Born To Be Wild

Can you identify this Huntington Master’s Swimmer?

After an E-Z Friday workout, he traded in his swim cap and kickboard for a helmet and 400 pound, 25 year-old candy-apple red Honda motorcycle!

OK, OK, “Candy-Apple Red” is stretching the description a bit but we are talking about a cycle that took to the roads for the first time in 1983 – a quarter of a century ago! (Though I must admit that it looks pretty "Candy-Apple Red" in this picture.)

So strain your eyes and see if you can figure out exactly who this “Born To Be Wild” mystery cyclist is… hint, it is NOT Bob Miller!

The Sun Hung On The Western Trees At West Neck Beach By Ken Longo

Driving home from work along CSH shore, I couldn't resist the urge for a late swim. The water was like a sheet of glass, not a boat in sight and it was high tide.

Arriving at WNB around 6:30, the Sun hung on the western trees. It was beautiful, but something was missing. Then it hit me, everything was gone. The beach lines, bouy's, life guard stands and even the shower and shower platforms (who's going to steal those). Shut down for the winter. I couldn't take my shower after the swim I thought. I entered the water and swam the 1st leg to the southern buoy.

As I rested and took in the falling Sun against a Center Island background, I realized how lucky we are. I was slightly upset that the end of another OWS season is upon us. I laughed thinking how the new season usually starts with our version of Ground Hog day. Our friendly Canadian samples the water a few times during the winter; a new season is just around the corner.

The real reason for this story is to tell you Huntington has closed West Neck Beach. The gates are still open though!

2008 Brooklyn Bridge Swim Cancelled

As Newsday's front-page headline screamed this morning "Here Comes Hannah" well, there went the 2008 Brooklyn Bridge Swim. The swim was supposed to start at 8:45 am Saturday morning, September 6, 2008 and would have been the third annual Brooklyn Bridge Swim. But Tropical Storm Hannah had other ideas and the swim was cancelled. Rob and I were both disappointed as it would have been the third year of this very "New York City" Swim for both of us. 

On the bright side, the notification process by the Manhattan Island Foundation was just about as good as it could get. I received notification of the cancellation by both phone and email -- two emails and automated calls to both my home and cell phone number. We were also all invited to come down to South Street Seaport at 8am on Saturday to pick up our T-Shirts etc and have a cup of coffee with the crew and other swimmers (not too many entrants were there at 8am -- see photo above). Rob went to CW Post to workout and I went to NYC for coffee! I took a few pictures, said a quick hello and "thanks" for the on-time notices to keep us all in the loop -- then hopped in my questionably parked car and headed back to Huntington. See you all next year! Bad Hannah! Bad Hannah!

Of course, the sun had to make an appearance to make us feel even worse!

But the sun, clouds, bridge and water did make for some dramatic pictures. And, naturally, the East River water looked VERY calm -- though looks can be deceptive! 

Bye Bye Brooklyn Bridge. Bye Bye East River. We hope to swim you again in September 2009.

Open Water Swim: Labor Day, September 1, 2008 at West Neck Beach

As you can see, we had a beautiful blue sky, calm water -- but a really LOW tide!

Jelly Fish even had a cousin sunbathing on the "low tide" rocks. Happy to say, we didn't see any other "cousins" in the water.

The boys are done for the day! Sorry to say that I forgot to bring my camera yesterday (Sunday, August 31, 2008) as we had about a dozen Open Water Swimmers then. Pretty much similar conditions though the tidal current may have been a bit stronger on Sunday.

Rob, Jim and Ken are above. Jim and Rob are pictured below.

Swimming with Seagulls on Labor Day 2008