Bring on the Bay has been and gone

Nepean Sailing Club

Friday night was the kit pick-up and the club house was bustling with the regular "sailors" and their mates, along with the folks from Easter Seals who in conjunction with Bushtukah were hosting the Bring on the Bay as part of their regatta weekend.  Tables were laden with the silent auction items and I must say, some of the items were to die for!

The kit bag is literally a bag!  A fantastic swim bag which will be put to great use in the future.

I arrived bright and early (well, not that early) to the sailing club for my first ever 3k Open Water Swim.  Many of the 284 swimmers were already there and awaiting the start.  I met up with some friends, obtained my chip timer, gave my swim bag to one of the many helpful volunteers and made my way to the water.  Most folks were in wetsuits but just as many were not.  (I was not)

Since I really wasn't sure what to expect I seeded myself well to the back and off to the side as it had been suggested.  (Note to self, you don't need to be that far back!).  We waited for sometime in the water because they hadn't anticipated so many swimmers this year and it took forever for everyone to get their chips on and ready to go.  There was a bit of delay but really it didn't matter...this event is for such a good cause and most folks were in party mode.  

The gun went off, the sirens were shrieking and the on lookers were cheering.  We were OFF

The course was well marked and well supported with kayaker's, catamaran's, police boats and other Emergency Rescue Boats.  The really fast swimmer's were gone and I just started my swim.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day. Hot, hot, hot and sunny, there wasn't a breath of wind.  The river was so calm it was almost eerie.   I've seen that river show her true self but today she was behaving.  My swim was steady and peaceful, exactly the way I had wanted it to be.

When I arrived at the ladder to exit the swim, I felt around for the first rung to put my foot on and I immediately got a full leg cramp.  Un-freeking-believable!  I made the swim in an hour and eleven minutes and had to wait what seemed like forever to get up the ladder to stop the timer.   A very kind gentleman said to me as I stood on the bottom of the ladder "great swim my dear, but you need to climb up to stop the timer"....I had several reply's rolling around in my head, but luckily not off my tongue.  I politely looked up at him and smiled and said "I seem to have a leg cramp".  Finally it subsided and I made the climb to the top to receive my medal....chip time 1:12.

to be continued...

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Three Things Thursday

• We have been having some crazy summer weather here.  It has been hot, hot, hot and humid.  My kind of summer!  For the past few days we have been having major thunderstorms in the afternoon and they are calling for another Boomer today.  Yesterday I came home to find that my patio furniture had been blown right off the deck.  Patio table, cast-iron umbrella stand, chairs, plants all scattered in various locations in my backyard.  The umbrella was over the cedar hedge and broken.  The wind even blew over my birdbaths!   Ahhhhh, you've got to love Mother Nature.

• Last weekend was the longest consecutive cycle I have ever done in my life.  An unsupported 250K through Up State New York.  We left from Kingston, Ontario taking a ferry across to Wolfe Island, cycled across the island to catch another ferry that would take us to the States.  We cycled from Cape Vincent to Sacket's Harbour, around the peninsula then off to Watertown where we stayed over night.  The next day was Watertown to Alexandria Bay.  Day three brought us back to the ferry to cross out of the United States back to Wolfe Island and then to Kingston.   Was I prepared for it?  Kinda, sorta.  What I wasn't prepared for was the speed of the other cyclists, the HILLS and not stopping for breaks every 20K, (that's for wimps).  What had been advertised as a 21 - 24K tour pace, turned into the other cyclists averaging 28 - 34+Km per hour.  Needless to say I was left in the dust, but what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.  I did it and I'm very proud of myself for digging deep and mustering through it.  (report to follow).

• This coming weekend is the ride for the MS Society of Canada.  It is a fully supported 175K cycle tour and a cause which is close to my heart.  A former work colleague who became a great friend has MS and I'm cycling for her.    Having multiple sclerosis means that you may suddenly have blurry vision. Or that your memory will fail you for no apparent reason. Or that you may not always be able to walk, let alone ride a bike. The symptoms of MS are different, and devastating, for everyone - the only certainty is that it will affect yet another person every hour of every day. 
  If you find it in your heart to make a donation towards the MS Society of Canada, you can find my donation page here.   I THANK YOU in advance.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Wordless Wednesday