By Vladimir Brezina
Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge this week is Clean.
Many are incredulous that the waters around Manhattan are clean enough to swim in.
But it’s true.*
These are photos from the last three years of the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, a world-class, 28.5-mile swim around Manhattan, organized by NYC Swim every June or July. (Stories and more photos are here, here, and here.) This year on June 14, June 28, and July 12!
*Of course, you should still probably get your shots first ;-)
Vladimir Brezina (RIP) 
Johna Till Johnson
Wind Against Current 
clean but cold? or not
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Depends on the date and on how advanced the season is that year, and of course on each swimmer’s preferred temperature!
Most often the race is run (I guess I should say “swum”) sometime around the middle of June, when the water is usually in the mid 60s (Fahrenheit)—just right for most swimmers who take part.
But last year the race was in early June and the water temperature was only in the upper 50s in some parts of the river. That was too cold for some swimmers, and a number had to withdraw (for that and other reasons).
On the other hand, one or two years the race was in July, and the water temperature was in the 70s. Many swimmers found themselves overheating.
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Awesome that looks great :)
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:-)
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I’m glad to hear that the water is clean and available for swimmers. It looks extremely inviting.
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Inviting, up to a point. It won’t poison you or make you sick, but it still has trash and dirt in it, some man-made (plastic bags, etc.), some natural (mud), that accumulates especially in certain spots. Here is what it can do to your swimsuit—
In going round Manhattan, the relay of the Lone Starlettes went through a lot of swimsuits!
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Sure the water’s clean enough to swim in. But watch where you walk on the streets!
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That’s why we avoid the streets by going kayaking… :-)
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This is Manhattan water!? I’m shocked! 8-O Glad to know it can be this clean-looking. :-D
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Actually, the things you would worry about most, if they were there, are chemicals and bacteria that you wouldn’t see. What you do see—silt and floating plastic objects—aren’t really that worrisome… ;-)
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Yikes about the chemicals & bacteria!
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Some of the chemicals, such as PCBs, were dumped into the Hudson River (and other waterways such as Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek, which you definitely want to avoid!) years ago and are mostly buried in the bottom mud, so that a short swim probably won’t do much harm. Bacteria (sewage) can overflow into the waterways after a heavy rain and have been an issue in past swims when it rained a lot just before.
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Yikes! I think I’ll simply enjoy the water from land or photos. :-) All very interesting to know, however. Thanks.
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P.S. Have you ever fallen in the water on your kayaking trips? Did you ever have a mishap with kayak in the water?
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Well, you don’t want to think of kayaks as of “normal” boats, where everything depends on keeping the boat upright and the water out of it. In a kayak, you are half in and half out of the water. In calm water you can stay reasonably dry, but in bigger waves the water comes over you whether you like it or not. And then of course many kayak strokes and maneuvers require you to immerse yourself partly or completely in the water, and you should practice those. I don’t do enough of that; Johna does more. But in any case, to be comfortable kayaking you need to think of it in those terms, rather than staying out of the water at all times.
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Ahh! Thanks for this explanation. Hmm… I think I’ll continue to live vicariously through your kayaking adventures and posts. Probably better for me. :-) Have you ever written about how the two of you got started kayaking in the city? If there’s a post, just point me to it, please. :)
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Actually we haven’t written about that—thanks for the idea for a future post! However, we’ve recently been interviewed and that subject came up, so that interview, when it appears, may contain something about it…
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Cool!
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great to see!
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:-) Indeed! What will be next? Oysters?
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we could send over some Sydney rock oysters … haha!
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Thank you, but no need. The oysters that were here before, once upon a time forming huge reefs in New York Harbor, are indeed, with some human help, staging a comeback. In a few years it will be like in Florida, where you can’t kayak anywhere without fear that oyster bars will cut up your boat… ;-)
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well hurray for the oysters, but a bit scratchy for the kayakers!
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Reblogged this on Locating Frankenstein's Brain.
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Thanks!
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how fun – what a nice take on the theme! :) and woo hoo – go NY!
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:-) Thanks!!
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WowWowWow.. cool pics
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Thanks!!
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