I had an feathery experience while swimming in the ocean...at the beach in front of my house is a rock which, at high tide, I dive from. I swim a set number of strokes out, then swim back in.
So I've done about ten of these out and backs, and am feeling pretty winded. After swimming out again, I float on my back, recovering. An eagle dives down and swoops over me, about a metre above my body...I could see his belly, talons, tail feathers, etc so clearly! But it also spooked me! Thank goodness he didn't think I was a salmon...
Parents
Former Member
Don't think of it as scary. It's called being aware of all of our senses.
Last year at a stop on a marathon swim, with my body temp seriously low (I could have drilled a hole for an apple tree in 2 mins flat) I had to stop. So I sat with my crew on a tiny little island about 50meters from the mainland, at the 12.6km or halfway mark of the race. I cast my eyes down and there, right before all my senses was a hot steaming deposit. Aghast, and dumbfounded, I scanned to discover daily mounds of bear scat. This bear had enjoyed the fresh water crayfish daily, and by the looks of things wasn't far from where we were. Horrified, I asked if Bears can swim. And "obviously they can" was the reply as this island was too tiny for their survival. Now that was motivation to move on.
In the river beautiful sleek and happy fat brown trout flutter underneath me as I test my strength against the current, clams open and close in a cheering style and the freshwater crayfish wave me on determinedly as they mark thier territory. That's a real experience of being part of the water creatures environment, a whole lot of fun. Certainly makes me keep my head down looking for them all each time I am in the river.
Just think how many times would one ever think a splash from a kick in a chlorinated container of various dimensions would feel like a creature? (unless you have those lanemates who rely a bit on full contact to keep them in the lane, or have swimmers whose limbs require a lane and a half).
Instead of counting strokes inside, outside the focus is on cutting through the water stealithly, out swimming those creatures and trying not to look like an item on a menu, or part of the food chain. And keeping the imagination and adrenlaine just bubbling calmly beneath the surface.
(So Ralph and the Moose don't surface)
I maintain that pools need a little mechanical creature that pops out, chases, even touches, so others can get a suprise charge of adrenalin. Imagine how PB's would plummet.
But we have the stories, those who swim outside the lines.
This year I had 5 USMS swimmers join in our 10 and 26km open water swims. Experiencing the rugged beauty and wildlife.
Keep these swims in kind for next year. July 17th a 10km or 6.25mile swim, and August 12th a 26km or 16.2 mile swim.
Plus there will be some Open Water Camps, 2 weekend camps and a full week to hone those skills and polish up your story telling abilities
;) :p
Don't think of it as scary. It's called being aware of all of our senses.
Last year at a stop on a marathon swim, with my body temp seriously low (I could have drilled a hole for an apple tree in 2 mins flat) I had to stop. So I sat with my crew on a tiny little island about 50meters from the mainland, at the 12.6km or halfway mark of the race. I cast my eyes down and there, right before all my senses was a hot steaming deposit. Aghast, and dumbfounded, I scanned to discover daily mounds of bear scat. This bear had enjoyed the fresh water crayfish daily, and by the looks of things wasn't far from where we were. Horrified, I asked if Bears can swim. And "obviously they can" was the reply as this island was too tiny for their survival. Now that was motivation to move on.
In the river beautiful sleek and happy fat brown trout flutter underneath me as I test my strength against the current, clams open and close in a cheering style and the freshwater crayfish wave me on determinedly as they mark thier territory. That's a real experience of being part of the water creatures environment, a whole lot of fun. Certainly makes me keep my head down looking for them all each time I am in the river.
Just think how many times would one ever think a splash from a kick in a chlorinated container of various dimensions would feel like a creature? (unless you have those lanemates who rely a bit on full contact to keep them in the lane, or have swimmers whose limbs require a lane and a half).
Instead of counting strokes inside, outside the focus is on cutting through the water stealithly, out swimming those creatures and trying not to look like an item on a menu, or part of the food chain. And keeping the imagination and adrenlaine just bubbling calmly beneath the surface.
(So Ralph and the Moose don't surface)
I maintain that pools need a little mechanical creature that pops out, chases, even touches, so others can get a suprise charge of adrenalin. Imagine how PB's would plummet.
But we have the stories, those who swim outside the lines.
This year I had 5 USMS swimmers join in our 10 and 26km open water swims. Experiencing the rugged beauty and wildlife.
Keep these swims in kind for next year. July 17th a 10km or 6.25mile swim, and August 12th a 26km or 16.2 mile swim.
Plus there will be some Open Water Camps, 2 weekend camps and a full week to hone those skills and polish up your story telling abilities
;) :p
