I worked hard for this in 2019, and now I know my capabilities. Thank you to BlueSeventy for sponsoring this series of open water competitions. You made me work for it!
When my friend Michaela moved to Minnesota, I thought I'd never see her again. I had no plans that called for a midwest visit, until of course she told me about this swim! I cashed in my air miles, booked the swim and a room in Bayfield, and soon enough August arrived. I am so used to West Coast topography. The FLATNESS of the land was disorienting to me. After my airport pickup, Michaela introduced me to Lindsay and the three of us road-tripped to Bayfield with an overnight in Duluth. Walleye is a thing in these parts. A peek of the finish part of the course, from a bluff. Successful finishes for all of us. 1 hr 8 mins is not nearly my best but it's fine for a new course. This was a 2.1 mile crossing. People in Bayfield are very nice. My favorite part of the trip, after the swim, was a kayak night tour chartered with Rustic Makwa Den. These are the Red Cliff Band of the Chippewa, and they are casual and funny guys who really love their lands. Troy was...
We have a family curse not unfamiliar to millions of Americans: alcoholism. Especially for the males on both sides of my family, the drink has really challenged the men. My maternal uncles came through it using the 12-step program. My father quit at age 76, cold turkey, after a cascade of serious health problems delivered the final ultimatum: quit or die soon. One aunt by marriage somewhat recently had and survived a liver transplant—which is fantastic. But my brother, Brion, is on a different and heartbreaking journey. As I write this, I’m at home in the PNW while my mom is at Brion’s bedside in a San Diego hospital based (inpatient) hospice. Things are so fragile. Time is short. I’m still processing what I’ve witnessed in the last few months and the progression to this present-day byproduct of alcoholism: hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) at end-stage liver disease from alcohol-related cirrhosis. Our family members got a crash course in all the processes, medications, terminology, trea...
This year I've stuck to my work-travel-swim pattern and it's been fantastic. Hard work has afforded some really fun trips (will I make it to MVP on AK Air this year? Looks likely!). Kate and I headed to Dover, Kent (UK) to attend the English Channel CSPF class of 2018 banquet, where we made new swim friends and dipped into the winter waters of the famous Dover Harbor at swimmers' beach. That's just the start! Dover, UK - March - CSPF dinner/hangover swim Lake Berryessa, CA - June USMS Middle Distance Open Water Nationals with my very spontaneous Seattle friend Melissa, who did well in her swim! Blake Island circumnavigation swim - June 26 - so fun! Mary Robinson, Amy Bogaard, Lise Ellner, Martha Johnson, Sarah Schieron, Rebecca Lanphear and me. Thanks to Chuck, Dana and David for crewing! Coronado, CA - 4th of July Roughwater Regional USMS/PNA competitions: Whidbey Adventure Swim- Langley, Fat Salmon at Lk WA, Swim Defiance across Dalco, Aly Fell...
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