Means Girls & Open Water Swimming

Bob: Have you warmed up, Neil?

Sprink: Sounds like there is more to this story…

Neil: There’s always more to the story

It had been a late night. We saw ‘Mean Girls’ and I may have had more than just one drink at Burma Love prior to the show. As for the show itself, Deb and I enjoyed the tremendous energy the musical brought to life reminding us of just how cruel high school can be. Everyone wants to fit in.

Swimming in the San Francisco Bay is pretty much the same – we all want to fit in. Since a few or maybe more than a few years have passed since finishing high school, however, we mostly have the confidence to find our station on our own terms. 

Darlene, Katie, Nira, Bob, and I met at 8:00 a.m. ready to embrace the Bay’s winter water. Blue skies and the hope of sunshine promised a warmer swim. Ha! Maybe not. The dock was cold – unusually cold. The few steps required after taking off the flip flops sent chills through my bones – real chills, not just a few annoying goose bumps popping out of my skin. Bob and I both noticed and commented quietly to each other. There was no need to bias everyone else’s headspace with thoughts of cold. But once we stepped onto the sandy beach, everyone noticed. Some walked right into the water while others stood at the water’s edge. 

We sniveled for a good five minutes. This snivel wasn’t the meager toes and ankle snivel. It was a snivel where I went past the point of no return. You can use your imagination to figure out what that means. 

Nira led us in the sea salutation. Making space for a sea salutation prior to the swim creates a moment in time to put your head in a good place. Swimmers can acknowledge the water will feel cold, their breath will be taken away, and after a few minutes, the water will have that welcoming feel. It’s that welcoming feel we all seek, knowing we have found peace while we swim. 

Sure enough, once the swim began, the water felt cold, my breath was taken away, and after passing by the Grace Quan, the water welcomed me with its comforting embrace. 

I slowly made my way to the opening. Darlene, Katie, and Bob took the lead while Nira waited for me. When we reached the opening, not only was the sun shining but the water was completely flat. There was no wind and no texture. It looked like glass. Alcatraz seemed closer than ever.

Not all the swimmers had mentally committed to swimming to the Creekers. Mid-way progress points like the first radio tower, the second radio tower, and even the elbow hung out as possible turn-around points. But once the endorphins kick in, most of us continue to the Creekers. Endorphins must have been flowing high because we all made it to the Creekers. 

Even though we swam into an ebb, it did not overpower or weaken our resolve to get to Creekers. We even stopped a few times to take in the view and notice a sea star along the breakwater. We checked in again at the Creekers and continued to chat a bit and swim a bit on the return leg to the opening. Along the way, we had a few westbound swells give us a gentle and fun push. The swell wasn’t quite enough to body surf – maybe next time it will be. 

The rest of our return remained magnificent and mostly unremarkable. Darlene, Katie, and Bob rode the current a bit to the west while Nira and I diverted to the Jacuzzi. I crabbed more to the east, and it seemed Nira rejoined the others near the Grace Quan. 

We all reached the beach together feeling fantastic from our fun swim together. Conditions and company could not have been better. 

So the long answer to Sprinks question: I felt a bit cold going up the stairs, so I went directly to the sauna where I sat warming for about an hour.