IN the 1990s I got really good at swimming as I got a season pass every summer for a huge open water swimming hole, a flooded rock Quarry. Its called Beaver Dam Swim club in Cockeysville Maryland and it was the greatest place in the world in summer those days.
Every Sept when still hot we would go down Ocean City Assateague Island camping on beach and swim out miles with no lifeguard every morning and afternoon.,
It was such a thrill to feel so comfortable so far out in the water, we also did some night swimming.
Well back in 2000 due to a cold very rainy summer I got little practice that year, we went down to Ocean city in Sept and I went out when it was windy and the waves were huge.
This was the first time I thought “I may die here” as the huge waves crashed down me and I struggled to swim back up for some air.
I managed to stay calm so as not to surely drown and I worked my way in slowly, heart racing and out of breath.
It took a while after that before I felt comfortable in deep water again. That was a close one.
I know of that swim.
I use to live in Greenville/Centerville, DE.
I’d spend summer at Rehobeth/Lowes and walk the board walk.
Yer a lucky bass terd.
I always wanted to do that swim.
my friends thought it was crazy.
I replied “Uhm, the horses do it and I’m a considerably better swimmer”.
One dork responded “Well, they are better swimmers naturally”
“Yeah” I snidely responded “Tell Mark Spitz. I ain’t never seen horses racing against a man”...
I should go back and do that swim.
If you are still in the area next year I’ll ping you and we’ll do it together with the other morons who do it each year.
Besides, that water is way warmer than the waters of Santa Cruz, CA.
Sounds like a tough day.
Mine took me almost a mile downshore, as I swam perpendicular to the shoreline and plane out to keep the rip tide off me.
I was tired and once I reached the shore I ran back to my friends who wanted to know why I swam all the way past the natural bridge.
I blew it off, knowing I got lucky to have been trained on that just a week before and told them what happened.
I was known as “Idiot”, respectfully, for the rest of they day as we scoped out girls on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Fried artichoke hearts and french fries where so damn good that day.
Worked up an appetite...