Jillaire & the Roy Webster Cross-Channel Swim

So, the real reason my parents came to visit us for the Labor Day weekend?  To see me swim across the Columbia River during the 69th Annual Roy Webster Cross-Channel Swim.  That's right.  I SWAM ACROSS THE COLUMBIA RIVER, the largest river in the Northwest (and 4th-largest, by volume, in the USA).

The photo above is by Rick Bowmer/Associated Press and appeared online at bendbulletin.com/local. The guy with the crocodile is a veteran of the Roy Webster Swim.  He tows that thing--which has its own set of goggles--every year!

At dawn on the morning of Monday, September 5, along with about 480 other crazy people, most importantly my friend Jody, I rode the Sternwheeler paddle boat from the Hood River Marina, under the Hood River Bridge, docked alongside a barge, made the 12-foot jump into the Columbia River, and swam 1.1 miles back to a small beach by the Hood River Inn.

Jody and I were in line for check-in just before 5am even though the boat wouldn't depart until 7 and jumping off wouldn't commence until 8. We knew that the earlier we checked in the earlier we'd get to jump off the boat.  We ended up being in the 8th flight; each flight had 10 swimmers.  Because we were told that flights would jump every 5-10 minutes, we figured our earliest jump time would be 8:40.  That gave my family time to watch the Sternwheeler and first jumpers from the top of Dock Grade Road in White Salmon.

What they could see: The big thing on the left is the barge and Sternwheeler.  The white dots going across are the small watercraft that create the swimming lane.

We actually jumped off every 3 minutes or so, which meant I was likely in the water before the family was even watching.  And, I ended up coming out at the beach well before expected.  I could see my mom sitting on some rocks with Adah and Maggie when I was making my way out of the water.  They didn't see me and I took off my orange swim cap and waved it at them.  Damon was still parking the car. When he showed up with Holly a few minutes after I'd been up on the grass, he spotted me and his jaw dropped.  He couldn't believe I'd already made it across.  I did get across faster than I expected (we think about 40-45 minutes; we figured it would take an hour), but we'd also jumped in much earlier.

I'm in the group of swimmers coming out of the water below.  I'm in the blue sleeveless wetsuit.  The woman in the bright orange swimming suit is to my right.  The people in shirts were volunteers that stood in the water to help us in over the rocks; they were wearing shoes, no doubt.

I am very proud of my accomplishment. The Roy Webster Swim is not a race.  It's not a competition.  There are no prizes, no places.  It's just about swimming across the river and saying you've done something.

Jillaire & Jody feeling triumphant after the swim and wearing their special-issue orange caps. Every swimmer wore one of these for safety.  They were numbered and assigned to us, and we were checked off as we left the water.

I almost didn't do it.  Even though Jody and I had set the goal a year before when we went to reconnoiter last year's swim, I nearly chickened out in August.  It was harder to get to the pool to train during the summer than I anticipated (hello! I've got 4 kids) and my first open water swim pretty much freaked me out.  Jody and I were swimming across nearby Rowland Lake while our husbands and kids frolicked near the shore in our rowboat, when I had the realization I am in the middle of a lake. I can't touch the bottom.  If I get tired and can't make it, I WILL DROWN.  We hollered for Damon to come with a boat and he made it to the other shore just after we did.  (Good thing I didn't need him.)

I really second guessed the whole scheme at that point, but I really didn't want to give up on my goal.  Part of me thought that maybe when I went to register that the boat would be full and the decision would be made for me. But, after some encouragement from Damon and support in the way of going late to work so I could get in some morning swims at the pool that doesn't open until 8:00 (seriously?), I decided I could do it.

All along I knew that I would be safe.  Kayaks, paddle boards, and sailboats line the route, creating a swimming lane and providing encouragement and rescue services as needed.  I knew I wouldn't drown trying to cross the Columbia because someone would always be nearby to pull me out. (Maggie was very nervous for me, though, poor thing.)  But, I also knew that I didn't want to jump in just to be fished out.  I only wanted to jump in if I genuinely thought I could finish.  After several long lap swims at the Hood River pool where I moved non-stop for 40 minutes, 48 minutes, and 66, I felt confident.  My plan was to alternate between the forward crawl and the backstroke, using the latter to catch my breath and rest a little.  In the pool I generally went one length of the pool using each stroke.

Well, once I got in the river it was a whole different story.  There is major adrenaline coursing through your body when you do something like this.  I didn't feel scared when I jumped in the water--which was actually warmer than the outside temperature, by the way--but I just couldn't get my breathing under control.  I was just taking huge, deep breaths--not very conducive to taking many consecutive strokes.  So, I backstroked.

After the initial jump, we were instructed to quickly move away from the boat to adjust caps and goggles.  As we did so, Jody asked if I was ready.  No, I wasn't.  I waved her on ahead and just thought, "She's going to come out on the other side and my family will ask where I am. All she'll be able to say is, 'Last time I saw her was back by the Sternwheeler.'"  I started moving, though, and just kept at it.  I could see that I was being passed by stronger swimmers, and occasionally I'd catch a glimpse of the numbers on other caps; they were from much later flights.  Yet, there were plenty of other swimmers backstroking and moving at about my pace; I even passed some.  At one point I stopped at a kayak to hold on and just catch my breath and take some big breaths to try and relax.  That helped and from there I was able to get more forward swimming in.  Still, I'd say that I probably backstroked for 2/3 to 3/4 of the way across.  I even came up on Jody again, or she came up on me.  I don't quite remember.  I think we leap-frogged each other a couple of times and I came out of the water just before she did.  (I was very proud that I'd kept pace with her since she did a triathlon last year.)

Here's a slideshow of the swim, complete with some audio interviews, that appeared on the website of the Hood River News.  0(Scroll down to the second image to see the slideshow.)  I'm in the top left of the photo at 58 seconds (it counts down). I'm behind some sign posts in the blue sleeveless wetsuit next to that woman in the orange swimsuit.

The Cross-Channel Swim began in 1942 when local orchardist, Roy Webster, challenged himself to swim across the Columbia River.  The event has grown more and more each year.  Jody and I got our photo taken with Roy Webster, himself! 

He is no longer alive, but his family still lives and grows fruit in the Hood River Valley.  We know many of them since they are LDS and belong to our stake.  I literally bumped into Roy's grandson Scott while we were swimming!  Apparently next year, the 70th year of the swim, all Websters aged 10 and above are required to participate. (You have to be at least 10.)  I don't know if I could let my 10-year-old do that. We'll see what kind of swimmers they are then.

But, everyone else is invited to join us next year.  I'm pretty sure Jody is in.  I want to do it again and hope to get more friends to join us.  Whether you're a local or live far away, come visit for Labor Day weekend 2012!  Even if you don't want to swim, you can come watch.