Melancholy Morning

Next Swim: Fri 7/9 5:45AM Klode

Last Swim: Thur 7/8 5:45AM

Water Temp: 48

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Very Clear

Crew: Diablo, Cap'n, Kahuna, Beth, Robin, Patriarch

The beach was exceptionally beautiful this morning, in an eerie sort of way, as heavy fog rolled in. Exceptionally cold water temps added to the melancholy mood. Guts, persistence, and determination were required to swim this morning, all of which I lack, so Robin and me watched from shore as Diablo, Cap'n, Kahuna, and Beth disappeared into the fog. They didn't make it far, but far enough to count, and keep our streak of consecutive swim days alive.

The good news: the big offshore winds have finally ceased, so perhaps there is a chance of warming.

Swimmers, Skin Swimmer, and Spectators

Next Swims: Wed 6:30PM, Thu 5:45AM - Klode

Last Swim: Tue 6:30PM

Water Temp: 46-51, depending on where it was measured

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Very clear

Crew: Gumdrop, Diablo, Cap'n, Blondie, Jon, Perry, Patriarch

It was too cold for Blondie, Perry, and I, but Cap'n, Diablo, and Jon managed a short swim despite the cold water, and Gumdrop performed another Amazing Iceman act by swimming without a wetsuit.

It's frustrating to look at the water temperature maps and see the lake covered in warm water except for a thin strip on the Wisconsin shore. Damn you, Wicked Witch of the West Wind!

Shiver Me Timbers

Next Swim: Tuesday, July 6, 6:30PM Klode

Last Swim: Noon, July 5th, Klode

Water Temp: 49 !!!!!!!!!

Waves: Small Chop

Water Clarity: Ver Clear

Crew: Gumdrop, Diablo, Cap'n, Blondie, Jon, Jen, H2, and a group of H2's friends.

Wow! The water hasn't been anywhere near this cold since we started the season 43 days ago. Cap'n and Diablo managed decent swims, and Gumdrop made it all the way to mudslide. But I couldn't keep my face in the water, it just hurt too much.

Hopefully we're not going to see a replay of last August when the water was very cold several weeks straight. But the season is young, I'm sure there is still plenty of good swimming ahead. For Tuesday we're switching to an evening swim, to give the lake a chance to warm, at least a little.

On the brighter side, we did manage to add ten to the Killepitsch count, a great way to warm up after a cold swim.

Patriarch 7, Cap'n 0

Next Swim: Noon Monday, July 5, Klode

Followed by a cookout at my place. Beers, Burgers, & Brats, and of course shots of our favorite beverage.

Last Swim: July 4th, 1PM, Big Bay

Water Temp: 56 (yikes!)

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Very Clear

Crew: Gumdop, Diablo, Kahuna, Jen, Gwen, Erin, Walt, Cap'n, Patriarch

Today there was a choice to swim with Patriarch at 1PM or Cap'n at 3PM. The title of today's blog tells you the score. I can't blame you for not wanting to swim with Turd, oops, I mean Ted.

Sadly, the persistent offshore winds have put the dreaded Lake Michigan Conveyor Belt into motion. The Conveyor Belt pushes the warm surface water towards the Michigan shore and replaces it with cold water from below.

It was barely swimmable today, and the forecast would indicate continued offshore winds, intensifying the conveyor belt for even colder water. But, as always with Lake Michigan, predictions aren't worth a turd (and Turd's predictions are worth even less), we'll just have to show up and see what happens tomorrow.

And keep in mind, no matter how cold it is, we'll have shots of Killepitsch to warm ourselves afterwards.

Deceiving Looks

Next Swims: Sunday 1pm Big Bay, Sunday 3pm Big Bay, Monday noon Klode

Last Swim: Saturday 1PM Klode

Water Temp: 62ish

Waves: choppy form southeast

Water Clarity: Clear

Crew: The Patriarch, Diablo, Gumdrop, Kahuna, Brad, Perry, Dave, Gigi, Eileen, Mike, Capt'n

The skies were sunny, the air temp was in the low 80s and the lake appeared to be oh so inviting. Indeed, weather wise it was a great day for a swim. The lake though, made swimming a bit more of a challenge. A steady chop form the southeast and an offshore water temp hovering around 60 made for an adventurous swim from Klode's south beach southward to the down spout.

Due to the 4th of July Fireworks at Klode we will not be able to swim Sunday from Klode. Instead the group will be swimming from Big Bay which is approximately 1 1/4 miles south of Klode. The main group will be swimming at 1pm. Due to the New Berlin National Dash I will not be able to make the 1pm swim but will try to make it to Big Bay around 3pm.

Too Nice to Stop

Holiday Weekend Swims:

Saturday: 1 :00 PM Klode

Sunday: 1:00 PM Big Bay (Klode will be closed because of the fireworks setup)

Monday: Noon Klode, followed by cookout at my place

Last Swim: Fri 5:45AM Klode

Water Temp: 62

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Very Clear

Crew: Cap'n, Diablo, Kahuna, Blondie, 2 Perrys, Lane, Jen, Christine, Patriarch

It was just way too nice this morning to turn back at rockpile. The water was so clear and calm, and the waves sparkled so brightly in the sun, that everyone wanted to keep going, so we did. We ended up swimming a mile and a half, maybe more.

Patriarch Prophesies Propitious Plunging This Weekend

Next Swim: Friday the Twoth of Julie 5:45AM Klode

Sat: 1:00PM Klode, to Big Bay or Bust

Sun & Mon: Still working on the plan(see below)

Last Swim: Fri 7/1 5:45 AM, Klode

Water temp: 60

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: clear some places, but still cloudy others

Crew: Cap'n, Diablo, Kahuna, David, Perry, Beth, The Treder Sistas, Patriarch

Another glorious sunrise on the beach, foretelling a fantastic holiday weekend for swimming. Saturday we'll swim at 1:00PM from Klode, and conditions permitting we'll head for Big Bay (a little more than a mile) , and for the really ambitious Big Bay and back, and for the truly nuts you could try for Atwater, which would be a little less than three miles, and would require rounding the point at the southern end of Whitefish Bay.

We're still looking for input on plans for the Fourth and Monday. We'll probably need to swim from Big Bay on the Fourth, as Klode and Atwater will be closed for the fireworks. If there's interest and the weather is good on Monday, we could do a post swim cookout at my place.