The biggest, splashiest welcome to our very first guest blogger, Patrice Hall! She has been instrumental in our summer of swimming, hosting we three swimmers for an epic weekend on the river, filled with cliffjumping, skinnydipping and docktails and general swim-y merriment.

Here's Patrice and her beautiful river:

Where do you swim?

River *

Lake

Pond

Ocean

Pool

Do you swim here often?

I swim in it as often as I can from May to September

How did you first learn about this swimming hole?

One day I woke up with a horseshoe in my a** and came to find myself living on the most beau-ti-ful river in Chelsea QC. I’m still uncovering all its nooks and crannies and the special little swimming holes it hides. 

What is it like?

Clear

Murky

Weedy

Other: It’s complicated

Water texture/temp/colour: 

The Gatineau is black water due to the tannins from decomposing trees (it was a logging river after all) and it has a silky texture that I love. 

What colour is your bathing suit (or was it a skinny-dipping situation?) 

I’m all about the no-suit salute! You’ll find me down at the river almost every night after dark. 

Sand/rock bottom? Weeds/no weeds? 

The Gatineau River has it all and I enjoy it all.

What is your swimming style?

Floater

Lengths

Head up breaststroke *

Michael Phelps-style butterfly

How did you get into the water?

If I’m not being silly (which is a lot of the time), a long shallow dive is my most favourite entry.

What's your swimming story? 

Swimming’s been a constant – from backyard lessons to lifeguarding to summer camp. Now, it keeps me sane and whole. A dip in the river washes my stress away and connects me with life’s simple pleasures.