Open Water Swim League?

[BriEOD]

Andrew! That's right...excuse my Alzheimers.

The lake house sounds fantastic. I'm glad you all are getting to spend some good quality time down on the water.

We are totally spoiled now being on the water. I can't imagine going back to having to trailer to a public ramp.

[gatorguy]

That looks like a lot of fun. I've lived in a bunch of different places, and the areas with active neighborhoods have always been the best. I like doing things with the people I live around. I've been other places where I didn't even know the people in my own back yard. I'm the kind of guy that will go out of my way to meet you too. In fact I make it a habit of meeting everyone in my neighborhood with a DD or VD regardless of the make. People always look at you a little funny as you are walking in their driveway, but usually I can't get them to shut up once they start talking boats.

[shepherd]

Originally Posted by BriEOD

Here is our own setup. A few of the swim lanes aren't in. We have four lanes normally. Yes, also we sort of cheat in our neighborhood. What you see is our 1 million gallon artesian well-fed spring water pond adjacent to the Severn River. We get these bloody sea nettles (jelly fish) towards the later half of the summer. Therefore, when the meet is in our hood we do it in the pond vice the river. The Severn is brackish and we are up at the head of the river so it is much more fresh than salt.

Yes, I was going to ask if you had to deal with the sea nettles! Great idea with the pond. What do the other communities do? Are they further up the river where the sea nettles don't go?

Looks like a lot of fun for the kids. I have an 8 y.o. nephew up in MD who can barely dog paddle, and has no interest in towed watersports (he had a bad experience in a toob behind an MC once... ). It would be nice to see him get into something like that.

[BriEOD]

Typically, the nettles don't start showing up until the back end of the summer. Factors such as how much rain we get in the spring and how hot the summer is impact how soon they arrive. As you probably know, they like warm water with high salinity. I live at the very top of the Severn and they start to show up at the end of July. The Severn, as is most the Chesapeake Bay region, is brackish. Some people just deal with the bloody things. I bought us all the lycra suits (looks like a wet suit but is really thin and SCUBA divers use them).

As for swimming, some neighborhoods surround their swimming area with a very tightly woven net. But ultimately, you're going to see them and they suck. Therefore, the pond is brilliant, plus it is spring-fed fresh water and not full of run-off.

Where in MD is your nephew?

[shepherd]

Nephew is in the Silver Spring area. The sea nettles are the scourge of the Chesapeake. The hottest time of the year, and you can't jump in the water to cool off without getting stung.

Sometimes I miss the Chesapeake Bay, but then I remember those little bastards. Late spring, before they come out, is pretty nice though.

[BriEOD]

Like any body of water, there are pros and cons. We manage it as best we can and continue to enjoy the water from April until November. I have no real complaints.