I admire good recreational swimmers; I mean those who go to the pool not just to swim, but to “swim laps”. They are fluid and have a way of looking powerful without looking uncomfortable. No grunting, no contorted, beat-red, sweaty, miserable looking faces. Not these folks, they look as cool as cucumbers propelling their bodies as they stretch and pull their arms rhythmically through the water, periodically pivoting their heads to replenish their lungs. It is mesmerizing to watch.
Like many neighborhoods throughout Sydney, we have a public pool less than a 10-minute walk from our place. This is an 8 lane, 50 meter, salt water, lap pool overlooking Woolloomooloo Bay. Aside from the lively kiddie section, the pool is an amazingly quite place in the middle of city. With the Botanical Gardens to one side, harbor on the other, and open air above, there isn’t even the sound of traffic to contend with.
This pool also houses a small yoga studio where the classes are good, but the view is inspiring. There is also a small outdoor café that serves good brunch and a decent cappuccino (It’s no Toby’s… but it’s not bad). But again, it is the fantastic location that makes it such a desirable to place to have a post swim juice or coffee and browse the paper on a Sunday morning.
So although we mostly hang in the outer lanes (aka where the grannies and folks with broken arms inch along) our neighborhood pool inspires us to keep coming back and join in the fun of swimming laps.
31 March 2009 at 9:32 am
Good description. I was thrashing through some laps there at the “Boy Charlton Pool” myself, sharing a lane with a woman who was backstroke flutter-kicking only. Her arms were straight over her head, her hands clasped together, and she was motoring up and down in a perfectly straight, perfectly rhythmical beeline. WTF? It was beyond mesmerizing; I felt like such a bludger I had to switch lanes before I just gave it up completely.
31 March 2009 at 11:32 am
Nice post, Kristin! You are a sensational writer. I miss you guys and found a new chocolate shop in the South Loop Area! I think it might rival vosges…:-)
31 March 2009 at 11:33 am
Oops – that last post was from me. Once a Luddite always a Luddite…
31 March 2009 at 11:51 am
I wish I had access to such a nice pool. It looks amazing. And for the record, I am jealous of those graceful swimmers too. I definitely am not one of them. I’d be swimming with the grannies and cripples as well.
31 March 2009 at 9:35 pm
ah life before children…”have a post swim juice or coffee and browse the paper on a Sunday morning.”
live it up while you can kids!
12 April 2009 at 9:20 am
Who would want to swim in a saltwater pool???
Well I guess some people do…that’s so “Michigan” of me haha