Jordan Rapp and I are in Sonoma hosting a bike tour and looking for a place to open water swim tomorrow and sunday, any suggestions? we went to lake berryessa last year, it was full of duck sh#t… we’re thinking Lake Sonoma or the russian river. Close to Sonoma is a priority.
any suggestions?
Simon Whitfield
Assuming you mean the town of Sonoma, California, you’re kind of out of luck for anything close by. Lake Sonoma is probably a 1:00+ drive - the water level is pretty low this year, but it might be ok swimming. you’d want to get there as early as possible to avoid the power boats. I don’t think any of the dams are up in the russian river yet, so finding a place to swim there could be problematic.
We will swim in Lake Illsanjo in Annadel state park (in santa rosa). But it’s a real small lake - maybe 400m across, and probably full of duck sh#t as well. It’s a couple of miles of trail in from the nearest parking place. There’s no swimming allowed in Spring lake, which is the bigger lake close by.
Lake Berryessa isn’t too bad, but it’s not exactly close either. People swim from China Camp State beach in Marin, it’s probably 45+ minute drive from Sonoma. It’s cold, salty and about 4 inches of visibility.
if you head up highway 12 from Sonoma into Santa Rosa, the Montecito Health club (next to the Flamingo hotel) has a nice 25m lap pool.
My advice would be to go for a run instead. There’s wonderful cycling out here, but open water swimming isn’t all that great.
Where are you riding? stay off of highway 12!
enjoy your stay
J
Berryessa - Its all about where you go. I go swim out of Markley Cove and it is perfect. The only thing is there is a little more boat traffic then I normally like. You can swim out of the marina, but I normally start at the pullout just East of the marina. From there to the point where you can see the dam, it is almost exactly a mile. Makes for a good 2 mile swim.
Screw that, what I want is a video of you feeding Jordan some Beggin’ Strips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug_iluxQ1IQ
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7AM Aquatic Park in San Francisco, about an hours drive. We will be by the bleachers @ 7am wet at 7:15 come on bye. PRetty slim pickens up in Sonoma.
Dutchy
Can you swim the Vineman course in the Russian River or is it only open for the race?