See my list of posts for part 1.
As was lucky enough to grow up on a lake as incredible as Sweetwater, in Brown County, Indiana, I learned at a very young age to love all aspects of the water. I learned to swim at a very young age – I think I was in the water before I was able to even walk, probably about 6 months of age. That allowed me to have a fierce respect, and a good mastery of being in the water, which lead to several life long hobbies.
I learned to swim at a very young age, which has lead to a lifelong, very competitive participation in the sport of swimming, both in the swimming pool and in open water, as a US Swimming Youth Competitor, Trinity High School Varsity Swimmer & Team Captain, as a freshman, US Masters Swimming Competitor, and as a short and long course triathlete. As an adult, I have logged over 1200 miles in open water alone, as well as many heat and final race top finishes in US Masters Swimming. I do have a love-hate relationship with swimming though. I hate the preperation of getting ready to swim, and I hate a LONG drawn out slow swimming session. I love swimming short and fast. This only applies to pool swims though, as I love a good 2-3 mile lake swim, especially solo. I have additionally coached several hundred people in their first and in continued open water swimming in training for triathlons. I have spent much time in the lake I’m currently fortunate to live on, Morse Reservoir in Hamilton County, Indiana. You can say that water is my happy spot.
I cut my teeth for fishing at Sweetwater Lake when I was about 3-4 years old. I remember having a cane pole, digging worms to catch bluegill near the dock. I even spent an afternoon with a bare shiny brass hook and caught over 30 fish with no bait. My fishing has “grown up” as I have. I now love fly fishing, salt water fishing, and have taken up paddle boarding, both as a hobby, and as a convenient platform for fly fishing in both lakes and rivers. I love the last of March and beginning of April, as the winter is wearing off, and the trout streams are being stocked. Aside from the odd winter fish trip or two, this is when fishing season starts here in Indiana, and I try not to miss out. Unfortunately, with my ankle surgery, this means the beginning of April is only 5 weeks post surgery, and I’ll likely be off my right ankle for 6-8 weeks.
I had to learn to swim pretty young, because this was one of the rules to being able to learn to water ski. I was on 2 skis when I was about 5 or 6, and learned to slalom as a teen. I was able to do a couple slalom competitions, and ski shows when I was in college, but my ankles don’t allow for this since my mid-20s.
I guess with everything I have done, you can say that I am part fish. I at least feel like it every time I’m in the water. I’m already planning on spending time at the gym after my surgery, in the pool, both swimming and water jogging to try to get into some decent aerobic shape. Check back for other parts to this post, as well as updates on my continued antics in the water. It’s about 7 degrees out today, so I am comfortable just planning on spending the rest of the day inside with the dogs, maybe reading or watching TV, maybe both. Until next time, have a great afternoon!
