Lake Michigan Dreaming

For the past three springs I have watched geese laying eggs and hatching goslings on the pond in Estrabrook Park near my house.  Every year two females make nests and lay eggs on the small island in the middle of the pond, and they are guarded by one male who swims back and forth.  Here is a picture from two years ago of two of the adults and a few of the newly hatched goslings.

But this year the pond is frozen solid and for the past several days the three adults have been pacing at the side of the pond apparently waiting for the ice to melt.

I empathize with the geese as I gaze over the Lake and wonder when it will be warm enough to swim again.  Six weeks?  Eight?  All the ice on the lake may mean a slower warmup this year, or maybe not.  I read in an article that even a complete freeze over has little long term impact on lake temperatures.

In the meantime I've been dreaming (literally in my sleep) about the day when we can take our first plunge.  And I've been reading the latest book by our heroine Lynne Cox, "Open Water Swimming Manual" (highly recommended).

By the way, if anyone is interested in the Big Shoulders Swim this year (Sept. 6th in Chicago) better act  fast as it is nearly full already!

P.S.  To Kevin and anyone else interested in joining us, all you need to do is show up on the beach and introduce yourself.  Watch this blog for dates and times.  If we're lucky we'll start swimming at the end of May, but June is more likely.