Archive for August, 2009

A dream came true for me this week. I swam the length of Lake Tahoe from Camp Richardson to Hyatt Beach, 21.55 miles in 10 hours and 50 minutes.  It was a 35 year dream in the making. I am in the process of writing a longer story with all of the details from the day but I wanted to post some pictures until I pull it all together. Most of all I would like to thank my crew. You made the impossible possible!

Here is a photo and video montage that I made from my lazy-boy recliner yesterday:

Wednesday came and went and the entire day I was glad that I was not in the water trying to cross the lake.  Everybody at work had a look of confusion on their faces when I showed up, “what are you doing here today, aren’t you suppose to be doing your swim?” At one point I walked to the end of the pier and stood there with the wind whipping around me and smiled. It was hard to make the decision to postpone but it was the right choice.

Plan B has now been put into motion. The sunny-side of this postponement is that Plan B is actually better than Plan A. Funny how that works… I am looking forward now and have set my sights on next Wednesday August 12th.  I wanted time to allow this freakish weather to pass by. The forecast is showing for some clearing next week and warmer temperatures. It is not a high pressure moving in that I had hoped for but it may just clear enough to allow me to make an attempt.

I appreciate all of the well wishes and thumbs up I have been receiving. The town is abuzz waiting to hear the outcome from my swim and that makes me feel great. My favorite support comes from my neighbors. Dave’s amazing optimism and philosophy regarding patience and respect has been very soothing. Renee is waiting, with butter and sugar in hand, ready to bake me any treat my heart desires. The best is my neighbor John who lives down the street and has been taking an extra lap around the block so that he can slow down, roll down his window and yell “Hey, get some rest!” whenever he sees my car is home. Thank you neighbors, you are making the waiting game fun and enlightening.

As of this morning the weather is not looking to  be in my favor for my Tahoe crossing on Wednesday.

Wednesday…Breezy. Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly cloudy. Highs 67 to 77. Light winds becoming southwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph in the afternoon. Ridge gusts up to 50 mph.

Wednesday Night…Breezy. Mostly cloudy. Lows 40 to 50. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph decreasing to around 10 mph after midnight.

At first it hurt, I felt really bummed. Then I remembered that in every disappointment there is an opportunity. I am not sure what the opportunity is at this moment but it will become clear at some point.  I am glad that I am not in a hotel room in Dover waiting to swim the English Channel. I will still be sleeping in my own bed while I wait.

So, the window is open now and I play the waiting game. I will reorganize, refocus and reenergize. My time will come.

Stay tuned!