Cold Bold Waves Toss Me Like a Salad

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 everything colder.I was testing a thermal suit, so I had no worries wading into the waves.

The video doesn’t show how big the waves were today. I’ve been in much worse, but it was still pretty brutal.

Treading in Place

While they soaked and chatted in their skins and warm hats, I tried to swim. I made it about halfway between the boat buoy and the cement dock. It took all my energy. I could see ok in the water, but I couldn’t tell where I was going and every time I pulled up to sight I was, of course, going in the opposite direction I thought I was. LOL.

I’m never sure how I feel about getting in the water on days like this. I don’t really get a good swim in because I have to work so hard just to move. I get tired really fast, so I can’t stay in as long. Some times I like being in crazy waves; it’s a challenge. Other times I think it’s insane because I spend so much energy and have to focus so hard on not getting so tired I can’t get back in to the beach when I’m ready.

I saw the others getting out of the water, and started making my way back. Naturally, the water was tossing me in all directions, so I pulled up ever couple of strokes to make sure I didn’t get too far off track. I could see the others gathering under the roof of the beach building, and I wanted to get to them. One, R, was still soaking. She wears a wetsuit, so she can handle staying in the water longer than the others, who either wear just a swim suit or a shorty wetsuit that’s maybe 1.5 or 2mm. They are the crazy ones. LOL.

My Water Ways

I have to move if I’m in the water. I miss out on the social, but I really need to do my own thing. Stayed quite warm in the thermal suit, and got too warm through the legs. This suit has a cold spot for me: lower back. This seems to be how it works. Until you find the ideal fit, there are little areas where water water pools. Super happy that the neck seals with my hood bib. Nothing worse than water getting in around my neck or head. But the cold on my back didn’t go away. It always wasn’t a dealbreaker because the rest of my body was so snug and warm. I little cold spot just keeps me awake, which I need. I’m acclimated now. I don’t have to pull out and start over five or 10 times before I can swim with my head in the water. I just GO, and my face doesn’t even burn anymore. I love that. I also warm up fast when I get out. I do my parking lot switch to warm gear, and I’m good. I don’t get chilled like I used to. Sometimes that would last for hours. Now I change into dry gear, and I feel fine. I still feel fine when I get home, although I do love to hop into my bed and cover up with my old sleeping bag. But overall, my body adjusts quickly. It feels really good to have something on my body work in my favor.

I have a pretty bad relationship with my body over all the health issues, disabilities, and Stinker, which I can’t beat no matter how hard I try. As least when it comes to the water, my body adapts, acclimates, and recovers. I’m so grateful for that.

Eagle Eye

Oh, there was a huge eagle in a nearby tree (you can see in farthest left tree), watching over us. I couldn’t see it in detail to know if it was a bald eagle, but I’m pretty sure it was. One flew over my yard yesterday, and it was HUGE. Lots of them around here, which is mind-blowing. A huge bald eagle is so badass. Intimidating. I’ve never seen a bigger bird (flying). I can’t imagine they are that happy or have that much fun. That fierce face just says, “I swill swoop down and grab you with my talons and eat you.”

Relax the Rest of This Day

Came home and got in the shower, rinsed off my gear, and then got online to order groceries. I can’t wait til my gluten-free cookies and low-fat cheese puffs around. Now I’m relaxing in my Hammer pants and insulated flannel shirt, watching the GH episodes I missed last week. Just gobbled a big bowl of spicy mung beans. Onward.

The Lake