July 24, 2016 2nd Half of 2016 CT River Swim season
When I get to re-read this someday, I will be reminded of just how much of a challenge it is to compete with myself and with Mother Nature who has made me aware, once again, that she wins 100% of the time.
Last week, I had the lofty plan of going to the CT Lakes region to swim Lake Francis and Lakes 1, 2 & 3. The plan seemed good at the time. As it turned out, I was able to barely complete Lake Francis. Everything I read and learned was that it was the hardest to deal with as it runs east & west, unlike the CT Lakes that run more or less north to south. The warning is that east to west brings the most wind, currents and cross-currents.
I was not disappointed. I got the works thrown at me – entering the lake at the Lake Francis campground and swimming to the boat launch near the dam. The first mile was good then things went to hell in a handbasket. Sudden winds and opposing current turned the next ~4 miles into an almost impossible task. Then the cross currents kicked in, a dynamic I have never dealt with. Wind at my face, current almost directly opposing me and then currents from the water side pushing me toward shore. This is the first time I felt like I might be in over my head. Cold water seems to promote leg cramps. I finally finished but due to heavy leg cramps along the way, decided to not go for the other 3 lakes – kind of live to fight another day thing. That was last Sunday.
This past Thursday, I decided to close an unfinished gap from Holyoke Dam to Chicopee, MA. About 4.5 miles but turned into 5.5 miles. The rapids below the dam were not initially as extended downstream to where they had been a few weeks ago that kept me from doing this stretch. I can think about how nice the water was (70-ish) and very hot (80’s) and going along at a good clip without riffles or rapids but with a nice current. Then, the you-know-what hit the fan. I came around a bend in the middle of the river and saw ahead to riffles giving way to at least class 1 & 2 rapids with nowhere to go but along for the ride. Head first so I can use my gloved hands (and wet suit) to push off of rocks and boulders, always looking for flat water to push toward, moving at a very fast pace. This was not swimming, more like being in a washing machine.
This went on for almost a mile and then finally a reprieve. Just as I was moving toward calmer water, the river narrowed and then it became much worse – straight to class 2 & 3 (for about 200 yards). I was tossed and turned and really beat up but able to push away from harm’s way. Old training (very old) kicked in: stay calm, protect the head & core. If you break a bone in an arm or leg, you will at least survive. As I write this, it sounds dramatic –nothing dramatic about it– I will not forget this ever! Bruised and beat up, but as I was dropped into flat water for a few miles, I was smiling. Surviving intact has a good sound to it.
Shortly after, a rower in a scull from a boathouse downstream stopped to ask if I was ok from the rapids – I had become his morning entertainment. We talked for a while and he mentioned that the outriggers on his boat had floats to avoid tipping because he had no feeling in his lower body but could row – his one source of independence and exercise. He was almost 70 and happy to do what he was doing. He wished he could do what I was doing and I wished I could do what he was doing. You meet some great people on the river. Nice reminder of why I was doing this.
The rest of the swim was fun. There were more boats and kayaks, including teenagers who were really interested in what I was doing.
Now is the time I need to remember yesterday: Saturday. I drove back up to the Lakes Region and decided to start with CT River Lake 1 then go to Lake 2 and end with Lake 3. The road to hell is really paved with good intentions.
CT River Lake 1 felt colder than Lake Francis last week. Turns out it was, probably 50 degrees-ish. My gear is able to handle into the 40’s so I was not concerned. Well, this is where Mother Nature got the best of me, again. At about 2 hours and well into a 3rd mile, the one thing swimmers need to always pay attention to is teeth chattering. Serious leg cramps and chattering made me realize that I was not going to complete this. Your body is giving way to lower body temperature, always a bad sign. I swam to a guy who had a Red Sox cap on (so I knew he was a civilized person)! Asked if he would give me a lift to where I entered, which he was happy to do.
During the boat ride to my car, I decided to give up the remaining Lakes in favor of swimming the River below. I made four attempts (2,400 miles of driving) and tried to beat cold water into submission. So my new plan is to not be quite as lofty with my new plan. The new plan is to stay away from riffles & rapids of any class.
Hard to believe this all happened in 7 days.
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Periodically throughout the summer we will be featuring accounts from long distance swimmer, Rick Wright. Rick contacted us this spring to ask us about specifics concerning the northern stretches of the Connecticut River and to purchase a CT River Paddler’s Trail Map in preparation for swimming the full length of the river from the Quebec border to Long Island Sound. Rick, who is 72, started on his journey last year, swimming 50 miles of the CT river between Hartford and Old Saybrook CT over 8 days in the summer of 2015. Stay tuned for more news from Rick over the course of the summer!