whelp, safarsagud, i got mister to the lake and met some adoring fans. i adore watching him get adoring dog love. they warned the lake was freezing but the warning made it not so bad. i've swum in colder water in may, but it did flip bottom up and dropped. the water was smooth and swallows were swooping low catching insects, then a little hawk tried to catch a swallow but failed. for a while there were no flies, then one, then many, biting mister's toes and nose. he keeps the flies from sucking the blood of his fans. 
the dog logistics were gnarling my thread but after the swim it got less tangly. i brought him and his supplies and my bike to vista and i'll go back for the cherriot for the afternoon swim. it'll be a push for me but he'll be riding in comfort and style and we'll spare his old bones. 
remember last time he stayed with me? he was having a rough time. i feared he was near the end and i was crying a lot. but he's so much better now, thanks be to dog.