I have been overwhelmed lately by blog readers demanding more swim content. And images of my favorite pools. And details of our workouts. And, if possible, these posts should also be larded with camera information of some sort. Okay! I hear you!!!

 

this is Deep Eddy Pool. It was built by the Work Projects Administration back 

in the 1930s. It's situated about fifty feet from Lady Bird Lake but it 

does not use lake water. All the water in the pool is spring fed from

deep wells. No chlorine. No salt. No itchy skin...

I've been on a roll lately with my swimming. Today is the 12th day in a row I've been in the pool swimming either a workout with my team or (today) doing my own thing in the Deep Eddy pool. This morning is a Monday. Our competition pool  near my house is closed on Mondays so I've taken to getting up in time to be at the gates of Deep Eddy Pool when it opens for lap swimming at 9 a.m. 

It was one of those mornings where sleep was elusive so I started the day with some yoga and chased those routine pretzel poses with a nice cup of good coffee. Grabbed the swim bag and headed over to Eiler's Park to join the queue. The first batch of swimmers through the gates numbered about a dozen. Followed in quick order by a dozen more five-minute-latecomers. All I brought with me today was a kick board and a pair of goggles. And a swim suit, of course. 

I kicked off my shorts and t-shirt, pulled on my goggles and slid into the chilly water in the deep end, grabbing the lane at the furthest east part of the lap pool. As you'll see in photos below the pool is divided into a large lap pool and an even larger recreational pool. The rec pool starts shallow and gently slants down to about four feet of depth. The lap pool is walkable on the west side and 12-15 feet at my side (far left, above, and below). 

I flutter kicked for a mile and was thrilled to not have to wear my goggles the whole time. I was there to enjoy the 70° water more than anything else but I'm one of those horrible people who likes to stay compulsively busy/productive so I just had to get the kicking in.... I had the lane to myself because on that side of the pool there are three ladders spaced along the wall and it's a tight fit. Adding more people makes the lane tight and some people have trouble avoiding either the ladders on one side or their fellow swimmers on the other. There is something so soothing about having 33.3 yards of clean, fresh, cold water in front of you that's just wonderfully motivating. 

Why all the kicking? I've been spending too much time on the top half of my stroke and wanted some balance. Also, I was at the gym yesterday and did a long, long strength training workout that was mostly upper body. My arm, chest, shoulder, back and ab muscles took a beating and I'm a bit sore today. Nice sore. Happy sore. But all the same I thought I'd give those muscles a break and work the kick for fun.

the view from the bathhouse. That was my lane, over on the left...

the pool has evolved over the years. It used to be a free for all but now there are nods to 

the serious swimmers. One is that the entire pool is designated "lap swimming only" from 

opening till 11 a.m. No kids, no floats, no games, no silliness. 

Today, at the opening, the pool manager stood next to the person who either accepts payment for entrance or checks pass cards and asked each person he didn't already know if they were aware that the pool was open strictly for lap swimming. No other use of the pool until 11. Such a refreshing clarity about

the highest and best use of a pool. At least from a lap swimmer's perspective...

I only hit Deep Eddy Pool once a week. I'm flexible though, I guess I could come more often.

But Monday's are the only day of the week we don't have a coached, competitive swim practice 

at my primary pool. I'd almost always choose a coached and well attended practice 

over "self-paced" even if the water is cooler at the "Monday" pool...

But that's just me. I have swim passes for both..

Photographer needing out trying to capture the "feel" of the cold, clear water.

I generally love having "the rules" all spelled out. This is the one 

pool I know of that brooks no nonsense. From portioning lanes and the principles 

of sharing lanes to what you can and can't do in each lane. Love it. 

No gray space...

Looking across the concrete bulkhead from the rec pool on the right to the 

lap pool on the left. We might have some blisteringly hot weather on tap but

the pool temperature never varies much from 68-74° and that's a prime comfort zone...

if you keep moving.  Too chilly for leisure floating...

Standing on the west end looking east over the rec pool to the lap pool. 

Sweet water today!

Interestingly, during lap swimming here and swim practice at the other pool

I feel totally comfortable leaving my clothes, pocket clutter and random stuff in the changing room 

without having to lock everything up. Everyone who comes to actually swim 

is serious and focused. And not inclined to larceny. 

The long stairs down are part of the show. Swim hard and the long flight back to the upper level

sneaks up on you....

The VSL high performance studio car got the best space 

this morning. At least where proximity was concerned. 

But I guess the real winners were the ones who got shade....

I'm sure this was exciting and fun for you to read and look at. Now for the photo part. 

As I think you are aware it's rare for me to ever leave the house or the studio without a camera in hand. I try to bring the camera with me when I leave the car but that's not always possible. Today I brought along the Leica Q2. I had a thought that the clear skies, and rumors of a newly cleaned and filled pool, might presage some good images and I knew I'd want a wide angle perspective for most of the shots. 

No one bothers to dry off with towels in Texas these days. Exit the pool and the heat will dry you off by the time you hit the top of the stairs. I pulled on my tattered, khaki shorts and my gray t-shirt and tromped out to the car in my all terrain Birkenstocks ("chick magnet shoes, for sure..."), grabbed the Q2 from the passenger's seat of the car and headed back into the pool facility to snap away. Since I saw little need for selective focus I stuck the aperture at f11 and shot in .DNG. The camera, as usual, was flawless. The operator --- less so. But still. I got what I thought I wanted. Tweaked them up a bit in Lightroom and here were are. 

After having used this camera for six+ months now I have to say that I fully embrace it and understand the advantages of having a really good, all-in-one photo machine. I have to say that I'm not going to cancel that pre-order for a Q3 but I wish I had a crystal ball. I'd love to buy a "Reporter" version if they are planning to come out with one... But any version will do nicely. Well....maybe not the 007 version. Or the Seal version. But how cool would it be if they made a chrome version? A black one for Winter months and silver one for Summer. 

Stay tuned. I have a feeling we're going to have an exciting swim practice tomorrow and I might take along a different camera. So much excitement at one blog. 

By the way, Thanks for all the travel suggestions. I'm working on a plan as I wait for confirmation of a delivery date (this week) for the much sought after passport. Please remember as you make suggestions that I am not a landscape/nature/wildlife photographer --- and I don't need a famous blogger to tell me that. So, if you are suggesting a destination because of the natural beauty and majestic landscapes I'm not sure those will make the cut. Love urban life. Love compact cities. And, no. I won't be sleeping in a tent. 

Hope your Summer is fun and safe. But not too safe or no one would have stories to tell......

Swimming. How could you be unhappy if you can swim every day?