You have to love a Hero water camera. A flick of the wrist...

After a few weekly dips at Dilworth with the ladies who rock (“G-Pod,” represent!) and swim fervently on a regular basis out there, I have ventured with a friend to Burton where Whulging is a regular summer affair. We’ll go again this afternoon. Yesterday, I decided to dip in a little closer to home, by La Playa on the North End. Kayak escorts (son and hubbie), I went marker to marker on the east side of the dock. The tide was high, the kelp was all around, and halfway through a surprisingly tidal swim (my heading was challenged by current) I realized a harbor seal was in tow just a few yards behind me. BIGTIME!

Water, water everywhere: Vashon's north end

Suffice it to say, this sight of a head outta water staring at me - one bigger than a human head – and those big dark eyes, yeah, it expedited my swim. I triangulated straight back for the restaurant with close escorts, and am pretty sure that was probably my best swim time yet! At any moment I pictured an angry mama seal body-bumping me from beneath on the way back in…or worse yet, a male pursuing a potential mate in a black Xterra wetsuit! The imagination runs away, really. Yay, boat ramp! The only thing better would’ve been Miguel running out with a shot of some-some to warm me up. LOL.

I think I’ll stick to Dilworth and Burton…

View of Whulge Beach/Burton from the water.

Water Daze participants get a workout hoisting the boat for the first time.

VIJC couldn’t have asked for a better day when it hosted 2011 Water Daze. This gentle introduction to crew saw kids ages 8th grade and up erg-ing (distance clocked on the rowing machine), hauling the boats to shore and doing boatloads of Q&A in their consideration of the sport. This is not for everyone, but if you love water, teamwork and sweating then this could be the ticket.

Unless you’ve been delinquent in keeping up the Beachcomber reading you know this has been a banner year for crew: two of its VIJC teams placed during the USRowing Youth National Championships. The men’s lightweight doubles came home with a third placing, and the women’s varsity quad placed second. Not too shabby in the big picture: 1,500 rowers in 18 racing categories (in 93-degree heat in Tennessee!). Congratulations to Coach Steve Full and all the hardworking athletes!

Thanks to Krista Black for catching this classic and oh so Vashon sign, posted in the Village Green bathroom above the sink. Where do we start with this one? Do we have that many weed smokers hovering round the Green that it necessitates a bong water dumping sign, really? Wouldn’t they just pour it into the bushes or onto the ground? And who in the world is going to tote around a BONG?

Really?  Wow. Who knew?