Christopher Spangler photo
Georgy Girl was a 1966 romantic comedy starring Lyn Redgrave. It featured a bouncy, hummable title song by The Seekers. I've never seen the movie but for some reason the song has stuck with me. Maybe that's why my first thought upon seeing this photo was "These are the new 'Georgy Girls'". Lake Georgy girls to be precise.
In these pandemic times the masks need no explanation but maybe the pose does. The four women are whimsically demonstrating their swim stroke, a motion that served each well in recent Lake George swims. You may already be familiar with these athletes and their accomplishments. Perhaps you have read about them in local media. What's extraordinary is to see them all together, clearly enjoying each others company.
That's Louise Rourke on the left. In 2018 she did a relay swim of the lake that raised well over $100,000 towards eradicating polio. Louise was stricken by the disease as a young child (notice the leg brace) but has overcome its debilitating effects to lead a full, productive life. She has a deep love for Lake George and has written a memoir about growing up with polio and how liberating swimming has been for her. Watch for Louise's book which should be available soon.
Next to Louise is Bridget Simpson who partnered in the Swim for Polio and who also completed a solo swim in 2017. Bridget is a Ticonderoga resident who often swims from the Tiroga Beach. In my humble opinion this Washington County gem is the best beach on Lake George. Always looking for a challenge, Bridget has become fascinated with the idea of doing an 'Ice Mile'.
The girl looking at the world thru rose colored glasses is Charlotte Brynn. She's originally from New Zealand but has been living in Vermont for some time. This summer Charlotte set dual records becoming both the oldest (at 54) and the fastest (just under 18 hours) to swim the lake.
Charlotte Brynn and Gwenne Rippon
Christopher Spangler photo
Finally, that's Caroline Block on the right. She's done the only double crossing of the lake to date. 'Crossing' can be a bit confusing when it comes to Lake George. Many who spend time on the lake might think of crossing as going from shore to shore, east to west or vice versa, a distance of several miles on this long but narrow water. But in distance swimming parlance that's not what crossing means. Block actually swam end to end - a distance of 32+ miles - and then turned around without stopping to swim back another 32+ miles, spending over 52 hours in the water!
The photo was taken last month at a book launch event in Lake George Village. Gwenne Rippon's Called by the Water - When Diane Struble Swam Lake George is about her mom's historic first swim of the lake in 1958. One of Struble's favorite sayings was "You never know who you might inspire". When you look at these four women I think it's safe to say that Struble inspired some pretty amazing people. I'm hopeful these swimmers will inspire a new generation to both protect the lake and rise to its challenge in the years to come.
Christopher Spangler photo
I like author and swimmer Sally Friedman's idea from her book Swimming the Channel: "...the feeling that this is what we do best, the most we can offer to those we have loved...". May we all offer to the world that which we do best while taking inspiration from others who do the same.
Louise speaking as Andrea signs
Christopher Spangler photo
All the photos here were taken by Christopher Spangler/Down to Earth Aerial courtesy of Rotary International. Rotary has also sponsored Louise Rourke and is helping with the publication of her book. Many thanks to Rotary.
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