So who in the northern climes is still swimming?

[CarlD]

Not me!

My solar cover picked late August to start popping bubbles into the water, so it's been pulled and sliced up for disposal.

So the solar panels are off to let the water cool down. Without the cover, this time of year it's IMPOSSIBLE to keep the temp up--plus the sun patterns are different so I don't get as many hours. Water's been in the 60's since there's cover.

I'll probably get in, but I'll have a wetsuit on--too cold for my wimpy skin!

[fcfrey]

Not me!
I'll probably get in, but I'll have a wetsuit on--too cold for my wimpy skin!

Just curious --- where did you get the wet suit?? Somehow I can't picture my CHUBBY body in a wet suit but.

The bottom fell out of the pool temp --- down to 72 this morning so I put the winter cover on but it's so depressing having to close.

[CarlD]

Just curious --- where did you get the wet suit?? Somehow I can't picture my CHUBBY body in a wet suit but.

The bottom fell out of the pool temp --- down to 72 this morning so I put the winter cover on but it's so depressing having to close.

Online. I think it was West Marine or a similar place. Cost about $100 from ankles to wrists. I'm no string-bean myself, but they come in all sizes. Just don't wear it when and where anyone who doesn't love you (like spouse and kids--wellllll--maybe not the kids) can see you!

Meanwhile, we had a cold snap and my pool hit 60, so yesterday I closed it down for the winter. As usual, figuring out which end of the safety cover was which was...interesting. I figured out which end was which, but it took my 12 year old to figure out which corner went where--BEFORE we unfolded all 42'x18' of it!

I drop the water enough so if I hang by my feet from the railing I can get the low drain in without freezing more than my arm to mid-bicep. I put on a diver's glove so the fingers don't go numb--elbow and upper arm don't matter. Otherwise I have to put on the wet-suit and get in.

It went surprisingly easy this year. The solar panels blew out faster, the cover went on faster, and the equipment (pump and plumbing) broke down faster. I must finally be getting good at it...