August 9, 2025/Malmö, Sweden/Water Temp 70F (20C)/Air Temp 71F
Today at the lake, I pedaled to the Baltic Sea for my first swim in months. It was a sunny day, but the breeze kept me cool as I navigated my way to Malmö’s Ribersborg Beach (Ribersborgsstranden). I still think it’s kinda thrilling to be so far north and enjoying white sand beaches.
I am still exhausted and jetlagged. I get better each day, but I’ve been on that disorienting roller coaster of feeling a bit euphoric and excited, only to hit a brick wall and feel leaden minutes later. Then I fall asleep, and when I wake up I eat everything in site. This has been the blur I’ve been moving in for five days. I’m feeling more stable and alert, but the fatigue is crushing. Still, I think flying a midnight flight that got me here at night was the right way to go. My body is adapting much better this trip than in 2023, when it it took a full 10 days to feel “normal.”
I was so tired today, despite sleeping for 12 hours. When I got up I felt like my glands are swollen. I have that ragged feeling in my throat that could go either way: fade as I get more acclimated or explode into a sore throat. I decided to press on today and get myself to the beach. I havne’t had my swim routine since the end of March, and I desperately need to get in the water again on a regular basis.
I have been trying something new this past eight months; I do the things I love even if I don’t feel good. Sometimes it pushes me past my threshold and makes my health worse. My sleep falls apart. My asthma flares. I trip and drop things. Sometimes it makes me feel better about myself to accomplish something. I figured out over this past many months that I have to move forward. I have to risk that activity might fell me because the payoff when it doesn’t is essential for my mental health.
It’s a little over four miles to the beach, so I rode at a leisurely pace. There is a festival here for a week, so I tried to skirt the edge of the city to avoid the crowds. I made it to the beach, set my timer, and waded in the crystal clear water. It was cool, about 18-20 C. Perfect for cooling off. I decided to walk to the pier so I could access deeper water, so that took a few minutes. Once in the water I stuck with a very gentle, very slow breast stroke. My throat hurt, and I had some weird pain in my chest, so I took it easy.
I floated on my back for bit, but I’m never good at that. I like to keep moving. There were others in the water, but they were in a small cluster, talking to each other. One woman swam out a bit and floated. I was the only one swimming. I was bummed that I didn’t have my video camera because I would really love to share what it looks like under the water.
Lots of the seaweed is icky brown, but there were also clumps of bright green sea grass. I swam back and forth in a small area, trying to relax. I have a bit of a “to do” list in my head still because I’ve had so much unfinished business in the US to manage – like selling my car! I know that in another week I will be on a new schedule and able to relax completely in the water.
There are these sleek black birds that slightly resemble pelicans. They dive underwater and scoop up fish.
Now I am home and crazy tired. I will eat and then do my laundry. I will try not to fall asleep too early tonight. Thank you, sea. It’s a real trip to swim in the ocean with a view of Denmark!
I smell like the sea. Not showering!