A recent series of incidents surrounding the Golden Gate Bridge has highlighted contrasting narratives of safety and extraordinary personal achievement. On one hand, the conviction of Karla Aguillon-Merino for driving under the influence (DUI) on the Highway 101 emphasizes the persistent fight against impaired driving. On the other, open water swimmer Amy Appelhans Gubser has etched her name in history by becoming the first person to swim from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon Islands.
On February 29, 2024, at 2:42 AM, officers from the California Highway Patrol found Aguillon-Merino, 36, slumped inside her parked black Dodge Challenger on the side of Highway 101. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered the driver, along with several others, unconscious. Notably, they found vomit on the side of the car and, near the front passenger side, a half-full 750mL bottle of Hennessy Cognac. The presence of the alcohol, along with Aguillon-Merino's state, led to her conviction for DUI, where she was also found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or greater.
Assistant District Attorney Jenya Frid stated, "This conviction highlights our dedication to enforcing driving under the influence laws in San Francisco. Together, we will ensuring our roads are safe for the public." Aguillon-Merino is set to be sentenced on January 17, 2025.
Contrasting with this unfortunate incident, open water swimmer Gubser's story reflects personal resilience and historical triumph. Last year, she became the first person to swim the grueling 29.6-mile distance from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon Islands, completing the feat in 17 hours and three minutes. The 55-year-old fetal cardiology nurse from Pacifica, California, described the conditions during her swim, saying, "It was so foggy I only knew when it was daylight because the sky was a lighter gray." Previously, Gubser was competitive but took time away from the sport to raise her family. When she resumed swimming at age 44, she found liberation within the open waters.
"With open water swimming, or wild swimming as they call it in Europe, there’s no one judging you or telling you you need to be faster. I find it really liberaging," Gubser said. Her experience around the Golden Gate spans careful preparation, as she invested countless hours acclimatising herself to cold waters and studying tides and currents.
According to Gubser, her husband, who has expertise from the Coast Guard, was instrumental during her preparations. "Instead of watching 'The Real Housewives' on Friday evenings, we’d study surface currents and look at tide charts to understand what I was getting myselfinto," she revealed.
Gubser also shared thoughts on the often-encountered presence of sharks, stating, "Your Spidey sense is accurate, and you really do know when they’re there." Despite the risk of swimming through shark-infested waters, Gubser's determination remained unbroken as she focused on her goal, even when faced with landmarks such as half-eaten sea lions. She strategically chose the time for her swim to minimize the likelihood of a shark encounter.
"I put the thought of sharks in the back of my head. For me to accomplish the swim, I had to get to a zone. At one point, I found myself solving world problems and making up songs in my head." When matched with her supportive swim crew keeping the names of potential dangers quiet, she completed the arduous swim as they greeted her with cheers at the finish. Gubser's nutrition during her swim included simple provisions thrown to her from the support team, showcasing the raw logistics of maintaining stamina during extended swims.
Both Aguillon-Merino and Gubser's stories resonate within the realms of human experience and embody challenges faced within the vicinity of the Golden Gate Bridge. While Aguillon-Merino's situation serves as stark evidence of the dangers of impaired driving, Gubser's swim reflects the vast potential of human endeavor. The events provide poignant contrasts as they highlight the myriad experiences occurring around this iconic landmark.
Gubser's next challenges include attempts at the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Loch Ness, intending to inspire others with her tale of courage and exploration within nature's unrelenting waters. The Golden Gate area remains, as always, world-renowned, bringing with it stories of both tragedy and triumph.