How nasty would it be to swim around Manhattan? Imagine the sh#t you see on streets in NYC, the sh#t you see in the gutter, the actual sh#t you see coming out of bums in back alleys?
Now imagine swimming in all that for about 6 hours. Sucking up a mouthful of it, squirting it between your teeth, enjoying the feeling of dissolved saturday night vomit on your palate. Ok, have we grossed you out, yet? Good.
That is exactly what 36 year old Australian Oliver Wilkinson did on Wednesday, September 28th, 2011. He spent 5 hours, 44 minutes, and 2 seconds filtering Manhattans finest dihydrogen monoxide.
It was worth it though because he beat the former Manhattan pooh water circumnavigation record of 5:45:25 set by Australia’s Shelley Taylor-Smith in 1995. Apparently, Aussies love this stuff.
Manhattan, NY. photo: geniusbeauty.com
Hurricane Irene recently gave Manhattan residents a good display of what is in the surrounding waters and why they’re so great for swimming.
“Many New Yorkers took a walk today along the east river to see the damage done by hurricane Irene. The contents of the river, which are now on the East River park walkway, are nastier than previously thought. Mixed in with pieces of driftwood, plastic bottles, and old tennis balls is a cornucopia of used condoms, tampon applicators, and one heavily contaminated sex toy. Its still there, around 20th street, in case anyone is interested.” – coolyorkers.com
” It has been reported that billions of gallons of untreated sewage spill into New York Harbor every year.” – coolyorkers.com