Last year I put on layers and layers of thick, white, fishy-smelling Desitin on every inch of my body, only to be told that I would not able to start my swim. So you can imagine the nervousness I had putting Desitin in anticipation of the same swim a year later, hoping it would not be called off. The reason I was putting on Desitin, more commonly known as diaper rash cream, was mainly to protect my skin from the sun, but also from the polluted water of San Francisco Bay. For some reason I was not nervous for the swim itself, it was just supposed to be a 10-mile swim to Angel Island and around the island and back. I had heard about other people completing, thought to myself “How hard could it be?” I was all greased up with Destin, I had my cap and goggles on, and I was ready to swim. I stood on the shore waiting for the “OK,” to start. In times like these, waiting to get into the water, when I wonder why I attempt such extravagant, complex, and technical swims. They are long and hard, and really can be monotonous at times. Sometimes I think I am crazy for swimming miles in the ocean beginning at the earliest hours, but at this point, there really wasn’t anything I could do. Just swim. 

I stepped into the water and it was warmer than I expected. Around me were other swimmers in their bathing suits cheering me on. They were going out for a swim since the flood current was going to be strong and help push them from Golden Gate to Bay Bridge. As I submerged myself in the water, I thought that this was going to be a quick, 7 hours swim, there was nothing to worry about. 

Within 30 minutes I was out next to Alcatraz. I had swum in the water so many times, I knew it by heart. It was one of my talents, drop me anywhere in between the Golden Gate and Bay Bridge and I would be able to find my way home. My crew on the boat were cheering me on, yelling “You are doing so well, you are going so fast.” Lisa, the crew chief, even joked “the Coastal Guard gave you a speeding ticket.” I was gliding through the water, having an enjoyable time. I thought about what I would say when I finished and couldn’t decide between “I wish all my swims were that easy,” “Literally could do this in my sleep.” I continued to make progress and 1 hour in the sun started to rise. The best part of all my swims was when the sun rose. The orange, yellow glow of the sky reflecting on the ocean, was the most beautiful sight. The water always felt warmer in the sun, oh and I could actually see. 

I split the swim into 6 parts. First would be swimming to Alcatraz. Then would be the swim from Alcatraz to Angel Island. Third, the portion around Angel Island. Next back to Alcatraz from Angel Island. Fifth a simple Alcatraz to shore swim. And finally, the last 1000 meters of the swim where I am so, so close to finishing, but still not yet there. I had easily swam to Alcatraz and was now working my way to Angel Island. It was a tad bit difficult because the wind was creating waves which we hitting me in the face, but like everything, I got through it. By the time I reached Angel Island, I had been swimming for 3 and a half hours; I was quote “ahead of schedule.” I rounded the corner of Angel Island and the wind instantly died down. 

I thought for awhile about how my name is Angel and how the island name is Angel. There was not much besides our names relating, but it was a nice anecdote to think about. I watched the trees on the backside of Angel Island fly past me. I really like swimming, because I get to see how things look from a various perspective. I have seen the San Francisco cityscape from the water at 3 am, 6 am, 12 pm, 9 pm. Each time it is changes and different parts of the city are highlighted. It is really something you can only understand from the water. I thought about this as I rounded Angel Island, how everyone sees the front part of the island, but I saw how it looks from the back. It made me feel special like I was in on a secret. I also thought about the Spongebob meme and created a meme about this swim: RoUNDtRiP AngEL ISLaNd iS a HaRD SwiM. I laughed (in my head) about it for a while. That’s when I started to slow down. I had spoken too soon and the Ocean Gods need to humble me. They pushed waves at my face, gradually decreased the water temperature, made me swim on a treadmill for a little bit. But it was nothing I have not handled before, so I got through it. Lisa said, “Hey Angel, get to Alcatraz, and it is all downhill from there!” It was not all downhill from there, in fact, it was uphill, a steep, neverending, dreadful uphill. 

​I had reached Alcatraz and since I had swum from Alcatraz 51 times before, this was sure to be easy. But on the contrary, I was not going anywhere, anytime soon. I was 20 feet away from the island and was not moving one bit. I was kicking the hardest I had ever kicked. I was putting in so much effort and I was not moving. I swam closer to the island, 10 feet away, 5 feet away, nearly touching the island and I was not making any progress. I was getting a little-pissed off. No, actually I was legitimately pissed off. My crew was on the boat having the time of their lives while I was simply not moving. Waves were hitting me in my face, going up my nose and down my mouth. I started raging. I WAS NOT MOVING! At times, I was actually moving backward. I started to scream in the water, a bunch of swear words, to say the least. It was the angriest I had ever been in my life. 

I later found out that I was in the same exact place for 2 hours. Do you know how that feels? To feel like you are working so hard to not drowning and to feel helpless, but to still have to find the inner fire to keep swimming. Then after crossing that section I swam back towards to Aquatic Park. But I was pushed towards the Bay Bridge and had to swim a few extra miles against the current before reaching the opening. 

Throughout the swim I wondered if my crew was thinking of calling the swim and picking up out of the water. I knew for sure that I was not getting out since I had spent so much energy and I did not want to have to do the swim again. I was not getting out of the water until I walked out. And I did walk out the water 11 hours after I walked back in.

I want to thank my outstanding crew!!
John Morrison was a fantastic kayaker. I was in awe that he was on the kayak for 11 hours in the super rough water! 
Lisa Amorao, as always, came through and was a great crew chief as usual. 
Evan Morrison was the observer from Marathon Swimmers Federation and ensured my swim was on track despite the winds, tides and other challenges!
Brent McLain was the captain of the boat. 

This morning I had an interview with CNN again. It was a few hours before my Roundtrip Angel Island. That's all I could think about throughout the whole interview. Glad it went well though! 

Online Version

Just a few days before my Roundtrip Angel Island swim... Since I am tappering for the swim I could not do the Birdwatcher's annual Bridges to Wharves swim. But I was able to be part of the  beach landing crew. I helped welcome the swimmers to Capitola with hot chocolate, towels, and blankets, and ensured that all swimmers were accounted for. Was great to hear the swimmer's stories from the water.