Roadside Conveniences - Pools #804 & #805

14-15 June 2026

There are times when you just need a swim, no matter how short, no matter how "un-special" the pool is. Monday morning, June 15th, the last day of my 28-day adventure between Canada and the USA was such a day. I was scheduled to fly back to London that evening from Toronto, but had work calls to do in the morning before flying from EWR Liberty up to YYZ Pearson in the early afternoon. I didn't have time for much - just 1,650 yards - but I wanted a swim to stretch out the body before the journey.

In many parts of 'Murica, LA Fitness serves this need very well because you can download the free trial pass and try most facilities out ...

... like I did with their Clark, New Jersey location, the closest outlet to the airport. I had to endure a bit more of the sales pitch than I would have liked (many locations just wave you in with the QR code), but I was honest throughout the conversation. I do, in fact, work for a company HQd nearby and I will, in fact, relocate from London in the future. Now, maybe my carefully chosen (but true) words implied I'd be relocating to near my company's HQ ... even if that's not going to be the case ... but the pool wasn't crowded so I didn't deprive any member of a lane.

The paid swim on the day before, on my much longer drive north from my brother's 50th birthday celebration in Charlottesville was a much more special pool and featured an excellent rendition of a short course yards IM version of the Grant Hackett 200 race pace set at the Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center in Manassas, Virginia:

I had a lane to myself in the dedicated lap swimming section between the two bulkheads with great digital pace clocks and cool water on a hot day. It's another great example of the plethora of great pools in the greater Washington, DC / Northern Virginia area.