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Twenty years ago a few friends decided to swim across the Peace River in Southwest Florida to celebrate Independence Day. They heard the activity was a rite of passage for local high school kids and called it the Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim. Today, it’s evolved into something affectionately describe as a gloriously unorganized blobblefest where hundreds of adventurers either swim, float or paddle about 1.5 miles from Charlotte Harbor to Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda.
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There is no registration fee, there are no rules other than exercising common sense and it’s not a race. Some participants swim in patriotic attire while others take it seriously with high-tech swimwear. When floating, some choose foam noodles or neon bright inner tubes while dragging coolers of beverages. For paddlers, some choose canoes, kayaks or paddleboards.
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I swam in the Freedom Swim in 2008, not sure where I was in 2009, was sick in 2010 and this year I rented a kayak from Charlotte Harbor-based It’s Time Canoe & Kayak (Tel: 941-255-3686). I parked my car at Fishermen’s Village then walked about 2 miles to the launch point, paddled across the river and dropped the kayak off at Fishermen’s Village Marina which was great being able to paddle one way.
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It’s great fun and hope to see you for the 21st Annual Charlotte Harbor Swim!
Enjoy these images and disregard the funky look. My iPhone was in a waterproof case causing some distortion.
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