Sunday, January 24, 2021

Linda the Lamprey's Birthday Extravaganza

Last swim: Sunday noon
Next swims: Weekends at noon and some weekdays?

Water temp: low 30's
Air temp: 30'ish
Waves: small swells out of the south

Crew: Rosie, Itch, Diablo, Brick, Rosie, Tattoo Lady, with strip'n'dips by Moondog and Pool Noodle aka Mermaid Princess
Shore Support: Panini, Dragonfly, Linda the Lamprey, Showgirl, Luna Laguna, Squeeze o' Showgirl

Today is Linda the Lamprey's birthday, and many thanks to her for inviting us all to the beach to celebrate.  It was so nice to be there, hanging out with the Kru.

There was an amazing and impressive number of swimmers, and a delightful group of shore support.

The swimmers went south and most were in for an incredible 30-ish minutes.

Luna in full winter gear is quite a contrast to MP heading into the water.



The joyful look of someone exiting 33 degree water. 



Tattoo Lady makes a triumphant return.

Diablo

Brick


Saturday, January 9, 2021

1,2,3 And In To the Polar Waters



Crew: Mr. Anonymous, Sunny Laguna, Panini, Moodaug, Forger, Itch, Rosie, Brick, Wetaco, Lt. Mj,  Jenny Thorpedo, Rachel and  possibly others I forgot, please post if you were there. 

Shore Support:  Lamphery, Showgirl & squeeze, Phil, Ben, Blake, and various curious bystanders weighing our sanity, and whether they should join in at some time. Also, Wim Hoffers were there, as well as a couple other gatherings of college age students.


On a Snowy day we gathered to plunge into almost freezing water. As we prepared to plunge and swim we observed the first groups of college age students crazily charging into the drink, and back out rather quickly. That left us and them Wim Hoffers  to side eye each other. Queue West Side Story music. Next was the methodological Hoffers to pull their move.

As the suited swimmers in our group were suiting up, the Viking plungers were debating the best strategy for entry and extraction. It was decided to go in skin upon entry of the suits. Now we wondered who would be the lead?

With suits near ready for entry we now eyed each other still wondering who would be the first to start a quick strip and dip into the snowy waters. Mr. Anonymous(?) was the quickest in, with lava pants and gloves and booties. I followed, in skin. I figure we swam for about 2-3 minutes, as the rest followed into the freezing drink. Suits came back about a half hour later.

Afterwards it was warm cider, a chest full of warm water for thawing feet and hands, Killepitsch, and splendid conversation. Just about all agreed that a warm chest of hot water for thawing out was the best thing since sliced bread.

Whether one crazily, methodologicaly, or whimsically  immersed into the freezing snowy waters, all emerged to anticipate a New Year, and so the tradition continues!