First of all, "The Teva Challenge" is a really stupid name. I'm trying to think of something better. After all, I'm not challenging the Teva company to anything, nor is anyone challenging me. The gimmick is simply my attempt to wade into as many significant bodies of water in or adjacent to the United States as possible, wearing the same pair of sport sandals, and I suppose calling it a "challenge" makes me think I've actually accomplished something. So far, though, the only challenge has been getting there--it's not like most of these water bodies are behind electric fences, infested with alligators, or guarded by overzealous lifeguards (except for the beach in Ocean City, NJ, but that's another story).
Below are a list of the venues for Teva-dipping and where and when the event occurred, if applicable. Besides the oceans, the list includes the 20 largest lakes in or partially in the United States (according to The National Atlas). If you are amazed by anything, be amazed by the sandals. They rock.
| Water body | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Ocean | Prudhoe Bay, AK | June 2008 | It was cold. Snow on the beach. |
| Atlantic Ocean | Ocean City, NJ | July 2002 | - |
| Pacific Ocean | Torrey Pines SP, CA | June 2003 | - |
| Gulf of Mexico | - | - | Part of Atlantic, yes. Waded & swam there numerous times prior to purchasing sandals. |
| Lake Superior | Whitefish Point, MI | June 2004 | Well below 50°F in late June. |
| Lake Huron | Mackinaw City, MI | June 2004 | - |
| Lake Michigan | Petoskey SP, MI | June 2004 | - |
| Lake Erie | Marblehead, OH | Summer 2001 | Sandals' first exposure to water. Had no idea I would make a game of it then. |
| Lake Ontario | Selkirk Shores SP, NY | June 2005 | - |
| Lake of the Woods | - | - | I drove past a few years before purchasing sandals. |
| Great Salt Lake | GSL State Marina (I-80 exit 104) | July 2005 | Nasty smell and millions of gnats. No wonder it isn't circled with resorts. |
| Iliamna Lake | - | - | No road access, so this one might always be blank. |
| Lake Oahe | - | - | Impounded river. Approached at Fort Yates, but did not get in. |
| Lake Okeechobee | Some boat ramp | July 2003 | Opaque, thick water. I spent a while washing the sandals afterward. |
| Lake Pontchartrain | - | - | I've seen it from several vantage points, but never went in. |
| Lake Sakakawea | - | - | Impounded river. Crossed twice before buying sandals. |
| Lake Champlain | North Hero, VT | June 2005 | - |
| Becharof Lake | - | - | This one doesn't even have a town nearby, so I'm not planning a visit anytime soon. |
| Lake St. Clair | - | - | Probably the next one. I drove past years ago. |
| Red Lake (Minnesota) | - | - | - |
| Selawik Lake | - | - | Looks like another challenging one. At least there's an airport. |
| Fort Peck Lake | - | - | Impounded river. |
| Salton Sea | - | - | - |
| Rainy Lake | - | - | I was very close in 1997, but looks like I'll have to head back to International Falls. |
Last updated July 6, 2008.
