Mackinac Straits Training Swim and the Soo

We got to our crappy hotel fairly late last night, and immediately hit the rack...and it was really a RACK. Sleeping on cement would have been more comfortable. We slept in...then went to take my Homeland Security paperwork directly to the Coast Guard in the Soo, since the base was only a few minutes away. Goofy conversation at the gate...Guard: "Please state your business." Me: "Um. I'm here to turn in my HS paperwork for a Straits Swim." Guard: "What?" *I repeat myself.* Guard: "You're at the wrong base. You need to hand that in to the base near Lake Michigan." Me: "No. I'm at the right base. Does Chief petty Officer Gambino work here?" Guard: "Yes, Ma'am, but he is not in today." Me: "That's okay, I just need someone to see that he gets my paperwork." Guard: *with blank look on his face* "One moment, Ma'am. *Guard goes into booth and makes extended phone call* Guard: "You'll have to speak with the Officer of the day." Me: "Okay." Five minutes later, two big burly officers come out to the car. Naturally, they walk over to talk to Michael. Officer: "What is it that you need, Sir?" Michael: "You need to talk to my wife. Me: "Sir, could you please see that Chief Petty Officer Gambino receives this paperwork? Officer: "Yes, Ma'am." Me: "Thank you, Sir."  Geez. All this Ma'aming and Siring. So. OK!  Really glad to finally get that paperwork out of my hands! So. We stopped in to a little restaurant for brunch. Ugh. Worst food ever. I mean. How do you screw up French toast and bacon? The Soo turns out to be kind of a desolate place. There's the famous Locks...which we'll get out to see tomorrow. Drive back to St. Ignace to meet the photographer...very nice woman! Michael goes in the storeroom to help me stuff myself into the gloves, socks, and wetsuit...which was actually easier this time, since I seem to be shrinking in girth, which, given the cold water, is not a good thing. So. We head out to the public beach, where Tanya will be taking my photos. I splash some water on my face. WOW! I am now awake! After I wade out to deeper water, I dive in, and, WHOA! The water was so cold, it literally took my breath away! *I now begin to realize the insanity of this whole thing.* I swim about a mile down the shore, to warm up. The wetsuit is filling with water. I finally get in my zone, turn around, and swim back to the beach. The water was crystal clear, amazingly beautiful to watch...I swam over a lot of salmon, and pretty little fishes, and little crab like things, and clams...but, at the same time, it was disturbing to see all of the cans, plastic bags, and other types of trash on the bottom of this pristine lake. I swam by Tanya, she took her photos, and I clambered out of the water, dizzy, because I had forgotten my ear plugs. Fun fact: When very cold water hits your eardrums you get instant vertigo. I stumbled up to the beach, where Tanya took some land shots. WHEW! I strip off the wetsuit on the beach, and decide to go back out once more, in my swimsuit only, and dive for trash. Brought in quite a haul. Pull on my sweats, and we head out for dinner. Amazing broiled lake trout, with all the fixin's'. Absolutely the best. Now I'm starting to really feel the cold. Could not stop shaking. But we absolutely HAD to stop at a fudge shop! Went to a little tourist store and bought another sweatshirt to layer over the one I already had on.  Drove back to our cheapass hotel in the Soo. We have had a day! Kicking back now, watching a Tigers game on a prehistoric TV. All is right with the world. 

Tomorrow: The loong training swim