May 31, 2010: The sun was out on a beautiful Memorial Day Morning -- but the gate at West Neck Beach was down for the count and created a "massive" traffic jam (nothing like the LIE or Northern State will be later tonight, but you get the idea!). Finally, around 8:10 AM somebody with a key showed up, (too much party on Sunday night?), and the gates were opened.
The early Open Water Swim group, just couldn't wait and so they parked their cars outside the lot and made the long walk in -- BUT, they were already in the water and swimming while we were still parking! The "early" swimmer gets the calm water?
This was one of the very few boats I spotted on Cold Spring Harbor and it really is a lot farther away from the swimmers than it looks in this photo -- telephoto lens!
Nearly perfect swim conditions!
In the shot above, I have the telephoto lens fully extended. You can see the Yellow Buoy and the swimmers swimming toward it. In the shot below, taken from the same position, just a second or two later and with the telephoto lens back as near "normal" as it gets, you can hardly see the swimmers and the Yellow Buoy. This gives a clearer view of how far the buoy really is and, believe me, it looks even further away when you are in the water swimming to it!
In the photo above, the second group of swimmers are putting on their wetsuits and getting ready to pose for the camera below. No political statement was intended by posing in front of the "No Lifeguard On Duty" sign. In truth. when you swim with the West Neck Pod, its hard NOT to be swimming with numerous lifeguards, ex-lifeguards, competitive swimmers etc.
I can always count on Tim for a smile and a goodbye wave before he takes off!
Low tide at West Neck Beach is always a problem -- rocks, rocks, and more rocks -- all designed to hurt the tender feet of unwary swimmers. Chris has a very elegant solution. Check the photo above. Chris has some velcro fastened sandals which he just loops and fastens onto the buoy rope AFTER walking down the rock-filled beach in comfort. He does his swim, stops on the way back and picks up his sandals! What could be easier? OK, Method 2 below is to swim up to the beach with your feet out of the water! Works great until you actually get to the beach. This method is fine for High to medium tide but low tide -- not so good!
The last group is out and on their way!
Joye gives me a final wave... or, is she just fixing her goggles? No matter, an Open Water Swim with the sun shinning and the waters of Cold Spring Harbor as smooth as glass is a GREAT way to start Memorial Day 2010!
