Large Turnout for a Sunday Open Water Swim at West Neck Beach: June 28, 2009

The sun was out and the sky and water were blue on the walk down to West Neck Beach in Huntington NY. Those conditions brought on lots of "sunny" smiles to this Huntington Open Water Swim Crew!
No sooner had I taken these pictures of Jim, (above) and Rob, (below) when the clouds started to roll in. But with all the rain we've been thru this June, nobody cared about a few clouds in the sky. Jelly fish in the water maybe -- but not clouds in the sky.

While everybody was busy "gearing-up", Bob was happy to take a moment to show the Huntington Masters Swim Team "colors". Bob's shirt is an oldie but a goodie -- but don't despair, you can still order your 2009 edition -- follow the links on the blog to order thru Zazzle -- you can even pick your own color!

Who's got the happiest swim cap ever? Hands up, Carol wins! :-)

Hey Jim... we said wave to the camera not point at the water!

Don is ready to go...

We do watch out for one another!

What did happen to all that sunshine? It just makes it look colder than it has to on a Sunday morning in late June. It's late June for crying out loud, not late September. (Maybe that's when we'll get all the sun!)

If your name is Rob or Robb you don't get to wear a wet suit. Is that why those two swim Open Water so fast?
Note: Bob is bringing a red lifeguard torp, (rescue tube), with him -- just in case! Hey, you know how that works -- if you bring it, you don't need it so we're better off having it with us.

Now we're starting to move out into real open water. No problem, just keep up a nice steady stroke and remember to check your heading once and awhile... you don't want to get left behind do you?

Well, well... there's always somebody getting a late start and having to run down the beach playing catch-up to the rest of the swimmers. This Sunday it was Ken. Not a problem, he is a pretty fast swimmer!

My last view was of Ken off the rocks and heading out to meet up with the rest of the Huntington area Open Water Swimmers in a slate grey Cold Spring Harbor. Though as I write this on Sunday afternoon, the sun has already come back out and barbecue plans are in full swing!

Here are a couple of alternate views of Cold Spring Harbor from the road leading in to West Neck Beach. A familiar view to all the swimmers who walk this way Spring, Summer and Fall. 

We've even got our own "wildlife"!

Swimming with Dolphins in Huntington

Thanks to Bob Miller for passing this picture along -- not sure who took the photo but now we know that we are not alone when we swim the waters of Cold Spring Harbor, Huntington Bay and Northport. 

A similar photo made it into Newsday on Saturday, June 27, 2009. In the article that went along with the photo, Newsday said that nearly 100 dolphins had been seen in Huntington, Northport and Cold Spring harbors this past week. According to the news story, there is a law that states "people and boats must stay 150 feet away from any marine animal".  

OK, I know how to do that if I'm in a boat but if I'm swimming, I'm pretty sure that I can't out-swim a dolphin! One piece of really good news, the article said that the dolphins "appearance locally could be a sign area harbors are getting clearer." Now, if dolphins only snacked on jellyfish we'd be in really great shape!

Jelly Fish OR the Mark of a Vampire? You Decide!

Well, my guess is that it was a Jelly Fish sting that got Rob on the neck. For one thing, the "bite mark" is in the wrong place to be from a vampire. As I remember from all those old horror movies, the bite is always toward the front of the neck, not towards the back of the neck. And, who has ever heard of an "Aquatic Vampire" -- (hmmm maybe there is a story idea there -- if so, I hereby trademark the phrase "Aquatic Vampire" today!) -- much less a vampire out in the water AND in Daylight? Nah. It had to have been a jelly fish.

"It got Rob right about here... with fangs the size of..."

Scott decided to shower off and get off the beach fast. Not that he was REALLY worried about "Aquatic Vampires" but better safe than sorry. 

Before you know it, Rob could be running into "Aquatic Zombies". (I won't trademark that name just yet but if you've got a story idea for "Aquatic Zombies" don't sit on it too long!

Jim was absolutely shocked, (check out the look on his face!), to learn that he may have actually been swimming with Vampires, Zombies and Jelly Fish.  Quick, sing after me; Vampires, Zombies and Jellies oh my! Vampires, Zombies and Jellies oh my! When you next see Jim, be sure to sing it for him. Greg did and it made him really happy!

With the threat of Vampires, Zombies and Jelly Fish over-running West Neck Beach in normally peaceful Huntington, the West Neck Beach lifeguards seriously considered closing the beach or at the very least the STEEL door to their office. Zombies can't break thru steel, can they? 

In all the excitement, it was amazing that we could get a smile and goodbye wave from Don. Even more amazing was the fact that the guy who started ALL the open-water craziness -- our official "Crazy Canadian" Rob was happy and smiling, (see picture below), after his close encounter with the Jelly Fish. Or was it a Vampire? You Decide!

Harry, thanks for the pictures. They were great. I take all the blame for the "story". Mike

White Wedding (THE 80's Tribute Band) to Play at Adventureland Amusement Park on July 4, 2009

Charge-up your Flux Capacitor and let Doc Brown and the White Wedding Band take you on a fun-filled trip to the 1980's! All you have to do to re-live the music-filled 80's is to take a drive down Rt 110 to Adventureland Amusement Park on July 4, 2009. The band starts rocking around 7pm -- so don't be late -- Cyndi Lauper, Prince, Madonna, Billy Idol and dozens more 80's Rock Icons will be waiting.

OK, OK. By know you may be asking yourself "isn't this a SWIM web site?" And, "Doc Brown's stripped B&W jeans don't look anything like a Speedo -- not even a 1980's Speedo!" Well, you'd be right but "Doc Brown" of White Wedding Band fame is my oldest son, "Darling Nikki", (who plays keyboard in the band), is my daughter-in-law so I've taken this shameless opportunity to plug their latest show. But, proud Pappa or not, if you like 80's music -- you'll LOVE White Wedding Band!

CLICK HERE to listen (and see) White Wedding Band.

Swim Champions' Fitter & Faster(TM) Tour

The Swim Champions' Fitter & Faster(TM) Tour is coming to Nassau County's Eisenhower Aquatic Center on Saturday, August 22, 2009. To register for this 3-hour instructional, motivational and fun event, CLICK HERE. The cost is $100 for this one-day session .

Great for both Masters Swimmers and Triathletes. Besides learning the "secrets" of four Olympic Champions -- Matt Grevers, Megan Jendrick, Christine Magnuson and Mel Stewart (pictured above) -- you'll get to swim and talk with them. Don't forget to bring your camera!