Arribas Hotel in Sintra has a 100-meter salt water swimming pool, which is on my bucket list.
It’s simply wonderful. The water temp is 16 / 60.8° which is a little cold.
The drink afterward is wonderful too.
The locker room’s show booths have no toiletries. It’s €15 if you don’t stay at the hotel.
A little break after the swim
Jist love it!
… the tray
Out there since 7:30am.
Frist, time my 100 yard for a possible swim in September, which is 2:09. Not too baad, it was 2:06 near 2 years ago.
It has been a while to time my swim, since the second Fitbit broke in less than a year. but I generally do 1k yards under 25 minutes: I alternate 100 free, 100 breaststroke/frog: this way, it’s easy to count, remember.
Then, I practiced on court. When the play finally began, it’s 9 already. The first set Tony and I won convincingly or Joel and Gordo. But the second set we lost to Dave L and Matt: I was tired, but able to hold my two service games.
… to serve: here is how, says the coach.
And here is how a day starts
… and the warm-up
the 25 yard lane
The pool opens from sunrise to sunset. When I get to it at 7:30 in the morning, a group of campers are there (from 7 to 8am), leads by a female coach, who told me the 25 yard spot to swim with the lane on the bottom – just perfect!
I did my mile in the main part of the pool, and moved to the smaller section by the cabanas after they left.
… the swim
1200 Anastasia Avenue
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
The beautiful, free form swimming pool at Biltmore Hotel is one of the largest in the US. Image, how much joy I’m having – totally enjoying it!
Many groups of black starlings (?) and other little birds are always present, keeping us company, regardless how empty or busy the pool is.
The local residents can join the membership club and swim here too.
In the morning 7-8am, there is a swimming camp, heads by an ougoing lady, she said I can post her front face photo -:). I did a mile the following day.
There are eight cabanas for rent, complete with shower, mini fridge. Depending on the day of the week and time of the year, and size, it cost from $240 for four, to $725 for eight people, per day.
The poolside cafe Cascade becomes my workplace -:) the Blue of London Earl Grey black tea from Yunnan & bergamot (?) is my fave.
… the pool
Since Thanksgiving, the weather has been cold, 48° at 8 am. The swimming pool water temp is 79°: comfortable for me, cold for the rest, or most.
Today’s clinic: waiting position.
Coach said my waiting stance shouldn’t be flush to the baseline, which is how I stand, but should be one leg ahead, such as Kei Nishikori (1989-).
Today, there is just me and Greg.
After hitting from baseline and volley, we played canadian doubles, and I was able to win a game.
..
摩理臣山游泳池
7 Oi Kwan Rd,
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Someone posted two photos of this pool today, where I used to swim daily.
It’s Thanksgiving in the US, but our prayers are with Hong Kong: the big fire Wang Fuk Court structure fire has claimed 75, and many more are expected; 3 arrests are made as of now.
With a little extra time on hand before tennis, instead of the warm up laps, I record myself.
The most obvious one is my free: thought I’ve fixed my hand/arm crossing the middle. But my right arm is still doing it.
I rarely swim the fly, which looks kiddish. And the backstoke: do I need to turn more?
Four strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle, in the individual medley (IM) sequence:
Another shoreline ows morning. Air temp 75° and water 72° (or about), feeling a bit cold as I’m wading into the ocean. But once in, it’s a most wonderful temperature. We swam 1:25, about 1.5 miles.
A partly cloudy day, and the skies look beautiful, with the moon. Many sea birds are around us.
The waves are pretty strong. My partner felt nauseous, so we returned before reaching the hotel.
Today is the manatee day @ the park.
It’s so quite at this park, on a Friday afternoon: we often can hear a pin drop between birds and all.
Kayak trail #8 has a small beach and parking lots. #17 to #20 are in the same basin. #1 and #20 are on either side of the road.
… wine and dumplings
A gorgeous day for open water swim at Pass a Grill Beach @ Hurley Park, by 8 am the air temperture is 72° and water 77°@ Pass-A-Grille Beach.
The swim is alone the shoreline. Some swimmers do time, while others do distance. I did 1 mile, in less than an hour.
Pass a Grill Beach is a 4-mile long beach.
