Five-foot waves on the Potomac and 20 mph winds, on the morning of June 5 were our first clues that the Potomac swim would be different this year. The Coast Guard and Skipjack (Dee of St. Mary’s) which transport the kayaks and swimmers across the river to the start, called at 5AM to advise against having the swim due to the severe conditions. What to do with the 23 swimmers and 30+ kayakers who had gathered at the marina? Swim somewhere else – namely 3 miles on Lake Conoy, a protected area at Point Lookout. Undeterred by the wind and rain, the swimmers gamely completed the course with the assistance of the Chesapeake Paddlers who set up the course and directed the swimmers. At times the water was so shallow that the swimmers had to walk but they completed the “duathlon” without complaint. Times were kept, awards were distributed, and the environmental groups graciously had the picnic early.
The post-swim lunch, prepared by the Potomac River Association and the Sierra Club Southern Maryland Group, was enjoyed by all participants. Many thanks are owed to the numerous volunteers and organizations who helped make the swim possible. Included in that group are: Christina & Frank Allen, Bob Boxwell, Charles County Dive & Rescue, Chesapeake Bay Field Lab, Inc., Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Chesapeake Paddlers, Curtis Dalpra, Bob & Brenda Elwood, Dee of St. Mary’s, Pat Feeney, Cathie & Tommy Gardner, Hale House, Kurt & Gwyn Hein, Robert & Mary Hicks, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, Erik Jansson, Harry & Mildred Kriemelmeyer, Bob Lewis, Dudley Lindsley, MD Natural Resources Police, Mary Greer & Trinity Parish Hall Volunteers, Emily Morse, Rich Bourgerie of NOAA, Patuxent Adventure Center, Patuxent Friends, Point Lookout State Park, Potomac River Association, Virginia Record, Ridge Fire & Rescue, Cynthia Ross, Scheible’s Motel, June & Robin Shaffer, Scott Leidig & the Chesapeake Boston Whalers, the Southern Maryland Sierra Club, US Coast Guard, and John & Georgia Wheeler.
Swimmers raised pledges totaling $9,500 and the top fundraisers were: Dan Dooher $2636, Leonard Jansen $375, and Meryem Tangoren-Masood $350. After expenses, all proceeds will be distributed equally to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Potomac River Association, the Southern Maryland Sierra Club, and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.
Next year’s swim will take place on June 4, 2005. Please join us next year for another successful event. For more information visit our website: http://www.crosslink.net/~cherylw/pr2005i.htm or contact Cheryl Wagner, cherylw@crosslink.net , 202-387-2361 H, 202-478-0948 FAX.
Complete results with photos of each swimmer can be viewed at: http://www.crosslink.net/~cherylw/prs2004-results.htm.