Tools

Here is an unusual still life -- the tools that serve 

to help me become a better swimmer.

Most days, I travel to and from practice with

a pair of what looks like a pair of blue fairy wings

sticking out of my backpack. 

They are fins designed to help me improve

my position in the water, to strengthen my kick,

and to help my ankles increase flexibility.

I can tell you that, from the first I could feel the effects 

of the fins, strengthening the muscles of my butt.

The pair of green leaf-like objects are

hand paddles, meant to add resistance

as one pulls against the water. They also serve

to help the swimmer achieve the correct 

position for their hands as they enter the water. 

It's a purposeful action; the incorrect angle just 

about brings one me to an embarrassing 

halt in the water until I get myself 

sorted out to begin again.

The paddles come in graduated sizes.

These are the smallest because

I have a bit of osteoarthritis in one shoulder

and too-large paddles can cause injury.

The goggles and swim cap are more familiar

items, with my silicone cap having

a Roy Lichtenstein-inspired design, in keeping

with my artistic interests.

The last is a pink and black pull buoy,

a piece of dense foam rubber one puts

between one's legs while practicing "pull sets,"

which is swimming without kicking 

in order to strengthen one's arms. 

The buoy helps to maintain body position.

I've added these training aids bit by bit

on my own. As I've improved and become

stronger, I started to look for additional assistance

to be more able to compete keep up with

my teammates. I've started to have goals for myself

that go beyond just getting to the other end

of the pool; I've started to think about winning.

And that's scary.

What's a "Lido"?

We've entered the last few weeks of summer. 

The light is changing and the days are getting shorter.

The water in the pool at the Riviera Club is 

getting cooler; we swim in and out of shaded 

and sunlit patches, the temperatures 

markedly different in each one.

I like the cooler water, prefer it even, to the

warmer temperatures that are really tiring to swim

in for a length of time. Yeh, I bitch and moan,

but it's really pleasant overall.

The Riviera Club is old, opening in 1933, 

and has that gangly spread out feeling of having

been enlarged and expanded into spaces

wherever they can be found. It has a homey, 

comfortable atmosphere. The pool is the size

of two (American) football fields with areas 

for lap swimming, water exercises/calisthenics, as

well as slides for children in a large baby pool.  

I've often seen pools called "lidos" on an English

website called Outdoor Swimming Society.

The term, I think, came from the Italian word for beach

and refers to outdoor public swimming areas

and their surrounding facilities. 

I've often wondered whether the Rivi 

may be regarded as a lido. Even though use of

the facilities usually requires membership, 

non-members may participate for an additional fee.

No matter, this is *my* little bit of Venice.

My own lido.

Talking to Each Other, Not Their 'Phones

A post on The View from Squirrel Ridge reminded me 

of this photo. I took it a couple weeks ago 

while walking along the Central Canal.

At the first sign of warm weather, people use the

canal for exercise - rowing, kayaking, or

using paddle boats to travel its 1-1/4 mile

length. Located in downtown Indy, the site is

also popular with workers as a place for a lunchtime

stroll or run. While swimming is not allowed,

the canal is opened several times a year

for the swim leg of a triathlon and

a couple swim competitions.

The swimmer below was participating

in one of those recent events.

I Love These Guys

I can't walk across the old Washington Street Bridge

without craning my neck to see what may 

be lingering on the driftwood caught on one 

of the bridge's piers. Friday found these turtles basking

in the noontime sun. All heads pointed in the same direction,

these soft-shelled guys shared space with

red-eared turtles. About forty-five minutes later,

I came back to find the sun party had

gotten larger ...

... and even more were trying to find 

their own place in the crowd.

I love these guys and could have watched tham

all day. There don't seem to be "antics"

as such, just a bunch of reptiles enjoying

the seasonal warmth on any handy tree snag,

laboriously climbing up to join the rest

of the river gang, dozing, then maybe falling off

to begin the process over again.

After all, falling off the log is easy,

finding one's place on it is not.

Home Remodeling

Friday, I went to a mid-morning swim practice 

at the Natatorium. Somewhere in the back 

of my pea-brain, I'd expected we'd be using 

the main competition pool. 

After all, it had been used for the 

YMCA Long Course Championships 

just the week before, right?

I was surprised to see the lane lines loosened 

and floating in the pool like a necklace 

of beads, thrown down after a night of hard partying.

What? No men in Speedos?

Instead, workmen with jackhammers were hard 

at work, tearing up the remaining sections of tiled 

deck that hadn't yet been replaced.

We used the instruction pool to the north

that is separated from the competition pool

by a long glass wall. It kept out most of the sound

of the jackhammers - until one put one's

head in the water, where it echoed for the entire

time I was in the water. Overall, though,

it was a quiet place, with just the sound of

Coach Craig's voice as he gave instruction

to the swimmers.

I've missed my home. Last week was like meeting 

an old friend on the street and today's swim

was working towards a reunion, one that I am 

looking forward to this November, after the current 

phase of remodeling is complete.

Selfie

These girls were fooling around with their i-phones 

Wednesday afternoon, trying their new 

selfie-stick. Of course, mugging for the camera 

was required, but this serves as a reminder 

to check the backgrounds of all your images 

before posting them on-line.

Taking A Break

One day last week, while on my way home from

a volunteer stint at the YMCA National Long Course

Swimming Championships, I looked up from my latte to see

this group of folk, resting on benches outside 

the federal court building.

As it turned out they were Jehovah's Witnesses,

resting from their shift standing on the nearby sidewalks,

looking for converts. They stand quietly looking

for people who may wish to find some

peace in their tortured and/or lost daily existences.

They've been at it for months and months now,

but I've never seen them in conversation

with people other than themselves. 

The woman in the striped hat had a bruised 

and swollen ankle. She had been hit by

a motorscooter, making standing on the hot

sidewalks even more of an ordeal.

While I wasn't able to bring myself to convert,

I was able to give her some hints that might

provide her some relief for her aching feet.

No miracles here,

 just ice, soapy water and a foot brush.

Indy Canal Sharkfest ... Better Late Than, Well, You Know

Sunday afternoon, I went to a meeting at the Natatorium.

While there, one of the organizers commented 

on the Central Canal, and asked whether or not 

swimming in it was allowed.

The woman was from North Carolina and

was fascinated with the idea of swimming its length.

Another IAM member who was present 

and I told her that, other than for sanctioned events,  

swimming is not allowed. So far, there have 

been two swims, with a third scheduled 

as the initial leg of a triathlon. 

These pictures are from the inaugural Indy Sharkfest 

Canal Swim, held last Saturday, July 25.

The top photo was taken just after the start of

the 1500-meter race at the Ohio Street

basin, across the street from the Indiana Historical

Society. Participants swam north that morning, to finish

at the 11th Street basin, just below Buggs Temple. 

The Canal, a part of the White River State Park,

is a popular destination for residents and visitors alike,

providing a tree-lined, easy connection between 

the downtown area and museums. 

The gondolas live under the Michigan Street

bridge when they are not being used to give visitors

rides along the Canal's beautiful length.

P.S., The only sharks to be found in the Canal

are goldfish, some of whom were hired to tie little

shark fins to their backs and nibble the toes

to encourage the slower swimmers.

August Theme Day: Bicycles

I was wondering what sort of pictures I would 

use to illustrate today's theme.

Unlike more sophisticated/progressive cities 

the world over, Indianapolis has only, in recent years, 

begun to urge people to commute to work and 

to do their errands using bicycles as a convenient, 

environmentally friendly mode of transportation.

That has started to change in dramatic fashion,

as many of the city's streets now have

bike lanes, and the city buses are all equipped

with bike racks to aid people who both

ride the bus and use their bikes to commute.

On Saturday, today, the 8th Annual Mass Ave Criterium 

was held. Utilizing a street course 

laid out in the neighborhood just northeast of 

downtown Indy, the MAC is a cycling event made up 

of timed races for riders of various categories of experience 

and ages, male and female. (As I type this,

the Men's Pro 90-minute race has just started.)

While it's a joy to see so many lean, fit people,

I find the sport about as interesting as some folks 

find drying paint. However, entire families showed up,

both to compete and/or to watch the races.

The little girl above was accompanying her father,

attached to his bike on a sort of third wheel,

while the father below brought his son and daughter

to watch the races.

Earlier this year, the city also initiated a system 

of bicycle rental kiosks. Yeah, yeah, while this is popular

in other countries, Indy has been slow to adapt, 

but the people have not. The bicycles have proved 

to be very popular with both citizens and visitors alike; 

I often pass by kiosks that are virtually empty of bicycles 

as they have all been taken for use.

 This blog is a member of the City Daily Photo portal.

To see how other participants from all over the world 

have chosen to interpret today's theme,

just click on the above link or on the CDP badge 

to the right of this post.