In the bad old days I never went swimming after the time change. I was strictly a warm water, daylight saving time swimmer only. Not any more.
I swam in a lake in Colorado at eight thousand feet elevation this past summer. I am a bold old cold water swimmer now. The change happened last January on a Mexican beach in San Carlos. A man from Iowa convinced us swimming in cold water is good for you. I thought Ron was full of bollocks but the new retired me was game for any stupidity. Actually I have to admit that he was right. It was great fun getting used to the cold water. I was proud of myself.
The Ramrod Pool is a lovely under developed spot to take a dip if you feel so inclined. The sides were squared away to make a deep water dock for a development that never happened. The county threw up a couple of signs and called it good. Locals use it after work to drink beer, swim and be noisy. Excellent therapy.
We like serenity of the pool in the morning when everyone is at work and swimming isn’t on the agenda. It was for us.
High high tides can flood the place a bit. The access road takes a dip creating a shallow ford. I drive it slowly to stop spreading salt water everywhere. We park, we swim, and we rinse using our solar shower.
Rusty does not like water and he doesn’t swim. He sits in the shade and keeps an eye on us. I watch him.
After Layne went to California to see her friends I drive out to the pool for a solo swim. And there I found the “King tides” had swamped the rocky surroundings of the pool. I turned back. Nothing daunted I was determined to swim so I went to the new Pine Channel Park on Big Pine Key.
Years ago we swam here in another artificial cut out in the rock. It was a wilderness with occasional boats abandoned and tied up to the bushes. We swam anyway. Now it is all perfectly scrubbed trimmed and built out.
In addition to the stoutly built lookout there is a toilet block with outside shower, no need to bring your own solar rinse machine.
SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK! Danger Will Robinson! The water was lovely.
The mile marker used to be in the middle of Big Pine on Highway One. It was roughly in front of the Salvation Army and the Tom Thumb gas station. It was an original from the Flagler Railroad. It just sat there marking 30 miles to Key West. Now it is preserved as a monument and any that see it won’t know it was real. Time passes.
I fear the Ramrod Pool will get a makeover before long. It’s not that a proper park is a bad thing but like the refurbished mile marker with fresh paint and a new location the old pool is a connection to a past that is submerged by make overs. I value the rough edges and lack of amenity. Long may they last.
