In a perfect world, what off shore, ocean, lake, river or bay swims would you like to participate in? San Francisco swimmers have San Francisco Bay, Chicago swimmers have Lake Michigan....etc My question is, does anyone else out there dream of swimming their local bodies of water, and if so, what events would you like to swim in? Everytime I drive past the Ohio river, I think how neat it would be to swim in a Ohio River swim.
Former Member
Sometimes the Ohio River looks so pretty. but, the bacteria levels in the water are a major health hazard. The levels are often so high that the local news will launch warnings not to touch the water (especially during warmer months with boating, etc). This is a sad reality. But, if that weren't the case, it would be awesome to do a bridge to bridge swim in cincinnati.
Also, eastfork lake in this area is beautiful--but I don't really know if there are in fact races/swims there or not. But that would be awesome!!!
A long swim down the Juniata and Susquehanna rivers, finishing in Harrisburg, PA. Not sure about dams and such and the level of farm run-off is probably scary. That, plus the Susquehanna, while quite broad, is often very shallow. This stretch is canoeable, I'm told.
Swatara Creek between Annville, PA and Middletown, PA. A Slow lazy creek with some depth and a few dams, but too much farm run-off. Great place to canoe.
Green Pond in New Jersey. It's about 2-3 miles in length and very clean, and I've wanted to swim it since my grandparents owned a house there about 30 years ago. It's private, however. Of course, it would be "Jersey legal" to swim it. (i.e. Legal as long as you don't get caught.)
A race ACROSS the Hudson near the Tappan Zee bridge area. Don't know why, but it looks so cool (and rough). Probably have to start some miles upriver from the finish to make it given the current.
From Sandy Hook, NJ to Manhattan Beach, Queens in NYC - duplicating Matthew Webb's (first to cross the English Channel) swim of the late 1870's.
The length of Lake Champlain in stages. Lake George, too.
From Ireland to Skellig (an island, ~8 miles). Cold & rough, though.
Across the Straits of Gibraltar.
