Back to the Dryrobe

Cold water season is officially under way. Today I went to a merfolk dinner party, that was a lot of fun, and then after a group of us went to the lake. The water was about 62 according to the fish momiter. We swam from the dock to the boat club and went down their slide. After, I jumped off the platform, which seemed a little less scary than it has other times. They were having a party at the club - probably the end of season thing, but we it sounded like they were having a lot of fun and wouldn't notice us. A couple leaving did see us, but they didn't do anything about it. Super fun!

I finally decided to bite the bullet and try hot yoga with my favorite yoga teacher, since she stopped teaching at the old place at the end of June, and I feel like crap when I don't get my yoga fix. I went on Friday, and it was a success! It was more "pretty warm" yoga - I was sweating, but not dripping sweat in a disgusting way. It was nice to get the week out of my body, and I just like doing yoga in a studio with other people so much more than at home. Friday after work isn't a bad time for it, and I can probably go to the lake right after. So, I'm gonna stick with it. It felt so good to be back in her class! 

Crystal Lake

I went swimming in a new spot today - Crystal Lake. I've known about the lake for a while, but it seemed really complicated to park, and like swimming was just for residents of the town, and you had to pay. But, it turns out that all ends after Labor Day - today parking was abundant and free! And the lake was nice - small and cute, but the water was clear and it was easy to access and a nice stop on the way home from work.

One of my swim friends posted in messenger that she was going to go there. I had been planning for Walden, but I thought "why not try it?" It's not exactly on the way home from work, but it's only 20 minutes from work, and could be a good location for when sunset is earlier and I can't park at Walden. There is a town beach, but the parking gate was open, there was no charge to park, and it was pretty empty. I asked someone there and he said he's never seen the gate locked. From the lot it was a short walk to the very small beach. 

The lake itself is about a quarter of a mile across in the longest direction, and about .75 mile if you were to swim around the edges. Today I swam across the widest part and back, for about a .5 mile swim. It took about 25 minutes, so maybe I'm getting a little faster? I practiced reaching forward with my hand before the stroke, and making a paddle with my arm.

The water was about 66 degrees, and it felt really cold when we got in. So funny to think that will seem warm in the spring! We chatted and did breast stroke for a little bit, but then I really wanted to get some more fast paced swimming in. We both really liked the lake, and plan to go back! 

Crawl Stroke Refinement

I'm finally feeling better after two weeks of COVID and recovery. That was one tough virus for sure, it's nice to be feeling human again! Today I had my first swim lesson of a new session, and it was again really good! There were two new instructors (new to me), both of whom were really great. We started by swimming 4 lengths of the pool as a warm up, and then they divided us into two groups, and I was with the more advanced group! Then we spent the rest of the class doing drills, all of which I could spend a lot of time on, so I want to remember them.

First we worked with the kickboard and just kicked. I think I don't kick from my glutes enough, and I keep my legs a little too stiff in an effort to use the entire leg. Then, we used the pool bouys that go between your legs so you don't need to kick and can focus on just your arms. That's hard. Next, we did the drill where you are on one side, with your arm in front and your legs kicking. That's really hard, and then you swim back with the other arm in front. It works on kicking and body position. 

After that, we catch up hands, several times. The instructor said that my left hand was dipping and not reaching forward, which was surprising to me since I've been focused on my right hand so much. I guess the left hand needs some love too! It's in, forward and then stroke - really reaching to get more distance forward. Then we did the same thing but focused on exit from the water and making sure to do the full stroke. After, we used the pool bouys again and focused on not crossing our bodies with our arms so we could get more power.

Then he had us practice back stroke kicking, and I really didn't get much power and was super slow. Then, we did the same drill where you are on one side, with your arm in front and your legs kicking, but on your back. He said that by working on back stroke you improve front stroke - I feel like you could do that by working on front stroke, but he seemed to know what he was talking about, so I guess I will practice it.

We finished with a couple laps just to pull it all together. Of course, you can't work on everything at once, but I would like to do these drills some when I practice. And, I think continuing to focus on the entry into the water and stretching forward is a good exercise for me, as well as getting the full stroke and making sure to get all the way back.

Tomorrow I have to go back to work in person. Sigh, not excited about that. But, it's good to feel better again.

Icelandic Adventures

In addition to hiking the Laugavegur Trail, I went to Silfra where I snorkled between two techtonic plates, went to a public pool with a hot tub and cold plunge, went to the Blue Lagoon, and then I wound up sleeping on the floor of the Keflavik airport. I also used a scooter to go from the natural history museum to a cafe, with questionable results.

Snorkling in Silfra was definitely Type 2 Fun - they put you in warm overalls and a dry suit, and then rubber band your neck and wrists really tight. Then you wait in line for about 20 minutes to get in the water. It's really hot while you are waiting, but the water is really cold - around 37 degrees. Sadly, as I got into the water I could feel my left arm leaking - it was like a chilly blast leaking up my arm and then down to my body. With all the cold weather swimming, I was at least able to deal with it, but we were in the water for about 30 minutes, which is a long time with that level of cold! All the equipment that they gave me was too big, so my mask leaked too. Besides these rather large issues, the snorkling was amazing - the water was so clear and it was really cool looking at the rocks and such. Definitely a touristy thing, and expensive, not sure I would recommend it. After I went to a gyser and a pretty water fall in the "golden circle." 

My one Reykjavik day I walked to a public pool and alternated between the hot tub and cold plunge. It was amazing! I started and ended with the hot tub. The first time I went into the cold plunge, I stayed in for less than a minute - I thought I was losing my cold water mojo, but then each subsequent time I was able to stay in longer, until I got to about 4 minutes for the last plunge. After I walked back to my hotel and took a nap, I was so tired!

On my last day I went to the Blue Lagoon, which was also amazing and very touristy. I stayed in until my fingers were like prunes, got out and ate, and then went back for another 30 minutes or so. It was super windy by the end of the time I was there, and when I picked up my bag the woman said that it was going to get worse. Which it did. I went from the Blue Lagoon to the airport, where I actually checked a bag because #1 I had a lot of liquids, #2 I had some rocks and #3 it was free. About an hour before my flight was to leave, they started cancelling everything, and then they just cancelled it all and announced that we should go pick up our bags and they would bus us to hotels. If I hadn't checked my bag I could have just gotten in line, but as it was I had to wait for my bag and then I waited in line for over two hours. 

Just as I was getting close it turned out that they were out of hotels, or busses couldn't run any more or something, so we had to stay at the airport. I was in much better shape than most of the people because I had my sleeping bag, inflatable pillow and down puff, so I was able to make myself a little bit comfortable in a corner. But, at 4 am someone woke me up, saying "this is an airport, not a hotel." No shit, buddy. That was the worst moment of the vacation. I went and stood in line and rechecked my bag, got a coffee and chocolate croissant, and decided to go back to the city to the museum of natural history (which was really good). I got to the museum about an hour before it was to open - I was kind of hoping that there would be someplace covered to sit, but there wasn't, and it was still stormy and rainy. So, I hopped on one of the local scooters to go get some more coffee. Scooting is so fun, it immediately improved my mood, but unfortunately I didn't realize that you need an internet connection to get the scooter to start. After my coffee, I couldn't get the stupid thing going, and I pushed it a couple blocks to a shopping center (this was the other worst part of the trip). I asked someone in the pharmacy about wi-fi and she was so mean, and then I went into a supermarket, and this girl who was unpacking boxes let me connect through her phone and get the scooter running again! She will remain in my happy thoughts, along with the family from India who gave me a ride when I had to hitchhike in NH.

Anyhow, I finally arrived home, feeling completely exhausted. The next day I did laundry, but otherwise was so fatigued that I didn't really leave the sofa, and the next day I was exhausted as well. On Tuesday, when I was meant to "go" back to work (ie work from home) I felt even worse, and so I did a COVID test and it was positive. Boo - my first time with COVID! TBH, I feel pretty crappy, I've had a fever and I'm congested and really achy. But, now I'm on my couch with my cats, so I feel pretty lucky that I can just chill.

Iceland and the Laugavegur Trail

During the last week of August I went to Iceland and hiked the Laugavegur trail from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk. I also went to a public pool that had a hot tub and ice plunge, swam between two techtonic plates in the Silfra fischer at Thingvellir and slept on the floor of the Keflevik Airport. It was a good adventure!

Getting over there was kind of tight because I started my vacation with a Bruce Springsteen concert on Thursday night (amazing - they put on a SHOW). Friday I flew to Iceland and stayed the night in an AirBNB that was close to the Cathedral pick up. Pick up was at 7 am and I was a little nervous about that because that's 3 am East Coast time, but with not sleeping much after the Springsteen concert, and the flight and all, I was fine. I got to the pick up spot and was all excited because there were a bunch of hikers who were around my vintage and didn't look like super hikers who were all going with my same company. But then I learned they were sleeping in the huts, not camping, and were in a different group. Sigh. 

Anyhow, we got to Landmannalauger and did a warm up hike up Blahnukur Volcano. Apparently the guide company does this as a test hike to make sure that everyone will be able to make it - I was a little offended at that idea when I heard about it on FB, but having done the hike I see why. I didn't think that Blahnukur was that hard - it was a million switchbacks and a lot of wind - I was breathing hard for sure, but it wasn't so difficult. There were two people in the other group, though, that struggled like crazy with the hike, and I think their tour guide pursuaded them to go back to Reykjavik. Anyhow, the hike was really increadible, with views of geothermal activity, these crazy mountains, and on a former volcano. The wind was really strong and there was a drop to the side so that if you slipped it wouldn't be good. It's usually a loop hike, but the guide decided we would go down the way we came up because it was super muddy on the loop. There is a hot spring right by the hut, and I spent like an hour in it, until my fingers were like prunes and I had to get out. After we stayed the night, and the camping group was able to sleep in the huts because they weren't full (the hut was really nice, but the beds were one long bunk that slept 8 in very close quarters. TBH, I didn't love it.)

The next day we started on our Laugavegur hike. The first day we were hiking 15 miles with about 3000 feet of elevation gain, so it was the biggest day. I had really built it up in my head as a Big Thing, and it was hard, but not too hard. I was kind of nervous about how fast the group would hike, but to my very happy surprise, we went at a pace that was a little faster than I normally would have, but nothing I couldn't keep up with - in fact I was part of the front pack! The hike took us through a lava field, up a mountain to the highlands, and to an ice cave and geothermal rivers. The scenery was amazing, and every time we went up or down there were switchbacks! We carried two sandwiches for lunch - I had a cheese sandwich and a Icelandic PB and fluff, which were delicious!

At lunch time we got to the first hut which was amazing. The tour company doesn't like to stay there, and I can see why. We had perfect weather, but still it was kind of cold and windy - with bad weather it would be freezing! It was amazing eating lunch there, though, just relaxing and enjoying the scenery. My feet were a little tired, but I felt good to do the second half. After the hut the hike was across a flat plain, but there were ravines that we had to go up and down, some of which were really steep and muddy. The day ended with about 1500 descent over less than a mile, which is pretty downhill. Again, though, there were switchbacks the whole way down, and not a ton of rocks, and I was so excited about how managable the trail was that I just did my fastest and by the end I was running down the trail and got far ahead of everyone. After, a couple people said they were inspired by how joyful I looked flying down the mountain, with my poles over my head - one woman said that I was "mountain goating it." The white mountains are great prep for other hiking.

We stayed the next night at Alftavatn Lake, where we did get to camp. Setting up the tents was a little crazy, because they were all different and difficult to put up. I have to confess, I was excited to have a little personal space to introvert and relax. For dinner the veg food was fake duck in powdered asperigus soup, which was so disgusting I could barely make myself eat it. There was also lots of bread and butter, and I chowed on that. It rained during the night, but inside the tent was dry.

The next day was the "easiest" of the hike. I found it to be the hardest for some reason - probably because it was the "easiest" but it wasn't exactly easy. We had a couple river crossings that we waded through (we had one on day 2 as well) and the guide told us to look forward, not at the water, and take our time, which worked really well. We hiked though a long lava field with no trees, and when I had to pee I just ducked behind a rock and kind of exposed myself. Iceland felt huge, and I felt really small. There were a few in the group who were struggling, and so the guide told the rest of us to go ahead. My feet were killing me, so I took off as fast as I could to get to the campground and take off my boots. When I got there, it was georgous! There was more fake meat for dinner, I made myself a grilled cheese instead. 

For the last day, we had to leave really early because the bus was going to pick us up in Þórsmörk at 3 pm, and we had 9 miles to hike. The tour guide decided to send the slowest hikers off early, and the faster ones would do cleanup and the dishes, and catch up. I kind of liked the idea of a leasurly morning hike, and asked if I could go too, but the guide said no, I needed to help with the dishes. At first I was pissed, but then I was so happy because he considered me to be one of the stronger hikers! When does that happen? The last day of hiking was so pretty - with lots of moss and colors, and then ending in a "forest" with some really resiliant trees. One of the hikers hurt his knee and so we were able to hike our own hike for most of the day, and I was way out front. There were some beautiful gorges with sketchy bridges to cross, and a huge glacier. At the end, though, I was so happy to stop hiking! My feet were killing me, and my calves were really tight. We sat in Þórsmörk for about an hour, enjoying the scenery, and then the bus came and we had to head back to the city. All and all, a really nice hike, I'm so glad I went!

I got alltrails to work again - I had to close all the other apps on my phone, and it was fine. Split times were way faster than usual, that's for sure!

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 2:

Day 4: