30b430 Goal: Swim Across Some Lakes!

I've been slowly working away at my 30 Before 30 goals and I've found June and July to be the perfect months for one of my favorite Michigan activities: Lake swimming!

I had originally planned on swimming across Rose Lake (a favorite camping spot with friends), but time and circumstance made it look like it wasn't going to happen this year. It's still in the back of my mind and I hope to swim across during my 30th birthday weekend. 

Here is the originally planned Rose Lake swim from our hang-out spot:

One of my friends just moved near Pine Lake (which makes her house the perfect summer hang-out spot... hehe). One afternoon last month we were hanging out at the beach and wanted to kayak. We only had two kayaks for three people, so I started swimming while my kayaking friends stayed close to me. I ended up swimming across and when I reached the other side I decided to swim back. All in all, I swam much further than the Rose Lake distance! What a rush!

Here I am after my Pine Lake swim. I was flabbergasted by the distance because I've never really gone that far:

Swim across Pine Lake: Check!

Now for the big one: The West Twin Lake swim. The last time we went up north to Lewiston I decided it was time to tackle one of my favorite lakes in Michigan and my favorite summer spot in the world. Paris? It's okay. Dakar? Yeah, I love it there. But Lewiston, MI? It's my favorite:

Here is the route:

West Twin is quite large, so I had my Safe Swimmer, the Hubs in the Whaler, and my in-laws on the pontoon in the distance as a marker: 

The Hubs is the best... he didn't mind boating next to me for an hour. :)

 I was aiming for a white cabin that you (or me, really) can't see:

I got all sunscreened up and felt a little nervous:

I hopped in the water...

And started!

For the next hour and six minutes it was just me swimming along at a steady pace. When I finished I felt like Rocky:

I wasn't tired and I contemplated trying to swim back, but the wind was blowing and I needed a celebratory Tom Collins! 

Swim across West Twin Lake: Check!

I can't believe how far I've come with swimming in the last year. Last August I was still a casual smoker when I first hopped into the pool at my gym and attempted to swim one lap. Just one. I could barely make it. My lungs felt like they were going to burst out of chest and my muscles burned. Now I haven't had a cigarette since September and I can swim almost two miles! It's amazing how our bodies heal after we've abused them. 

Next summer I'm going to try a race called Swim to the Moon. It's a 5k swim. Right now it seems like I'll never be able to make it, but we all know that it's probably possible. :)

1. Complete an indoor triathlon. 2/12/12
2. Complete an outdoor triathlon. 6/2/12
3. Swim across West Twin Lake and Rose Lake (or Pine Lake). 7/14/12 and 6/26/12
4. Bike the Kal-Haven Trail.
5. Play the piano in front of people.
6. Visit my family in the Philippines (or at least have tickets booked by my 30th birthday).
7. Have a conversation with a dear Senegalese friend in French or Wolof (preferably Wolof).

8. Visit my grandparents in California.
9. Pop a champagne cork with no fear.
10. Make leche flan (it's Filipino, it's amazing, and I'm makin' it).
11. Jar or can veggies, pickles, sauce... something.
12. Revised 5/1/12 because I remembered that I'm supposed to graduate in December and my Master's degree is really important to me!!! Get my Master's degree and submit some of my academic writing and then, maybe, you know... get it published.
13. Travel out of the country with Nate.
14. Pay off at least 50% of my remaining undergraduate credit card debt.
15. Sing karaoke by myself in Kalamazoo in front of all of my friends.
16. Eat clean for one month.
17. Pick berries and bake something with them.
18. Write at least one chapter of the novel that I write in my mind while I'm walking the dogs.
19. Thank my mom for everything she's done for me.
20. Go further into the UP than the Mystery Spot tourist trap and jump into Lake Superior.
21. Get chosen for one more summer fellowship in another country where I am able to work with youth.
22. Go on a police ride along.
23. Get to 200 blog posts.
24. Revised 5/1/12 Make some decisions about my career and/or PhD prospects. Apply for PhD programs.
25. Attend roller derby training so I can learn the moves.
26. Learn how to flip turn when I'm swimming laps. 4/19/12
27. Take a real personal day. 6/8/12
28. Learn how to drive a stick.
29. Go horseback riding.
30. Poach an egg perfectly.