This month, I spent my first nights away from home since we moved and I started this challenge. First, I went to Colorado with some of my college women friends for a long weekend.

We have done this gathering for several years, and it was as wonderful as ever this time around. The aspens were gorgeous and we decided fall in Colorado should be a regular gathering place for us. We rented an AirBnb in the mountains about an hour outside of Denver. The house was built out of old shipping containers, and was within walking distance of a park with gorgeous hiking trails.

There was a lake next to the house, so I planned accordingly. The homeowner told me that a slimy, invasive weed took over the lake during the summer, and that the east beach was the least slimy place to go in. We found a beach that seemed east-ish and my friend Laura and I waded in.

Not only were the weeds slimy, but there was a thick layer of mud that clung to our legs, making it difficult to walk. Also, it was very shallow, so there was no way to submerge myself. There were paddleboards at this beach, so I got on one and paddled over to the actual east beach. After submerging myself, I had a cold paddle back to the original spot. Luckily, the sun was out and my friends were nearby, so it was not unbearable.

The next morning I walked down the road to the actual east beach. As I approached the beach, I heard an unfamiliar but definitely wild animal-sounding huff/grunt. I walked a few feet down the trail, and who should cross the path down by the beach but a moose! I was nervous for a minute, but he was in a hurry to get somewhere and did not notice me. My friend Sara was out on the water, and after confirming that we were each fine, I went in. That, surely, would be the most remarkable thing about swimming in this lake.

Or not. Because this is what we woke to on the final morning:

My rule is that, as long as there is not ice on the water, I have to swim. So I bundled up and walked down the road with my friend Amy as witness/photographer/rescuer.

The water was actually not much colder than it had been the day before. Still, I very much appreciated the proximity to a hot shower.

Last week I took advantage of Amy spending the week in Tacoma, and joined her at her AirBnb on Tuesday night. Tacoma is in Pierce County, where most of my clients live, and it also houses the courthouse I practice in. Wednesday was going to be a full day, with work and going to a Mariner’s game back in Seattle, and I would not get back home until late evening.

I am a morning swimmer, and the thought of waiting until nighttime and possibly forgetting caused some stress. So I decided to do my swim at Owen Beach in Tacoma. I’m very glad I did, because it was wonderful.

When I arrived at 7am there were already people getting into the water:

They were a part of a group of cold plungers called the Bluetits who swim there regularly. They were in the water for about 20 minutes. In solidarity, I extended my swim from the usual 20 seconds to 2 minutes.

Before I got in the water I saw a sea lion swim past. So I am 2 for 2 as far as awesome wildlife sightings on my non-Lake Washington swims.

After my swim I went into a sauna located on the beach where I had booked an hour of time. I thought the sauna had showers and changing rooms, but it turned out there was just a hose and the park bathroom to change in. Still, the sauna felt like a luxury, and I was treated to an amazing sunrise when I came out.

I’m definitely making a return trip to Owen Beach sometime this fall and winter. A wonderful pre-work experience.