DF9 about to jump

Photo by Allen Luong (2009)

DF9 Team:

Dusty Nickel

Tom Linthicum

Paul Saab

Paul Springer

Michele Deasey

Cathy Delneo

Darrin Connolly

Joe Butler

Karen Rogers

Mission – Point Bonita to SERC

My eyes opened at 2:57 this morning. Just 3 minutes prior to my alarm going off. This is a good sign for me because for some reason if I wake up by my alarm I always feel as though I didn’t get enough sleep or that I overslept. I always like to play a mind game with myself and as I set my alarm, I set my internal clock for the same time. 9 times out of 10 I am able to wake with out the alarm.

I took an inventory of how I was feeling after a rather sleepless night of tossing and turning in anticipation for the swim today. I didn’t feel too bad. Not too tired and my body felt great. I had premeditated my morning routine the prior day and I jumped right up and got to work. I made a pot of coffee and started a pot of water boiling. I filled my thermos with hot water and used the rest to make some oatmeal. I mixed my bottles with cytomax and accelerade and contemplated how I was going to keep them warm with out having to ask my kayak pilot to be mixing bottles in the middle of the bay. I figured that even if they were kind of warm when I had them that would be fine. I did a little stretching, packed my bag, put on my suit and headed out to see if it was still raining like it was the night before. It was not instead I saw stars and the full moon in front of me. I started singing.

Take a little time for sunshine,

Take a whole lot of time for love,

Take time to praise them things,

In heaven up above,

Take your life as it may come,

Because boy it will be gone soon,

TAKE A LITTLE TIME FOR HOWLIN’ AT THE MOON!

I was fortunate enough to be staying in the hotel right across the street from the South End Rowing Club so my commute was nil. I knew the only thing I was going to miss about not driving was the ability to crank the tunes on the drive, so I had done that in my hotel room probably to the chagrin of my neighbors. I was hoping to feel a little bit more energetic at this point but felt very serene instead.

I entered into the locker room and saw Michele and Cathy getting ready to go. I went up to the day room and could feel the buzz of everyone. I tried to calm myself a little figuring it was still many hours before I entered the water. I have a tendency to start producing all of the right brain chemicals at the wrong time during these types of swims.

Bobby greeted me with a big smile. I knew he had worked very hard to have all of the details in place. So, after signing a waiver I took a seat and tried to calm my breathing.

Everyone slowly started to arrive.

Bobby did a roll call and confirmed that each swimmer knew which pod they were swimming in and who their pilots were. He did a briefing for everyone and then sent us on our way toward the Happy Days boat. All of the kayaks entered the water from the club and met us over at the end of the Hyde Street Pier. Joe did a count as we entered the boat and then helped load the kayaks on board and we were off.

I must admit at this point I was feeling a little sick to my stomach because of nerves but I never considered that a little while later I would be sea sick too. Michele had the perfect plan, which was as soon as we got on the boat she feel fast asleep and didn’t have to experience the rocking of the boat after we passed the Golden Gate Bridge. I thought it was only me that was feeling a little sick and I didn’t want to hurl in front of anyone, only to find out most everyone else was feeling the same way. I looked around the boat and saw that most faces were a shade paler and some had a green tinge to them. For some reason this made me feel better.

We arrived at Point Bonita just as the sun was starting to light the sky. I could see the beach and I knew that we had a plan to jump in and swim to the beach and start from there, but since I was a part of the last pod to leave the beach, I really just wanted to jump and leave from the boat. I asked Bobby to please not hold us up on the beach for too long because I wasn’t looking forward to standing there soaking wet shivering. We all started to prepare, put our ear plugs in, our caps on, made sure our goggle were adjusted properly and then the energy of the boat really started to ramp up. Bobby started the loud clap and started saying his famous line “Yeah Baby, Yeah”. We all started to buzz with excitement and then posed for a few pictures. Jeany stood in front of us with her camera and said “could you guys all look a little less scared for the picture”. This is when I discovered that I was not the only one petrified.

Each pod started to enter the water and right as I was making my way to the back of the boat Cathy said “I feel like I am going to throw up”. I took comfort again in knowing that she was feeling just like me. I told her that I planned on puking in the water and then I would feel better. As soon as I hit the water that feeling went right away.

As I stood on the beach and looked back toward the city the sky was every color of hot pink and orange right above the skyline. Whoa! Am I really going to do this? What the hell am I thinking? No need to see if everyone was feeling the same way, I bet they were. One horn went off, two horns went off and three meant it was time to go. I pushed forward into the water and something very smooth and slippery swam right past me. Oh gosh not the best way to start a long swim. I caught my breath and started to turn over my arms as fast as I could. The waves were very large, much larger than anything I had ever swum. I was waving to my pilot only to realize he was looking back at the beach trying to find me. Once he saw me he paddled up to me as fast as he could. The waves were very large and Kyle was having a hard time staying with me. There was a moment in which I couldn’t see him or any of the other swimmers and I felt a bit of panic. From the swimmers prospective you can’t see much on top of the water even though Kyle could see where I was. I really wanted to stay with my pod and I could see Michelle behind and to my right, Darrin was beside me and to my right. This worked perfect because every time I took a breath I was mostly looking behind me to see how big the next wave was going to be and to see if I could catch any of them and body surf a little forward instead of having them crash on me and needing to swim through them. This worked for a little while and then I lost Michelle in my peripheral view. Darrin was now on my left and I took comfort in seeing him.

We pushed forward swimming directly south with the intention of the flood pushing us east to the mid span of the Golden Gate bridge. This was our plan at least. At one point I do believe that I turned toward the north thinking that I had swum south for too long and I didn’t want to end up near the south tower. The waves were really big and I kept hitting piles or nests of reeds and seaweed. One time I was completely tangled and started to turn over even faster to see if I could break free. I did it with out a problem but wanted to avoid that feeling again. As we neared the bridge I could feel the push of the water from behind me but it was pushing me forward into a wall of water that was coming straight at me. What the hell was going on? Hell being the proper word here. I thought to myself I have entered the depths of hell and now I am expected to swim through it. I took solace in the fact that I could see Darrin’s yellow cap bob up and down near me every now and again. We were caught in a wicked current and the zodiac circled us giving hand signals to our pilots to take us over to the north a little. I thought it was because of the currents but later found out it was because a large taker was coming toward the bridge. I never saw it, thank goodness. I didn’t need to add to my scenario of the depths of hell at that point. The bridge was coming closer quickly again after we broke free of the situation we had got ourselves into. I thought to myself a few more strokes and don’t forget to flip on your back to take a look at the bridge from directly below.

I gave a loud “Yeah Baby, Yeah” as I crossed under and remembered I had told my pilot to feed me at this point. I just wanted to keep going but needed some liquid. Kyle handed me my bottle and I saw that Darrin was feeding at the same time. He drank quickly and swam off. I didn’t want to lose him so I took another gulp threw the bottle back and swam into what seemed like the smoothest cloud in heaven. It was amazing that just on the other side of the bridge it was as smooth as glass. I felt as though I had just been squeezed through a tube of toothpaste.

I took a breath to my right and saw the jolly smiling face of Colin. He was wearing his hat straight up and I could see his beautiful smile looking down at me. Here was my angel to help guide Kyle and I back to the club. This is when I could really feel the push of the flood and I could see Alcatraz in the distance moving closer quickly. Colin gave me a hand signal to turn right and we started to swim directly towards the Palace of Fine Arts. I realized that we were way out to the north and it was going to take some turnover to move across the flood. I had Kyle on my left and Colin on my right and I thought here is my chance to really get moving. I put my head down and started sprinting. Well, more like continued sprinting except with the smooth water I really felt like I was moving. I was able to get into a perfect rhythm and lifted my head forward only now and again to watch the Palace of Fine Arts turn into Yacht Harbor and then Couglin Beach and then I could see the white buildings of Fort Mason. Even though we were still way the heck out in the middle there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to hit the opening to Aquatic Park straight on. I wanted to stop for a little more liquid and some GU except I was afraid that I would continue to move east and miss the opening and swimming back to the opening was not an option for me. I felt like I was flying. Colin and Kyle were talking and enjoying the paddle. They looked so happy, Father and Son enjoying a beautiful day in a beautiful place. I felt protected and could feel their happy energy.

I kept moving forward and then I could see Muni Pier. I was so happy to see it. In my eyes the decrepit sides were perfect and smooth. It looked new and refurbished and then there was the opening. Darrin and I came around the corner at the same time and rolled on our backs to hoot and holler. That is when the swim was complete for me. I know we still had to swim through the cove to the club but all of the hard work was behind us now.

I exited the water to see Trudy and the crew waving and yelling. I think I was smiling, actually I think that after I had been plucked from the depths of hell and deposited into the smoothest cloud in heaven I had a smile frozen on my face. I stood up and remembered the best part of the swim was walking into the sauna. As I sat in the sauna Karen came in with a tin of candied ginger and told me with the biggest smile and the warmest heart that it would warm me from the inside out. It was the best thing I have ever tasted in my life. Michelle came in with a shivering smile and began the warm up process. Cathy came in with a perma-grin on her face and did a little dance. I think she had just stepped off the same cloud I had been on.

We all told our stories in the sauna and joined everyone else at the Mermaid for breakfast to hear their stories.

As always I have been changed forever by this experience. This is just one story from an amazing day and I’m sticking to it!

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