Race day!

Don't really know how I got into open water swimming, but am so glad I did. What a fun and exhilirating way to get in some good exercise, have some healthy competition, and make perfect excuses to travel to beautiful destinations. I started ow swimming in the chilly waters of the San Francisco bay and wasn't quite prepared for the warm and clear waters of Hawaii. The temperature was easily in the upper 70s, warmer then my home town community pool. Though an easy entry into the water, after swimming just a few yards, it became almost too warm. The biggest bonus by far is the clarity of the water. For the most part, the course had us swimming over various coral reefs of all different depths. Saw a multitude of fish, tons of different types of corals, and most thrilling, at about half way through, a large sea turtle glided below me. I contemplated actually stopping to hang out with it! Clearly I was distracted and not exactly trying to break any records, but knew I could come back later in the day. The swim went well and finished with a respectful 14th place (of 36) in my age group. Something I was happy about, having just spent over a week out of the water and still nursing my ears back to health. And gives me a reason to come back next year to break my record.

I think I might go to Hawaii... tomorrow

Well, I'm all for last minute travel, but this was by far my most unexpected trip. I toyed with the idea of going to Hawaii earlier in the summer to take part in the North Shore swim series, but finding time off from work and settling on just one of the races seemed to be my biggest hurdle. Not wanting to miss out, I submitted my race entrance fee with a tbd race date and put trip planning on the back burner. Then, a week before one of the races, I feel ill and ruptured both ear drums. An excruciating experience I wish no one to go through. I all but sided my plans to go until my bored, bed ridden, self was browsing tripadvisor and kayak.com. The last minute deals on flights were too good to pass up, and an airbnb place opened up for another screaming deal. I booked them despite feeling too weak to walk, no less swim a few miles in the open water with ripped open ear drums. Maybe it was the thought of warm sand and clear blue waters, but miraculously the horrible ear pain and illness left just in time for me to board my flight. Ears were fine on the flight and I spent the next two days regaining my strength swimming along the shores of the North Shore of Oahu. Not a bad recovery room!

Fourth of July in Woodacre

What a fun little town! Just north of the city and through a few winding hills is a quirky and beautiful little town called woodacre. A good friend of mine moved up there a while ago, but I never had a chance to see the town. She invited me up for the fourth, but warned me that she would have to leave to ride her horse down main street for the parade. How cute! Ended up spending time at the barn afterward and falling in love with this town and it's amazing people.