The first thing we do when we get to San Francisco each year is walk the trail that leads from the Sutro Baths to Land's End in Lincoln Park. It ends up here. The views along the bluff are amazing and we never tire of it. It's only a three mile round trip, but this year we tagged on another mile or so through the SeaCliff neighborhood, where I can gawk at mansions and manicured gardens and only imagine what it would be like to live in such beauty and splendor.
We then drove down to Fisherman's Wharf to find the meet up point for our swim, early on Saturday morning. Because of conflicting schedules with this year's
Sharkfest event, we are unable to swim it, so looked for another way to get into the bay this summer.
A few years ago I met Pedro of
Water World Swim on the beach in Aquatic Park just after he finished his 500th swim from Alcatraz. We had just completed our 7th and 5th the day before. My husband and I congratulated him after the media left and he handed me his swim cap, inquired about our crossings and introduced us to his wife. His accomplishment didn't take precendent as we chatted, and I admire him for that.
I knew that he and his organization trained people to swim without fear in Aquatic Park and hosted training swims out in the bay. What I didn't know was that they take up to 20 people monthly out to Alcatraz and provide boat and Coast Guard support (if needed) for swimmers. Many are first timers. Many are not. We signed up.
Not being a race, the feeling of getting together with 12 other crossers was different for us. It was pretty low-key. A few experienced swimmers who get to train in the cold water were going for their first "skin" crossing. A few were trying it for the first time. A few were "old hands" and use this as their morning workout.
We milled around, drank hot beverages (what did Mark Twain say about San Francsico? "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." I believe it now!) chatted with other swimmers (two brothers from Germany!) and tried to think of flat water without strong current.
Here is Pedro explaining flood and ebb tides and what landmarks to shoot for so you won't get pulled all the way to the Bay Bridge!
Yes I was cold-and possibly a little nervous...you can't get cocky about swimming in the bay, no matter how many times you've made it to Aquatic Park.
Going out to the island on a small fishing boat is much faster than a ferry, and all of a sudden we heard the captain say "five minutes-be ready to jump in five minutes!"
As early as we were (it was just after 7 a.m.), fishing boats were already near Alcatraz, lines in, with fishermen staring at us in orange caps like we were from another planet.
First come, first serve I guess, so we had to start in front of them, which put us further away from Alcatraz, which means our swim that day was going to be short. Probably by a half a mile.
Some were relieved. Some couldn't have cared less. My husband and I-well, we were vocal about it and felt a bit cheated.
The swim took us a little over a half an hour. It was warm this year (about 60 someone said!) and I was never cold like I have been in the past. And we did hit some strong current about a quarter mile from the breakwall, so we felt like we had a bit of a challenge anyway.
Hubby ended up way left of it- and I could see where he was so didn't opt to follow him. I chose my line pretty well this time around and was second woman up on the beach. But it wasn't a race, so people were relishing the experience, as well they should. I don't think I will count it as a full swim from Alcatraz however. Because it wasn't the full distance.
It's not everyday we get to swim in San Francisco Bay.
But if we lived there, it just might very well be a morning workout.
