I actually went for one 6 weeks ago or so, and it was very hard on me – bad reaction to the cold making it hard for me to control my breathing. But I’ve been swimming in Sproat Lake (Port Alberni) the last months, so I think my body has a bit more cold tolerance now (not that that lake is cold by any means – but my body is more used to being in cool water than it was before) and I think the water here is probably a few degrees warmer now too (although still very cold – I’m guessing 10 or 11 degrees?)

We had a great swim – late afternoon, timed with the slack high tide, and it was so beautiful, looking at the kelp and the rocks and the fish and the barnacles and the starfish and even a crab. Then lounging on the rocks in the sun in our bikinis after we were done (wetsuits drying alongside – no, we did not swim in our bikinis!)

Anyway, I have been in touch with Benja by email a lot lately, and I have just confirmed a flight to go visit him and his family in Patagonia over Christmas (their summer). So I am inspired… if I can keep up this ocean swiming for the remainder of the summer and into the fall, maybe I can build up my cold tolerance enough to swim with him in Magellan Strait this southern summer. Yippee!!

Inspiring indeed

mom