Swimming Into Canada Searching for a Lake Monster

It was 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday when I unloaded my gear at Newport, Vermont, city dock. My swim start was pushed back from 12:01 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. as air temperatures hovered in the low 40s. Water temps were 64 and likely to warm up with the air as the day unfolded. Today’s purpose was simple, swim 25 miles north to the city of Magog, Quebec, via Lake Memphremagog.   

One of the most exciting aspects of this swim is the creature said to call this lake home—Memphre. Like her more famous cousin in Scotland, she is known to be harmless, and even friendly. Accounts and books have been written over the years of her appearances and contact with humans. So, in addition to swimming, I was searching for Memphre.

Like all ultra marathon swims, it takes volunteers and professionals to arrive at the destination successfully. Pilots Gary and Kit would navigate the straightest line north to Magog and take turns at the helm. Karina was my crew, and she’d oversee my nutrition schedule along with recording air and water temps, my stroke rate, and details of what I consumed at each feed. She would also capture videos of my stroke and cool photos along the way.

Behind the scenes, Phil White, the race director of the Kingdom Games, has been working for over a decade in developing relationships with our Canadian friends. His collaboration with the Canadian Border Agency and US Customs and Border Protection allows swimmers and boats to seamlessly navigate into Canada with permission and return to the US.

Standing on the dock and undressing in the cold air so sunblock and Desitin could be applied to my back and shoulders was surreal. I chose the last “swim window” of the year to evaluate myself in colder waters.

Will my practice pay off?

No time to waste, as I quickly stuffed my clothes into a dry bag that Karina carried to the pontoon boat. The crew and pilots pushed off from the dock and motored to the start position. 

I walked over to the boat ramp. Kathleene, Phil’s partner, snapped several photos and kindly collected the towels and jacket I was trying to stay warm in. There was a hazy fog that hung in the air just above the water as the full moon shined down on me. I was wearing a speedo, clear goggles, regular swim cap, and had my earplugs in. That’s it. Kathleene provided the green light, and I entered the fresh water at 5:02 a.m. The boat was idling just outside the harbor near a bright illuminated cross on the shore. It’s time to get to work as I took my first strokes.

For me, the first hour of any distance swim takes some getting used to. Settling down your breathing, relaxing, and becoming super present. Nothing matters and time stops; it’s just me and the water. It’s hard to describe, but a Zen-like peacefulness takes over as my arms settle into their rhythm.

I swam in darkness for the first hour or so before light began to appear on my right. I’m a left side breather, so I stared at the boat most of my swim. Blue glow sticks hung from the side of the hull as the sun slowly started rising over the mountains.

Both a Canadian and American flag flapped off the stern of the boat. I was able to choose what flags to fly. Canadian as that’s where my mom grew up and where I was swimming to. The American flag to stand for me, and a desired peacefulness with our friendly northern neighbors.

A bright yellow banner hung off the boat too. In bold black letters it said “SLOW SWIMMER”.

Really!?! 

The sign is to notify other boats in the area to avoid getting close as there’s a swimmer in the water. I’m not a slow swimmer, I said repeatedly as I defiantly increased my stroke rate. I think next year’s banner should say “Swimmer in the Water”. 

Hours passed. Every thirty minutes I would take my nutrition in liquid form from a plastic bottle attached to a rope. I had practiced my feeding times so I could take in 8.5 ounces in 20 seconds or so. There was a jet boil on the boat which boils water in under a minute. I had never tried this previously, but taking in warm feeds while treading water was a treat. Note to self, I will bring a jet boil on my next ultra swim!

I’m 6 hours into my swim—roughly halfway—and I haven’t seen Memphre. I began sneezing a lot as if something in the water was triggering me. At a feed, I suggested to Gary, Kit, and Karina that if Memphre is out here, she’s a cat as I’m extremely allergic to cats! They laughed, I laughed—it was all about staying positive and loose. Not taking anything too seriously.

There are so many factors out of my control during a swim; you just need to keep swimming. Another four hours later, I was thinking it was probably around 3:00 in the afternoon. It was 3:30 p.m., and I asked “Without telling me where I am or how much further …can you tell me where I am and how much longer I may have?” 

Karina said, “Look at those brown buildings in the distance. That’s Magog!”

Gary followed up, “You have under four miles and likely two hours more to swim.”

Head down, I got back to work.

I arrived on the public beach to a small crowd of onlookers who cheered me on as I unsteadily exited the water. My official time was 12 hours and 28 minutes—I did it!  Swimming at a rate of just under 2 miles an hour and finishing under 13 hours was something to celebrate! I was bummed that I did not see Memphre but I can report her spirit is alive and well in the lake, as I think she’s an aquacat. What an experience!

The celebrations continued the next day as I signed my name plate, then Phil signed it too before Kathleene, Phil, and I dined at The Brown Cow. Later in the afternoon we gathered at Jasper’s Tavern where I signed my name, date, and swim time on the ceiling above the bar. I tried to draw a cat as well. This “signing the ceiling” tradition follows every successful crossing. It was impressive to see all those who swam before me and see space for future swimmers to sign. Gary, Kit, and Karina signed my name plate as well as we relived the adventure.

This was a magical swim, one of my favorites.

Thanks for reading!

Bonus Reading | Feed Schedule

The following details what my exact feed schedule looked like. Having been an open water swimmer since 2022, I’ve experimented with a combination of feeds. In the spirit of sharing, here what’s working for me now:

• For the first hour, just swim
• 60 minutes in, take in 8.5 oz of Infinit Nutrition custom blend with carbs, protein, electrolytes. Everything to give my body what it needs.
• Repeat every 30 minutes until the swim is complete

No caffeine in bottles 1-3; bottles 4-12 included caffeine. I quit coffee in August 2024 and don’t drink soda, so my body responds positively to caffeine. 

At the 3-hour mark and 6-hour mark, take in Fuel for Fire liquid gel which is protein packed. 

Take two Advil at the 4-hour mark and again at the 8-hour mark.

I brought a thermos full of hot green tea which settled my stomach when needed. On my 12^th & 19^th feed I substituted green tea which was warm and felt good despite the sunny day. 

My last feed was ginger ale, I also had Coca-Cola and Vermont maple syrup on board to use if my stomach called for it, but never needed to use this.

More swimming reports can be found here:

SCAR Swim
20 Bridges around Manhattan
Lake Tahoe Width
Swim the Suck
Chesapeake Bay Swim

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