I did a search in the forums, and didn't find answers in one easy spot. Or many answers for that matter.
I may be moving to the DC metro area soon, and would like to be able to swim OW a couple times a week at least. Looks like there aren't many options. Hoping some masters swimmers already living in the area have experience in trying to swim in the following areas. Mostly interested if lifeguards/forest rangers/park rangers will mess with you, and/or if they'll require you stay in a small roped-off area:
1) Lake Audobon (I know about the Reston-sponsored races, but has anyone swum in this lake on their own?)
2) Burke Lake
3) Potomac River (supposedly, if you have an escort in a two-seat kayak, authorities won't mess with you. Truth to this?)
4) Sandy Run
5) Patuxent River area
6) Lake Accotink
7) Lake Braddock
8) Lake Royal
9) Lake Barcroft
10) Any others?
Appreciate the locals' knowledge and advice. The wife and I have to practice escorting for an upcoming long swim (Swim the Suck in October), so would be nice to have an OW lake or river to practice in!
Sorry no experience myself swimming OW. But I believe Kurt Thiel and Denis Crean and experts on OW in the DC area. Kurt spoke at length at the last Potomac Valley board meeting about OW events and seemed to know alot about it.
I've been to Burke Lake many times, lots of fisherman but never seen a swimmer in the water. There are signs up all over saying no swimming.
I pulled this straight off the Potomac Valley club website so that might be an option in the summer and fall:
Gunston Cove, Lorton Virginia
Coached and monitored Open Water training from mid-May through late November on calm, safe Gunston Cove, at the head of Pohick Bay, about 20 miles south of DC. Access is via private, waterfront community beach. Swims are twice a month, on selected Saturday or Sunday mornings from 7:45 - 9:45 am. Schedule of swims to be published in April at http://www.cubu-masters.org website.
Contact: Frank Marcinkowski, 703-582-0429
