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09/07/2006: "A Chilly Swim with a View"
I bought a second hand wetsuit several weeks ago to use on the swimming part of my upcoming triathlons. I suppose I could use it for the biking part as well but that would look a little silly. Anyway, I had only tried it on once and had yet to swim in it. I thought about trying it out in the lap pool at the club, but figured that would draw some looks.
So my friend Helen suggested I try a swim at Aquatic Park in the City. Today, I rode BART out to Powell Street station and then hopped the cable car to Ghiradelli Square and Fisherman’s Warf. From there I paid the $6.50 to use the South End Rowing Club’s facility next to Aquatic Park. It is a great old building with a great history of wooden rowing craft and bay swimmers. The club has been in existence since 1823. Though clean, the lockers are wooden with old saunas that look out on the bay.
I suited up and jumped in for a swim and an unusual view of Fisherman’s Warf and the walk to Fort Mason. Though cold, it was a really nice swim. Afterwards, I quickly jumped on a stationary bike in the club’s 3rd floor weight room that looked out on Alcatraz, and then walked several miles over to the Presidio.
It was a beautiful day in San Francisco today and the sites made me realize why it is the most visited city in the world.