Going to the Pool--Seattle Style

I really do love living in Seattle, I just find some of the "customs" very funny! This week has been a "scorcher" for the Pacific Northwest. I grew up in Kansas, and each August went to sleep away camp so when I think of hot weather, I think of 100+ degrees with little relief. However, not having air conditioning now, I'm starting to believe what many other Northwesterners believe: 80 is HOT!

So, in the midst of this current heat wave, Devra, Amy, Amy's son Sam, and I decided to go to Seattle's Coleman Pool. Again, hearkening back to my childhood, I have fond memories of pool trips being a daily outing during the hot summer days. I was so please to have affixed my swim patch to my one piece and to go swimming to escape the heat. Since adulthood, I haven't gone to the pool very often (although Michigan State did have a nice pool).

http://http//www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks////aquatics/colman.htm

The best park of Colman Pool is that it is in a park, on the edge of the Puget Sound. It is salt, not chlorine, water; the water is heated to 85 degrees. You can see the Sound, complete with ferries glazing the water from the pool. Coleman Pool is the type of place that you could envision visiting in the 40's and 50's. It has a retro feel with old brick building, huge pool, 2 diving boards, and a real slide (the covered, swirly type you usually see at amusement parks). Do you have to ask? Yes, I spent the extra $1 for the slide--I'm glad I'm short or it would have been (really) obvious that I was the oldest person in line to take the ride.

I had a great time in the water. The salt makes you a bit more buoyant. I had fun spinning Sam around for a "ride". It was also funny to hear that before the trip, Amy had to explain to Sam that the pool was an outdoor pool (a foreign concept to a kid born in these parts). I also found it funny that a woman got out of the pool and put on a light (twin set) sweater. Ok, it was breezy and a little chilly, but a sweater!!!

Afterwards, we had a treat at Starbucks and then we went to Pegasus' Pizza (another great view of the water). After going home to a stuffy apartment, I was glad to have had a fun day at the pool!