canoe launch we speed, the rain is chucking it down, it is coming down in sheets, ” ohhhh, this is like a sort of rain massage on my back”, I laugh as I swim. Once in the water I am amazed at how cozy I feel, “it seems like the grim rainy day is all on the outside and I am tucked up in the cozy comfort of the water”, I think, I feel like I am on the couch watching a movie and Deb is the lead role, she is wrapped up with a neck warmer, hat, gloves, rain proof jacket and pants, yet I know she is not dry, I am a notorious splasher when I swim, she is drenched.
On we go….
When we arrived Deb said, ” how long?”, I replied, 3 hours, she didn’t blink an eye, in the boat she went, swimmers in the water and off, ” no one else would be out here on a day like today, ( except the Irish of course)”, I think to myself, I am one lucky ducking.
We knock off the swim hour by hour and before I know it it is time for the final stretch, amongst the pouring rain Deb still smiles and entertains me by showing me the Aloha Duck, I laugh, she squirts water at me, I try and spit water back at her when I turn to breathe, we smile at each other, laugh and head for home.
Next up it’s Jelly Babies and off home to eat, work, sleep and get ready for tomorrow’s swim, oh and then the day after that, and the one after that…that’s how the week goes, one wet day after another….and I LOVE IT!
Did we reach our weekly goal? Yes 59,000 meters
Am I tired? Yes
What’s Up Next Week? 43,500 meters and the Greater Kingdom Lake Swim 10 Mile Swim in Lake Memphremagog
……I haven’t been to the Lake since the 25.2 Mile ” In Search of Memphre Swim”
What will it be like returning to the Battlefield? I’ll keep you posted
Closing Thought:
” To give less than your best is to sacrifice the gift”
– Steve Prefontaine