Swimming season... sort of
Let me begin with an apology for the inconsistency in my blog-posting schedule lately. Between work and play, I'm finding less and less time to prioritize writing (though I'm not actually too upset about that). Alas, today's 12 Miles Out To Sea topic is a Maine summertime staple: swimming of course!
I’ve always loved swimming, which is not to say I’m a good swimmer by any stretch (doggie paddling and an off-center backstroke is sufficient enough for me), I just enjoy being submerged and floating along. It’s now July and as my Snapchat memories can attest, I’d normally find myself spending scorching days at Hiram Falls or tubing down the Ossippee with friends. Needless to say, I miss the lukewarm water temps of Cornish, ME. Contrary to popular belief however, one can swim on Monhegan and while the water may be shockingly cold and slightly dangerous in some areas––it’s some of the most fun I’ve had so far on the island.
There are two popular swimming spots which are occupied almost exclusively by tourists during the busy season: Fish Beach and Swim Beach (both located right next to each other). The two beaches are tiny, but they have sand, rocks, sea glass, shells, and calm water to take a dip in. The great part about Fish Beach is how close it is to the Monhegan House. Remember those occasional midday hour or two breaks I have? Well last week we had a big power outage on a super hot (for Monhegan) day, meaning all air conditioning and fans were temporarily unavailable. As I finished up my shift I was covered in sweat and decided I simply couldn’t wait any longer for my first swim in the ocean of the season. I hastily threw on a bathing suit and after a 45-second walk, found some friends laying on towels in the sand at Fish Beach, listening to music. We spent the afternoon swimming, jumping from little cliffs, and sunbathing before I headed back to finish up my 4 PM shift with soaking wet hair and a bit of a sun burn. A pretty productive break if you ask me.
Another spot to swim that's lesser known to the general public and more frequented by locals is Pebble Beach, which if you recall, is an ironic name given the sand is actually huge smooth rocks. There’s loads of seaweed, but the water is shallow and relatively calm due to the seal ledges that break up the waves.
More recently, my favorite place to swim is Manana. Manana is a tiny island located just in front of Monhegan. Some folks even swim to it, it’s so close. The island has one home, an abandoned coast guard station, an information center, and a handful of goats, but getting there is really only possible via kayak or swim seeing as there’s no actual dock. Once you get to Manana though, the feeling of being completely isolated from day-trippers and other people makes the small journey incredibly worth it. Depending on how rough the water is, there are a few small boulders to leap from into the water, but with some newfound courage I managed to get myself to jump off of the bigger cliff as well.
Another interesting facet of Monhegan waters is the bioluminescence. At night you find yourself surrounded by glittery dots and illuminated jellyfish whilst swimming along. The other day a few pals and I decided to jump from the docks around midnight and I can only describe the experience as surreal (though a little bit of liquid courage probably added to the euphoria in all honesty). The water feels warmer at dusk too, making it possible to actually stay in for more than a shivery few seconds.
Like the thrill-seeker I apparently am becoming, I had the bright idea to climb aboard someone’s boat and jump off the side that particular evening. Luckily nobody was sleeping aboard so I didn’t get caught, but now that I’m aware of the possible repercussions of trespassing on docked boats––it was probably a first and last hurrah for me.
Speaking of the dock/wharf though, I have learned (and now participated in) a fun little Monhegan tradition. Whenever a family member, friend, or really anyone who visits you on the island departs on a ferry, it’s tradition to jump from the dock in their honor. I haven’t had any visitors yet, but a friend of a friend came out for a few days and we all made the valiant leap as her boat pulled out of the harbor. Supposedly the visitor leaving is meant to throw flowers from the boat as a final farewell, but we didn’t have time to snag Zoe any tossable daisies. Still though, we had a good turnout with about eight of us that jumped. Plus the tourists go crazy for us wildlings hopping into the frigid ocean that they themselves wouldn’t dip more than a toe in. I’d say there were half a dozen passengers with their phones out recording the whole ordeal. I think it’s an adorable practice and I love the sentiment, though I may not be as eager to dive in the waves come September.
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