Posts by Eej S.

Sunday August 25 830PM Today at the lake it was sunny and not so hot. Sort of a perfect day. I checked the water temp before I left – 69 F – so I wore a wetsuit. New rule: wettest if it’s under 70. The lifeguards were winding down their shift as I arrived, and

21 July 2024 Wind: from S 6.1 m/sec (14 mph) Air Temperature: 22.1 °C (72 °F) Water Temperature: 24.33 °C (76 °F) Today at the lake it was cooler than it’s been in weeks, and the energy at the park was low-key in spite of the packed lot.  I was super tired from working on

I look like a super hero, entering the water with grace and style.

Sat sep 9 6:27pm Skaftekulla badplats Today at the lake I didn’t want to get out of the water.  My host drove me to a remote lake next to a cow and sheep pasture. It was perfect. The water was cool and flat, and I could see little skirmishes on top of the water here

Monday August 28, 2023 Today at the lake, I swam in a beautiful, clean lake, Såduggen, surrounded by trees and blue sky. It was glorious. My host drove me to a lake about 10 miles away. There was nobody there, which seems bizarre to me because where I live there are always people around, even

Temp 56 F Water Temp 64 F Today at the lake it was grey, so there were not tons of people at the park.  We had a record turnout today: seven lake witches!!!!! I have been trying to get a regular gig with other women swimmers for two years. Finally!  One woman could only stay

Temp 78.  Water temp 66 F. Today at the lake it felt blazing hot in my wetsuit. I was very eager to get in the water.  We had a new swimmer today, so I was very excited to welcome her into our little group. We chatted a bit before we got into the water, and

Temp 51 F Water Temp 55 F. Drizzly, grey day. It’s been raining all day.  Today at the lake, it was grey and raining. I should say “still raining” because it’s been raining all day. I decided to change up my gear because I felt too warm the other day, but it ended up being

Temp 70 Water Temp 55.  Today at the lake it was gloriously sunny and warm. The water was fairly glassy, except for occasional small wakes from boats. We were five today, a record! D, K4, K6, I, and me! A combo of swimmers, some in wetsuits some in just swimsuits.  The park was buzzing with

Air Temp 54, Water Temp 54 Today at the lake it was drizzly and grey. The water was glassy. It hardly made a sound when it touched the beach.  There were cars in the parking lot, but I couldn’t see people. Maybe one or two walkers.  I didn’t swim yesterday, which is my usual day,

Temp 77 Water Temp 53  Today at the lake it was hot and sunny. The parking lot at the park was packed, and as we pulled in I could see people everywhere, playing frisbee, sitting on towels, strolling on the paths. I love seeing everyone enjoying themselves, and it really struck me that I have

65 F temp. 51 F water temp. Today at the lake it was gloriously warm and sunny. I got to swim with L, who I have not seen in almost a year!  There were tons of black ducks in the swim area and a few tots on the beach with their parents. I love how

April 5. Temp 51 F. Water temp 47 F. Today at the lake…a different beach. I was too tired to drive to my usual beach so I swam at the park near my house. It is a lovely park with lots of gigantic trees, benches, picnic tables, a basketball court, children’s playground. And a sand

Today at the lake it was windy and c-c-cold.  I met with K5, who I haven’t seen in two weeks. Always nice to swim with her. She just started this winter, and was smart to buy thermal gear. I’m always impressed with how she is in the water and unafraid, just figuring it out as

March 10, 2023. Water temp 44. Today at the lake, it was dark. We got there late, but I wanted to get a quick swim in cause it’s been a hard week. On the way to the beach I slipped in the mud but remained standing. The terror that would usually have sent me into

Feb 20, 2023

Jan 25, 2023 Today at the lake it was grey, and I was alone. My swim buddy wasn’t feeling well, so I decided to go by myself. I was lucky to find a man and his tiny two-year-old daughter at the water’s edge, throwing rocks into the lake. Of course, I had to say hi

Jan 24, 2023 My swim yesterday was glorious! Water 46 F.

Jan 11, 2023 Gratitudes 1. finally got to see my friends at the park 2. got to swim with my regular swim buddy 3. popcorn

Sept 28 – Sunny sky, cold water. Today at the lake…it was COLD. I met with my swim buddy, K4 (lots of K names; I had to number them), and there was nobody in the water. Not many people at the park, either. Funny that the temperature drops a bit, and the park clears out.

Sunday July 10, 2022 Today at the lake…I didn’t go to the lake. I took a walk. My first walk since surgery. I walked a block and back. Actually, it was two half blocks, but whatever. It was excruciatingly slow because I’m not putting full weight into my leg yet. I plant the walker, then

July 9, 2022 Saturday Today at the lake…still not at the lake. It’s been one month and three days since my surgery, and I am finally out of the wheelchair (f yea!!) and walking with a walker.  Progress Saw my doc’s assistant last week, and she said I could go ahead and walk and put

May 17 6:35pm Today at the lake, the water was flat, refreshing, and full of sunbeams. There were several paddle boarders on the lake, a few motor boats, one fishing boat, a sail boat in the distance, and a floaty plane.  Cuidado! Why the F floaty planes come to my lake to practice landings and

Today at the lake….I am on my couch. Flat out. Sweaty, dizzy, waiting to succumb to my second COVID Moderna vaccination from this afternoon.  Feeling Crappy I wanted to go back to bed when I got home because doing this daily TMS treatment is killing me. I’m not sleeping, so I’m a zombie all week.

Monday April 25, 2022 | water temp 46-50 F Today at the lake it was windy, wavy, and wet. When I arrived a kiteboarder was literally sailing through the air. Badass.  The waves were fairly big, and the beach was deserted. Kinda dreary and dark, but I’ve decided I don’t care and I’m not gonna

19 April 2022 | Water 46-50 F Today at the lake it was sunny, the water was clear and flat, and I got to swim with one of my swim buddies for the third time in about 10 days. Bonus!  Swim Buddy Better I have gotten used to swimming alone, so having a few swim

15 April 2022 | Sunny | Water 46 F Today at the lake, it was sunny, it was Friday, it was perfect. I met my swim buddy again, and finally remembered to bring my extra gloves so she could wear them over her 1mm gloves, which just aren’t warm enough this time of year. I

April 13, 2022 | Water Temp 46 F Today at the lake it was cold outside, but the lake was nice and flat. I was happy to meet up with a swim buddy. I was tired after my zapping treatment, but always happy to be at the beach, chatting with my swim buddy, getting ready

April 11, 2022 | Cold but sunny Today at the lake it was cold. My buoy thermometer said 50 F, but I checked online, and it said 46 F. I also returned the thermal wetsuit I’ve been testing, so I was back in my 3:2 suit. I could really tell the difference. The other suit

Lake 48 degrees. April 3, 2022 Today at the lake it was pretty choppy, and it was cold. And drizzly. Lots of kite surfers in the water. I met with six others, soakers. They were dreading getting in; it’s always hard when the air temp is as low as the water temp. And wind makes

Lake temp 47 F | April 1 2022 Today at the lake it was cold and choppy. I pushed too hard to do my 20 minute swim, and now I’m really exhausted. Still, I’m always glad to get my water time in. I always feel better, even if I make myself extra tired. I’ve been

Today at the lake there were two sail boats, two kayakers, and two other swimmers. One of the swimmers was K, who I have been swimming with before. She was helping a new swimmer get acclimated, so they were just in and out of the lake. I was really happy to run into them. After

Really tough swim today. I was flat out when my alarm went off. I hit snooze 4 times. Decided to skip it and go for a walk at night. I felt so tired and sore throaty. But I got up and chugged an Yerba mate drink to wake up, threw my gear in the bag,

Finally got to exercise today. Have not moved since my WEDS swim. The water was so flat. I just splashed around until my 20 min were up. Now so tired. I get extra points for rinsing off all my gear when I got home.

Today at the lake I went to another beach. It’s one of my favorites. The water is clear, I get a different view, and the beach is right at the end of a busy street of small neighborhood shops. There’s also a big apartment complex sticking out into/over the water. Even better, the bottom is

Today at the lake it was cold. Sunny but cold. The air was cold. The water was cold.  I had to put my face in and out about five times to acclimate. But I was in a rush because it was after 5pm when I started, so I got on with it and swam south

Monday, March 7, 2022 Sunny | water temp 45 degrees F Today at the lake. So tired. I didn’t even write anything today. But it was sunny. And I swam. Tried out a new wetsuit. OMG. So much more room and stretchy through the shoulders. When I was on the beach getting ready to enter

March 3, 6:30pm Sunny | water temp 40 F Today at the lake, the water was flat, the sun was out, and I finally got my tiny video camera to work. And then I dropped it, and it floated away.  I got to the lake and was happy to see lots of cars in the

Feb 28, 2022 Today at the lake it was cold and windy. The water was really choppy, and my body felt like lead trying to swim. I meet two new swim pals, K and E.  They mostly soaked. E is a soaker. K is acclimating and sort of new to this cold water thing. I

Feb 19, 2022 | temp 40 F ish | Time in water: 24:40 Today at the lake, there were crazy wild white-capped waves. They didn’t look too bad on the shore, but once I was in the water I could see how impressive they were. Wow.  I took a few photos and a quick video

Monday Feb 21 2022 | Sunny but cold! Today at the lake I made so many mistakes. And I was warned! The Gear  I drove home from the lake in silence today because there is no song for “I told you so,” and even if there is, T is much too kind to tell me

Feb 16, 2022 Today at the lake the water was cold but full of sunbeams. A flock of ducks landed in the water just as I was walking up to the edge. I think they scattered too quickly for me to get them in the pre-swim photo I took. That’s ok.  Bathing & Hygiene I

Feb 14, 2022 | water temp 40 F Today at the lake, I swam with K and K. The People It has been so long since I swam with them; I was really happy to see them again. I don’t think we have been to the lake together since the crazy wave jumping adventure….months and

Friday Feb 11, 2022 | water temp 40 F Today at the lake, it was sunny, the water was calm, the ducks were paddling about, and there was a huge gathering of black birds just north of the swim area.  As I was getting my snorkel and goggles on, I was surprised to look up

Feb 7, 2022 6:22pm  Today at the lake, the water was silent and glassy. A congregation of assorted birds were gathered on the cement dock, included a scary looking black bird I couldn’t identify. It was all angles and sharp points, like it was made out of metal and maybe couldn’t move so well. I

February 5, 2022  6pm | water temp 40F Today at the lake, the water was glassy, the mountains where trying to peek out from behind the clouds, and the ducks were pecking the pebbles on the beach, looking for snacks.  Heavy Thoughts To Start I was sad when M picked me up today. I had

Today at the lake…it was pouring rain. I didn’t care because I was antsy to swim. I convinced my friend to join me at the beach: she would walk loops on the mini walking path loop while I swam. We both get exercise.  I have no idea what the temperature was….but I think it was

Today at the lake I got to swim with K, who I haven’t seen since the crazy wavy jumping outing months and months ago.  I wrote a little chant for us to say before we got in the lake, “We are sea witches, proud and true; we’re going to swim in the lake so blue!”

Today at the lake, I swam for 24 minutes!! Technically, it’s more more like 18-20, or less, because I started the timer then had to get into my gloves, which takes a long time, then into the water. Also, it took me time to get out of my gloves so I could turn off the

Today at the lake…I tried a new beach for a 7pm solstice swim. M took me, and it only took about 25 min to get there, no traffic, so now I know how to get there.  We arrived and everyone else was already in their gear and making their way to the beach. I found

Today at the lake I swam in crazy strong waves, in the dark, while my summer swim buddy spotted me from the beach.  To be honest, I quit swimming a week ago, maybe longer, because I was so exhausted with putting so much time into finding swim buddies and almost never finding anyone to swim