[Re: “Lake of Ire,” August 13]
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I grew up along the lake (in Michigan) and swam frequently on lifeguardless beaches. I consider myself an experienced swimmer–and also experienced enough to know when not to mess with the lake. So imagine the culture shock after I moved here. As a regular recreational swimmer at North Avenue Beach, I too have been subjected to the increasingly authoritarian tactics of lifeguards who have nothing better to do than harass people who swim in water more than waist high. As they must know, it’s simply hard to maneuver in water only up to your trunks.
I couldn’t believe it when Greenman quoted a lifeguard as telling him that the “lake is not for swimming.” I thought I was alone. A life-goon had the audacity to pass along those words of wisdom to me one day last month as I tried to backstroke around his damned rowboat. I was so flabbergasted by this pronouncement that I could barely finish my twice-weekly lap between breakwaters. Had I been less pacifistic, I would’ve dumped him and his boat over.
N. Cleaver
