September 22, 2023 Issue of the Blackstone Valley Xpress Distance swim marks a milestone birthday Victory! Eric Shrayer at the completion of his swim. Photo submitted By Patty Roy Eric Shrayer celebrated his 50th birthday in August, but decided to add a challenge to the festivities by making a long swim around Manchaug Pond. Rather than setting distance goals, Shrayer headed for landmarks as he rounded the circumference of the lake. “I swam point to point around the perimeter of the lake,” he said. “The channel where the dam is, and on the other side by old Holbrook Campground, there’s a sandbar, Blueberry Island and there’s conservation land on one point, the South Cove.“ Those were the markers he used, familiar to him from boyhood. He wore no fins, no goggles, no swim shirt, just kept it simple with swimming trunks. Shrayer guessed the water temperature was about 70 degrees. “It was nice, it was a warm night the night before.” He also noted it was cloudy and rainy on the day of his swim “So that lowered the chances of me getting hit by a boat.” Above: Shrayer’s entrance to the Channel Below, Manchaug Pond map showing Eric Shrayer’s …
