The Step 1 - June 22, 2008: Anger - ISPRA km. 6.90 's leg Sunday, June 22 is probably longer than those so far discussed.
I think it's fair to state that it is very difficult to give a reasonably accurate measurement of distances, in the last years the system we used was to to transfer a geographical map in Autocad and draw a broken line on the same map (poyline), of which the program is automatically count the length.
The procedure is quite cumbersome, however, and then I had come unprepared on Sunday morning when everyone asked me, as usual, an exact distance to two decimal places and I improvised pulling eye to assess a length of about 7 km, yesterday, fortunately, the new Manuel Cardana arrived, much younger and therefore more technologically advanced than me, suggested I use the Nike Plus package free with which you can draw them fast paths, counting the lengths and store for the future: Nike is clear that the thought of land routes, but it is clear that you can safely enhance the water courses, and so I immediately did and found that actually crossed the milestone is very close to 7 miles, just like the next to Arolo from Ispra.
Then everyone goes swimming trajectories often made inaccurate by continuous zig-zag path that undoubtedly stretch real good percentage, for example, I do find it hard to swim right into deep water without references and background I prefer being able to continually steer on it, although I realize that so often I find myself swimming with deviations well above 45 ° the ideal trajectory, more and more tired then I tend to swim in a disorderly losing direction continuously.
but recovered to guide the first stage of Longalago 2008.
From Pallanza a dozen people moved with two cars and a boat, because another boat provided for the organization had ignition problems actually making a little 'critical assistance to the swimmers during the day .
in Anger already waiting for us some friends, worried about the time that it announced bad as the mountains behind Arona was being quite a storm with heavy rain and thunder, if you had moved over the lake, we might have even discouraged to enter the water because they swim with the lightning above your head is always a very unpleasant situation.
Luckily the storm moved away and we could prepare to enter the water at the beach town of Angera, partially occupied by a shipyard in the course of completion, but nice with a natural background and large willows planted with your feet in the water.
The best surprise was to discover that we were going to get dressed and go into the water even in 14, one of the bigger numbers for a single stage and also taking into account the unexpectedly scary that just a few days earlier he had scourged the Lago Maggiore keeping the water temperature dangerously low: Monday afternoon I was still a fact communicated to Ghiffa temperature at a depth of 1 m of 16.9 °!
Sunday however, the water was probably around 19 degrees, with some points with cold currents from the promontory of Ranchi, and then was accettabilissima; Luciano Riva was the only one who swam for the entire stage without changes, while the newcomer Tazarine Hamza, great promise as originating in Morocco, he swam with a pack to saloppette, coming out of the water, however, with showy blue from the cold and abrasions caused by rubbing of the braces.
In addition to
Tazarine other 3 new entries: Stephane Cosse, Swiss by birth, and Manuel Antonio Toniolo Cardana, with the greatest satisfaction among which the regulars Susy Musso for determination and power sports and Erica Bresadola for the stoic determination with which addresses these steps long with his personal style defined similrana.
Montante, Magistri, Baccelli and Bruno are old friends who are always happy to get back with Roberto, Diego and me.
The start repeating the ritual of always: Erica, Troubetzkoy and I seem to be stuck with their feet and see the beach from the water in a flurry of real group of swimmers who do not know until the review!
Meanwhile, the team of care, now much reduced in number, is set in motion, and only consists of two kayaks, one led by the legendary Nello, and my old boat by my wife in the highly contested only hear the voice of master and part only when turning the ignition key is me.
In fact during the course of the stage was then seen that with such a large number of swimmers assistance was too limited: it was not a fact wanted, but it happened because it is a speedboat that had problems had to be available Power to the night before unexpectedly. However
after the start I started quietly, conscious of my inferiority compared to the sports group of the head, trying a new pair of fins to the inordinate length of carbon, with which I had vainly hoped to reduce the gap with the real swimmers, to no avail because in fact I've probably made a tremendous effort and I went forward at a speed lower than normal.
Putting aside my sporting ambition as usual I started to examine the background while I was passing under brumeggiavo; Angera beginning to the end was very monotonous, with a slow descent into the deep, sandy and stony at times, almost completely devoid of fish, as well as throughout the rest of the swim I do not have hardly ever seen.
One big chub, no water snake, a perch, a small spurs of whitefish and small size required.
Solo, attached to all possible shelters such as piles, piers, floats, clouds of small fry, probably in large growth retardation than the seasonal average for the low water temperature up to this day.
Throughout the first part of the lake to an infinite number of slides, such as concrete, such as iron, the latest in stainless steel, with tracks sunk everywhere wildly with concrete pipes of old sewers, large truck tires to the point of wondering why none of those who live on these shores in these houses in my opinion very ugly, but certainly much loved by their masters, they never take the trouble to get in the water and remove some of these wastes.
I also believe that the majority of these slides is often ruined abusive or non-compliant, and I think it should be mandatory for anyone who regularly carries out also an artifact of this kind, then remove the remains after the departure or after revocation of the permit.
But this is my feeling, or of one that looks underwater, while the vast majority of who sees the lake sees him only as a beautiful and reflective surface, light blue, blue, green, silver, but absolutely do not think about what lies beneath it.
Overall a boring backdrop to the tip of Ranchi, plus the constant nuisance of these unexpected obstacles to overcome.
But every now beginning to appear not made of parts of the coast to the shores of the lake and features a growing number of reeds began to score, ridandomi a bit 'in a good mood and a greater desire to look carefully to find fish.
But even there I saw no trace of fish, and I, who have always dreamed that on the edge of the reeds at the bottom to rest big lights waiting for smaller fish that inadvertently moving away from protection of the barrels, I was disappointed in my expectations.
Sometimes a sandy bottom some tuft or some branch of Miriophillum protruding to remember that the condition for the survival of aquatic plants should be: it is also possible that the scarcity of plants that I see is due to the fact that these have not yet affected by raising the water temperature is probably still limited to the first meter of surface depth, and are not yet starting to throw the vegetation in summer. After
Ranco, turn the tip, deep deep down I see the sails of small boats that are racing in front of the sailing club in Ispra where we are waiting, but the distance is still at least 3 or 4 km and contracts with a maddening slowness.
It is better not to think and relax and watch the coast, more beautiful and the seabed becomes more interesting every time I meet Quassa entering the bay of the giant boulders resting on the sandy bottom that is now entirely; materials are erratics each other, I see the light granite, I see that look like large blocks of gneiss, protrudes from the water near the shore a giant boulder of red granite, probably from the bottom up not less than 7 or 8 m, and I am thinking that these boulders are glacial transport and the fact that they are still deposited on the surface above the sand probably means that the amount of suspended sediment is very low.
The bottom of the bay at about 4 feet deep at some point is covered entirely with vegetation very low, difficult to read with the water so opaque as it is today and I plan to come back when I get a chance to bring surface in some specimens of these plants that may be of Najas.
Large bivalve occasionally draw perfect circles of curious crawling in the sand to the point that comes to mind artifacts that are sometimes sunk, but still no fish.
On the surface, but you begin to see the spectacular gardens of the villa already Sagramoso, dock with the size of a small pond with sloping lawns, with a forest of conifers to run along the long border fence to lake, with a glance the total outstanding, and that gives back to other times.
I realize that there is still more than half a mile because I have to get through the town of Ispra and the marina to get to the sailing club and get ready to face the last difficult part of my swim, when I see instead I make big bank signals: are my friends who are wrong and fell on the first beach you have met!
I must say that it does not seem to me true and pure'm sorry I threw a bin at the friendly president of the sailing club that is waiting, I left the water happy to have finished this step so long, especially taking into account the fact that are completely out of practice.
Back to fish out the boat with the indefatigable Eric continues gallantly assisted by two canoeists and finally the stage is over.
I'm tired, but as always I am happy, happy to have faced and overcome a considerable effort, having reviewed the My friends, they got closer and closer towards the completion of the tour of the lake, which sounds like a preposterous undertaking, even remotely feasible, and instead we feel for each phase a little more closely.
the next step!, Hoping that the water is still a bit 'hotter, it becomes more clear and I can meet some fine specimen of the fish that I like very much, and in particular I'd like to see some nice pike or some big tench and why not, even some nice largemouth bass.