They do it for different reasons.
Every Wednesday and Friday morning at 6am they come to Camp Kitchen, at the mouth of the Muskoka River leading into Huntsville, and swim out into Fairy Lake. Some go longer than than others, but they all share a love of fitness, the challenge and the feeling they get after they complete their early morning workout. For some it’s just a nice way to start the day, while for others it’s a fitness journey and the search for a very healthy lifestyle.
It’s all a project that was started by Jane Wolfe 15 years ago.
It’s open to anyone who wants to come out and join the group. There were 15 participants there this past Friday, but there have been as many as 36. In fact parking at Camp Kitchen has become a challenge on those busy mornings. They start in June and run through September and swim at their own pace and distance.
Every swimmer has an orange buoy attached to them as they head out from the landing at Camp Kitchen going for the Scots Bonnet Island.
The group gets ready to hit the water.
Brian Gray of Huntsville comes out for the sheer enjoyment of the swim. He has been doing it for about four years and swims about two kilometres. “It’s fun,” he said. “You feel fantastic once you are done. I do triathlons and swims are a good thing to do in groups and a good start to the morning.”
Susan Lang of Huntsville and Jane Wolfe were original MUSAC swimmers and participating in the Fairy Lake swim was a natural follow up. “I’ve known Jane since the 70s,” Susan said as she was preparing to go into the water yet again. “It’s the Wolfe pack, but I just enjoy swimming. I do the longest swim and am in it for the fitness.”
Jennifer Nicholson of Huntsville said its such a beautiful way to get exercise.
Often there are sunrises here, and calm water. It’s a real sacred way of getting exercise in the morning and being with people and its free. Different people come out with different abilities and we look out for the last person. It’s really encouraging. Everyone can remember their first swim.Swimmer Jennifer Nicholson
Fiona Whitey
Fiona Whitey of Toronto, who also lives near Hidden Valley, is using the twice weekly swims to help in her training for the Ironman World Championships in October in Hawaii. It will be her third Ironman and also the ten year anniversary of the first one she did.
“You don’t get a chance to swim with up to 35 others very often,” Whitey said. “At six in the morning the lake is gorgeous. There’s nobody on the water. It’s amazing.”
The swimming component of the World Ironman championship is 3.8km. On Friday Whitey was planning to swim about 3km in Fairy Lake.
As the day brightened they entered the water at about 6:20am. Moments later there was the sound of solid swim strokes, and a scattering of orange buoys as they headed out into the lake once again. Each were enjoying the moment and reaching their individual level of satisfaction from being part of the event. Most if not all will be back next week to do it again.
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