Early morning open water swimming in late summer

Swimming in the lake (Lake Washington) is one of the big pleasures of staying fit and triathlon training. Come spring I can hardly wait to get out of the pool and into the lake.

No chlorine, no lane lines, no walls, just open water. Sometimes there is rough water so I get to deal with it. Early and late in the year the water is cold so I get to deal with post-swim shivering.

But it's all worth it.

When the water is mirror-like and the sun is rising it's just out of this world.

Oh, my, then when the water warms up enough to swim without a wetsuit it's erotic to feel the water flowing across my skin. There's that little period in late July and early August when the water temperature is just perfect for rubber free swimming and when my soul just soars.

Then there's that late summer, early fall time of the year when the lake is still warm enough for swimming and the weather hasn't all gone to pot, but it's dark in the morning.

That's when we break out the lights and swim with illuminated swim buoys.

By inserting a blinking bike headlight into a swim buoy you end up with a flashing beacon to drag along while swimming. 

It's magic and safety all rolled into one; out of this world.