How about some reminiscing about the worst pools you ever were forced to work out and/or compete in ??
Our old pool was 20 yards long, with gutters and the deck was about 2 feet above that. The water level was always low, so it was like ocean swimming every day. There were no starting blocks and the "lane lines" were nylon cord with a plastic bobber every 3 feet or so. The water was always quite warm to accomodate the family swims and lessons that were also sharing the pool during the day.
Since goggles had not yet been invented and the only antiseptic method was chlorine (lots of it), we would have those chlorine "light halos" until the next day. The kick-boards were solid, varnished wood and they doubled as pull-buoys. There were no fins or hand paddles.
Thank the higher power of your choice that we had a GREAT coach.
Oh, did I mention that they used to beat us with knives???
Bert
In the 1940s I was a lifeguard during the summer in an outdoor pool in West Virginia. No filter, drained once per week, always cold, always over chlorinated and to top all this off by mid-week you could not see more than six inches down from the top of the water. How did we keep people from drowning? It is a total mystery to me!
In the 1940s I was a lifeguard during the summer in an outdoor pool in West Virginia. No filter, drained once per week, always cold, always over chlorinated and to top all this off by mid-week you could not see more than six inches down from the top of the water. How did we keep people from drowning? It is a total mystery to me!
