Jean, Eva and I (I’m in the middle 🙂 honored this amazingly beautiful lake in the high country of Yosemite by immersing and swimming the length. Jean asked permission (con permiso) and we offered our bodies and our gratitude for the beauty, for the life giving waters, for the sacred granite of this marvelous place. Jean (right) was the spectacular school counselor when I was principal. I hadn’t met Eva but turns out she swam for Cal 2 years after I did. Small world!
Other Wondrous Immersions
Asilomar beach in Pacific Grove and Spooner Lake in the Hoover Wilderness
Mono Lake
And Two Rows
Tiogo Lake and Tenaya Lake, Yosemite East and High Country
Last Tuesday I carefully packed the car with my skis, multiple jackets for unpredictable weather, snacks and tea. And I headed off to June Mountain for my first ski day of the season. I love going by myself, I get to listen or not listen to music, podcasts, books, meditations, etc. Hmm, what shall I listen to this morning? My intention was to be as mindful as possible, to practice being awestruck by the scenery that is so incredible, every mile of the way. I plug my phone in, having not chosen anything yet. And the music starts playing before I make the left turn onto Chalfant Road. Drums….and then….O Come Ye, Mother Water, I am diving into thee, float me on your rivers and sing me with your seas...wait, what was that? Played it again and again, sang along until I had it memorized (I know, that’s not too hard, but still…) And then, when I pulled over eventually, I added it to my Itunes library. Because it wasn’t there, it was a gift from the Universe. When I go skiing, I am diving into Thee…when I row or swim or honor the waters, I am diving into Thee. This gives me a prayer to sing, what a gift!
Sometimes random things start playing when I plug in my phone. I listen for whatever might be nudging me. Sometimes it’s something amazing or thought provoking, sometimes it’s some music that gets on my nerves! 🙂 But I’m open to listening, discerning, and smiling at the many ways the Universe has for inspiring us. And sometimes just messing with our minds. :0 But in this case, Urpichay Sonqo, thank you!
The other night under a full moon, I swam in an old warm springs pool, in the same spring waters as the pupfish are swimming in up the hill and down the flow toward the Amargosa River. The Shoshone pupfish were thought to be extinct, but a few were found and then grandly flourished in restored habitat (thank you Susan Sorrells, Steve Parmenter, and all the people and entities who made this happen). For more info on the Amargosa Basin and work to protect it, see Friends of the Amargosa Basin website. And consider joining the Friends and maybe even offering a donation.
The next day we traveled home along the Badwater Loop through Death Valley. Water was everywhere in the valley, it was truly amazing! I assume the massive amounts of rain last winter have made a home for now in what is normally a pretty dry area (thus the name, Death Valley).
At 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. It’s normally a salt flat, but right now it’s a big, salty lake! It is SO gorgeous. I did not immerse my body, but I did immerse my feet. And here’s my new rule for this. If I am at a place that is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere and there is water there, and if I take off my shoes and wander in, that counts! 48+2= 50. 20 to go!
Immersed in boulangeries, people, museums, exquisite food, and beloved ones on this trip. I even had my suit and cap in my pack these last few days in Amsterdam knowing there was a lovely indoor pool nearby. But alas, museums took precedence. We did cruise on the Seine in Paris and the canals in Amsterdam. I touched the Seine where I could to send and receive water blessings. And we had some good rain in both places, which is immersion of a sort of one is in that frame of mind, which I was. 😎🌈 And I saw a scull go by on our canal, thrilled to catch a glimpse. More later!! Lots of travel time coming up, heading to mom’s for Christmas Eve.
Taking off for a winter holiday in Paris soon, first time in France…so I wondered, is there any way I might immerse? The fountains and the Seine would be far too cold. But voila! There are indoor pools! Sure there is plenty to do in Paris (I hear :0), but I think I’ll sneak my suit, googles and cap into my suitcase and make at least one water immersion part of my pilgrimage. Article about pools of Paris in the NY times.
I also plan to write (or just post a photo) about water in many forms, in wine, for example. And cafe’! And no doubt the rain will fall on us–as Owen Wilson says in Midnight in Paris…”actually, Paris is most beautiful in the rain”. I will keep repeating that as a mantra until I believe it! If you have ideas on where else I might notice and immerse my mind/heart in water in Paris (and Amsterdam), do let me know. Looking forward to those canals of Amsterdam too!
Immersion can also be just sitting, listening, enjoying, being in the moment with the waters of the world. Wonder. Awe. I researched how to post on this blog with only my iPhone, so words may be scanty but I’m sure pictures will be worth a thousand words. Au revoir!
It’s a warm autumn day in Mammoth Lakes so why not a dip into a mountain lake? We rode our bikes along the Lakes loop trail and then, well, I just happened to wear my swimsuit this morning just in case. 🙂 Yes, it was quite cold. No one else in the water. 47 + 1 = 48. 22 to go. The rowing shell did not make it down from the garage rafters this year. It will be top priority next spring/summer!
First of all, the immersion with current friends and new friends from O.R.E. was really lovely. We talked water and paddling, food, turtles, eagles and river otters. We immersed in the beautiful wild and scenic portion of the Rogue River of Oregon and the cold creeks and waterfalls feeding it.
After a partial day of paddling, we set up camp while the guides cooked for us–not just dinner, but hors d’oeuvres as well. And all was scrumptious. At a few camps we jumped in the river a bit upstream and floated down–lovely! Bocce was a daily late afternoon ritual. Rogue River plus two side really cold pools = 3.
And today, August 17, 2023, I can log three different immersions over the last few days. Tenaya Lake in Yosemite High Country, Mirror Lake in Yosemite Valley, and a lake I’m keeping secret up in the Rock Creek area.
OMG, no people, amazing full immersion. I hope to get back to rowing soon, it’s time to get the shell off the ceiling of the garage and out into the water before it’s too late for this season. Stay tuned!
So that’ 3 + 3 = 6 (impressive math 🙂 plus previous 41 = 47. That’s 23 to go. Better get going!
Sailing with Pat & Maria in San Diego, first XCountry Ski for me (White Mountains), Asilomar Beach dunk, swim (and hot tub of course) at Esalen on the Big Sur Coast, and a light show swim at the Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley. Previously 36 immersions + 5 = 41.
I assumed the blog would be mostly hibernating during the winter. But as I was skiing at the gorgeous June Mountain yesterday, I realized I was “immersing on” frozen water. Why not? (reminder, I get to make up the rules) I was singing to the snow, calling in the tree spirits* (Humpwey Malkikuna) and mountain spirits (Apukuna), and Mother of the Waters (Mama Cocha), and doing sound healing on the chairlift. So much gratitude for this day, Urpichay Sonqo!
Not a bad view for a lunch breakOn the Matterhorn run, I look a little like a stormtrooper 🙂 Clearly not very crowded!
The snow was perfect, deep, groomed and squeeky, and very few people. It doesn’t get any better than yesterday. I’ve also immersed recently at Keough’s Hot Springs and boogey boarded a couple times over Thanksgiving at Stinson Beach. I’ll just count one of those ocean immersions. Oh it was spectacular. I had to wait for times when the waves were small, somewhat different than when I was young.
So that’s 3 additional immersions. Maybe I’ll snowshoe today up Bishop Creek. 🙂
Tally: 33 + 3 = 36
Mono Lake below covered with fog
*MALKIKUNA – “Tree Spirits” live in ancient trees and represent the tree of life reaching far into the heavens, and deep into the earth. They are honored in the north and feed on the energy of mineral products: crystals (often powdered), mica, magnetite, pyrite, gemstones, sand, stones, ores, etc.Heart of the Healer website.
In some ways this blog seems a bit egotistical, but I have good intentions so hopefully that balances it out. I want to immerse in Pachamama (earth) and Mama Cocha (waters) more, to offer prayers of gratitude and healing. Photos and posting is encouraging me to do that. Even if nobody reads my posts, I’m enjoying this. 🙂 And speaking of gratitude, many thanks to spouse Harold who is my unheralded photographer. 🙂 He is very patient. And has a good eye!
Stinson Beach, 9/29/22 Did a little bodysurfing (short john wetsuit), awesome! Had lunch prior to swim with Parkside Levain (such amazingly good bread) and H’s yummy accoutrements. Delightful day!
Lake Tahoe, Sunset Cove, 10/6/22. One of my very favorite swimming spots, water is crystal clear, tiny little beach, intriguing rocks, white sand bottom. So blue! Water a bit colder than earlier in the year but still oh so wonderful.
Heart Lake, Rock Creek/Mosquito Flat Trailhead. 10/8/22, Brrrr…water getting colder! Hard to imagine a more beautiful setting for a (brief) swim.
Grass Lake, 10/14/22–Now the water in the Sierra is getting ridiculously cold (for me)! Normally it just takes me a moment to catch my breath and I can take at least a few strokes. But….woo! Cold, cold, cold! Full immersion and out immediately! Got out before photo op 🙂 Grass Lake is gorgeous anytime, but in the Fall it’s particularly beautiful.
Talley: 29 previous + 4 = 33. 37 to go.
I think I’m going to need to go to Hawaii to get some winter swims in 🙂 And/or San Diego (a bit closer!)
70 by 70 Water Immersion 