Record Plank Count for Memorial Day Weekend

Last Swims:

• Saturday May 26th, 12pm
• Sunday May 27th, 12pm
• Memorial Day May 28th, 12pm

Saturday Report:
Water Temp: 52.4 - 54.6
Air Temp: 73 & mostly cloudy
Waves: very slight chop from the south
Water Clarity: Mostly clear
Crew: Kahuna, Luke, Capt'n
Special Guest Appearance: The Patriarch

Sunday Report:
Water Temp: 54.6 - 55.5
Air Temp: 78 & sunny
Waves: Occasional 1-3ft
Water Clarity: Stirred up near shore, up to 5ft further out
Crew: The Patriarch, Diablo, Gumdrop, Kahuna, Sir James, Jake, Riptide, Capt'n
Special Guest Appearance: Crash

Memorial Day Report:
Water Temp: 53.5 - 54.8
Air Temp: 85 & sunnyWaves: slight chop from the south
Water Clarity: Mostly Clear
Crew: The Patriarch, Diablo, Kahuna, Gumdrop, Sir James, The Amazing One, Lane, Bodacious Babysitter, Phil, Capt'n
Special Guest Appearance: Crash

A total of 10 Klode Kru mates walked the plank today....double our previous Memorial Day record set the last two years.  Total for the weekend (including Friday evening) we had 27 including 4 skin.  With record attendance like this, one would guess the water temps must be warm for this time of year.  Actually, compared to the last two years the temp is a tad bit on the cool side.  Two years ago we actually had a water temp in the low 60's.

While an explanation for the cooler than normal water temps remains a mystery despite what looks to be the warmest spring ever one thing that isn't in question is just how motivated the Klode Kru is to swim this year!  More than half the crew swam south down to staircase today (a 43 minute / mile plus adventure) and one crew mate (Sir James) actually made the 2.4 mile journey down to Big Bay and back.  Certainly records in terms of distance and time in the water for a Memorial Day swim!

Plans for the next official Klode Kru swim are in the works.  Most likely the next official swim will be Friday evening.  Unofficially crew members have been swimming at 6am during the week.  Gumdrop and Beth are rumored to be officially "in" for a 6am Tuesday swim.

This Thursday is the first of five Aquathons in Menomonee Falls at Menomonee Park:

http://racedayeventsllc.com/content/aquathon-series-milwaukee

The Return of The Amazing One

Next Swims:

• Saturday May 26th, 12pm
• Sunday May 27th, 12pm
• Memorial Day May 28th, 12pm

Last Swim: Friday May 25th, 5:45pm
Water Temp: 51.3 - 52.5
Air Temp: 73 & mostly cloudy
Waves: rippled surface
Water Clarity: Clear
Crew: Gumdrop, The Amazing One, Lane, Bodacious Babysitter, Luke, Capt'n
Special Guest Appearance: The Patriarch, Adrienne, Matt

It's probably been 9 months since we last saw The Amazing One (a.k.a. John from Las Vegas). I'm not sure anyone recognized him at first but once announced everyone knew of the Legend. (...well, 'everyone' being The Patriarch and I.)

Staying true to form The Amazing One dazzled everyone with his amazing resilience to cold water.  With out even batting an eye The Amazing One swam skin this evening in the 51.3 degree waters.  Even more amazing was the fact that he was the first in the water and the last out of it....and by first I mean he was standing waist deep in the water at least 5 minutes before the rest of the crew was properly prepared to walk the plank.

For the record the crew swam to Cedar Grove and back and The Amazing One's skin swim at 51.3 set the record for the coldest recorded official skin swim.

The plan this weekend is to swim every day at high noon.  The warm air temps and easterly winds bring hope that the water temps will only rise over the course of the weekend.  :)

Looking forward to seeing everyone on the beach!

Memorial Day Weekend Swim Plans

Swim times are still being finalized but here are the current proposed swim times for this weekend.  Please post a comment if you have a preference.

Friday: 5:45pm  - Gumdrop, Lane, Jodi (formerly known as "Lane's Bodacious Babysitter"), and Capt'n are officially in.
Saturday:  12pm
Sunday: 12pm
Monday: 12pm

Also, for those looking for a 5k this weekend the Guaradian Angel 5K is at 8:30am Monday morning just a few miles away from Klode.

http://www.hfparishschool.org/guardianangel.cfm#158505

Defending Capn's Honor

This morning it came to fisticuffs when a scurrilous scalawag accused Cap'n of calling me PANSY??!!  I won't name the traitor who made this remark, but you'll recognize him by his fat lip.  I know Cap'n would never call me PANSY!!  After all, is was me, Patriarch, who took little Teddy under my wing and got him into swimming in Lake Michigan to begin with.  It was Patriarch who christened him "Cap'n".  It was Patriarch who poured him his first Killepitsch.  It was Patriarch who celebrated with him many a time at my place, at his place, at Pirate's kitchen.  It was Patriarch who kept the group together while the Cap'n was MIA with his drunken skirt chasing ways.  It was Patriarch who didn't say a word when Bruce and Larry kicked Capn's ass in Roots and Wings.  Would a man of honor like Cap'n betray such love and devotion and call me PANSY!!??  No, never!    

Diablo Returns in Style

Next Swim:  Not sure, but I believe Bubba is swimming at 6AM every morning.

Last Swim: Sunday 5/20 1PM
Water Temp: 53
Waves:  One foot chop
Water Clarity: Good
Crew: Diablo, Gumdrop, Cap'n, Cat, Bubba, Kahuna

Diablo made his first appearance of the season, and he sneered as the others donned wetsuits.  Living up to his nickname (think about it, would the Devil need a wetsuit?), he decided to swim skin.  It was the first attempted skin swim of the season, and no one believed he could make it to "south south" beach and back, the minimum distance necessary to qualify for an "official" swim.  Not only did he make it, he made  it in grand style, giving all appearances of just taken a dip in the pool at the Ritz-Carleton.  A shot (or two) of Kilepitsch was consumed to celebrate the accomplishment.

Welcome back Diablo.  And also a Klode Kru welcome to Cat, our newest swimmer.

2012 Season Officially Underway!

Next Swim: Sunday May 20th, 1pm

 Last Swim: Saturday May 19th, 1pm
Water Temp: 52.1 - 54.8
Air Temp: 78 & Sunny, winds SE 10mph
Waves: slight chop from the south
Water Clarity: Clear
Early 7AM Crew: Beth & Gumdrop
Late 1PM Crew: Kahuna, Jack Frost, Sir James, Ben, Ben, Mike, Mike, Pat, Capt'n
Special Guest Appearance: The Patriarch & Crash

Light southeasterly winds were the only blemish on this perfect day for the Klode Kru's season opening swim.  The winds, despite being light, put a slight chop on the water and stirred the surface just enough to prevent it from warming under the warm sunshine.

...of course, this was The Patriarch's scientific explanation as to why the water temp wasn't as pleasant as last Sunday despite plentiful sunshine and an air temp that was 15 degrees warmer.  My theory to explain today's cooler water temps requires just two words, "Jack Frost".  But alas, it was great to see Jack Frost and the entire Klode Kru back in action again!

The water clarity was superb today and the sandy lake bottom could easily be seen in 10-12 feet of water.  Swimming northward from Klode's southeast beach to the Garage was virtually effortless although the first few strokes took a few of the crew's breath away.  Swimming southward though was a bit more of a challenge but it didn't discourage a few crew members from extending their swims down to south-south beach and back.

Tomorrow's forecast looks dandy so we'll be at it again.  1pm is plan.  Looking forward to seeing more of the crew then!

2012 Lake Michigan Swim Season Officially Opens on Saturday (updated)

Personally I would prefer the water to be a tad bit warmer, but it seems I can no longer restrain the eagerness of the crew to take the plunge.  Therefore, as Patriarch of the Klode Kru, I declare Saturday May 19th to be the official opening of the 2012 Lake Michigan swim season.

Update:  Apparently there is no time Saturday that works for everyone, so we'll have two crews: 7AM and 1PM.  Pick your poison!

Note:  the websites indicate water temps in the lower 50's, but I am very hopeful the warm sunny weather and long days will improve things quickly.  

2012 Lake Michigan Swim Season Officially Opens on Saturday

Personally I would prefer the water to be a tad bit warmer, but it seems I can no longer restrain the eagerness of the crew to take the plunge.  Therefore, as Patriarch of the Klode Kru, I declare Saturday May 19th to be the official opening of the 2012 Lake Michigan swim season.

But can I at least convince you guys to swim at 1PM, rather than the 7AM that is being proposed?  Both the water and air temps will be warmer, and it will be a much more civilized hour to celebrate the season with a Pitsch.

Please comment, and I will update this post later today with the official start time. 

Note:  the websites indicate water temps in the lower 50's, but I am very hopeful the warm sunny weather and long days will improve things quickly.  

Official Start of Swim Season Nearing?

Next Swim: ??
Last Swim: Sunday May 13, 1:30PM
Water Temp: 55.6 (...but closer to 60 away from the rocks)
Waves: calm slightly rippled surface
Water Clarity: Clear (4.8 on a scale of 1-5)
Early 1PM Crew: Lane
Late 1:30PM Crew: Capt'n
Special Guest Appearance: Soon to be frequent crew mates Adrienne & Matt with their speedy companion Lux.

The plan today was to soak my legs in the refreshing lake water...but as luck would have it I was very fortunate that I brought my swim gear with me.  :)  The coldest temperature I could find was 55.6 right next to the Klode rock piles.  Just a few steps away the Captn-o-meter read 57.

Lane had just finished a 20 minute swim as I arrived.  Soon to be frequent crew mates Adrienne and Matt had tagged along with Lane to witness Lane's momentous season opening plank walk.  After hearing Lane's tales of crystal clear water, no adverse chilling of the hands / face and nare a hint of chill in his voice I was all in for my first plank walk of the season!

Indeed the conditions were just as Lane had reported....not that I ever doubted him.  The water was crystal clear and the water temp was comfortably consistent (upper 50's?) all the way up to the rock wall and a couple hundred meters off shore.  The sandy bottom could easily be seen in 10-12 feet of water and on two occasions I even witnessed schools of playful little fish.

With today's pleasant swim conditions we shouldn't be too far away from the Official Start of the Klode Kru swim season.  All we need now is an official proclamation by the Patriarch declaring when our celebratory first swim will occur....of course along with a round or two of Pitsch for everyone...and the 2012 Klode Kru will be back in action!!

Ben Breaks the Ice

Next Swim: ??
Last Swim: Thursday May 3, 6AM
Water Temp: 52
Waves: ?
Water Clarity?
Crew:  Ben "don't call me Bubba" Speed

Congratulations to Ben for being the first to "walk the plank" this year.  (Yes, I know some of you did the Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's day, but acts of drunken lunacy don't count.)  So it's time to reset the counters but before I do I won't repeat the mistake I made last year and reset them without saving them first.  So here are the official 2011 Killepitsch Lake Michigan swim counts:


Total Lake Swims: 173
Skin Swims: 108
Wetsuit Swims: 64
Viking Swims: 1
Swim Days: 133
Plank Counter: 1074
Shots of Killepitsch poured: 278

Wow!  We really had over a 1,000 individual swims last year?  It'll be a tough record to break!

Freak Lake Inversion Brings 70 Degree Water Ashore

Just kidding.  I couldn't resist pulling Kahuna's and Speed's chains.  They're like a couple of kids waiting for Santa Claus.  Patience my friends, it will warm up soon enough.  After a great start in March, the lake surface water has actually cooled down in April.  But the days are getting longer and all we need is a few warm sunny calm days to get the swim season rolling.

On the subject of Mr. Speed's swim nickname.  I would agree that he is certainly the closest thing to a "Bubba" that we have in these parts, but I have lots of relatives and in-laws in the deep South, and I know some real Bubbas, and Speed is not remotely like them.  Besides, with a name like Speed we ought to be able to do better.

In the meantime, in-between time, relax and watch the game.