S.S. Freaky

Likely Next Swims:  

    Sat/Sun 8am & noon 

    (but also, chop is getting choppy, so who knows)

    M-F 6AM, noon, 4:40(?)

    (depends on conditions)

Last Swim: 8am Saturday, and probably noon

Water temp: 65-75F  it was all over the place

Air Temp: 80's

Water Quality: tiny chop out of the north, then flat, then increasing chop at about 9:30

Clarity: clear

Kru: that's the question.  There were lots of people swimming.  Peeps I remember:  Lt. MJ, Ala Mode, Cindy, Holly, Bass Babe, Magic Mike, NM dude, Mrs. Hollywood, Showgirl, Mermaid Princess, JulieN, Doug, Kim, plenty of other mystery people

Shore Support: Nahid

Photo credit: Holly

It's been a week, hasn't it friends?

Having spent the last few days in Satan’s inferno, we were all stalking air quality sites, desperate for a few good hours in the lake. 

The weather gods smiled upon us and conditions were great this morning.

It was still a roller coaster of water temps and conditions, plus sunshine and clouds.

Anyway, this time of year brings out the fair weather swimmers and triathletes.  There were lots of occasional swimmers at the beach.

With many events in the near future, most people swam long—many to three piers, some even farther.

Mrs. Hollywood logged a shocking 9400 yards.  I’ll do the math for you: that’s 5.3 miles.  Yes. She did that.

When we launched, it was cloudy with tiny ruffles on the water caused by a breeze out of the north.  Later in the swim, the wind died down and the sun came out.  Later in the swim, the clouds rolled back in and significant chop commenced.  During all of that, there were breathtakingly chilly pockets of water interspersed with cool, with warm, and even the occasional TOO warm pocket. 

But what is S.S. Freaky, you ask?  So…. swimming landmarks come and go.  Near three piers there has been a mostly-destroyed orange canoe.  TTL and I saw it totally submerged on Wednesday.  Others saw it on the beach.  Today, Magic Mike, Cindy, and Other Guy dragged it back on shore and saw its name:  S.S. Freaky.  Sadly, we will never know what this canoe or its owners did to justify that name.

July 4th Swim Summary

 Captn's log: July 4th, 2026 - Noon  <location: Big Bay Beach>

NEXT SWIM:  Sunday July 5th - Noon  <location:  likely Klode unless July 4th Fireworks postponed>

SWIM CONDITIONS:

Water Temp: 

• Captn's ToeMometer - 52
• Duck-Mometer - 51
• Itch-O-Meter - 54

Air Temp:  67 & fog

Water Clarity:  crystal clear

Waves: steadily increasing from flat to 1ft+

Kru: Itch, Kahuna, MoonDawg-Gumdrop, Yonica,  Hawaii-4-0, Luna Lagoona, BeachLoaf, Capt'n

☠️ Ahoy, Mateys! Happy 4th o' July to ye all!

'Twas a mighty peculiar day on the shores o' Lake Michigan. The mornin' began as fine as any sailor could hope fer—bright sunshine, calm seas, and air temperatures hoverin' around 80 degrees. But just before our traditional 4th o' July Walk o' the Plank at Big Bay, the Lady o' the Lake had other plans. Out o' nowhere, a thick fog rolled in, the mercury dropped into the 60s, and the shoreline took on a ghostly look worthy o' any pirate tale.

Despite the recent "Ring o' Fire" scorcher that sent landlubbers sweatin' through temperatures in the 90s with enough humidity to float a galleon, the Lady o' the Lake turned her icy shoulder upon us. She drove the water temperatures down into the upper 40s and low 50s, remindin' us who's truly captain o' these waters.

But the Kru be made o' sterner stuff! We remained steadfast and fearless, continuin' to walk the plank and brave the frigid depths without so much as a mutiny.

Now fer Sunday's voyage...

Our plan be to return to Klode, unless tonight's fireworks be delayed on account o' the fog. Should the annual Whitefish Bay fireworks be postponed until Sunday, I'd expect the Whitefish Bay Facebook page to spread the word.

If the Klode fireworks be moved to Sunday, July 5th, we'll set sail from Big Bay instead.

And fer any matey lookin' fer a bit more adventure after the swim, there be whispers throughout the fleet o' a post-swim gatherin' at the Estabrook Bier Garten. Cast yer eyes upon the picture below to spy Sunday's specials, and mayhaps we'll hoist a pint together after conquerin' the cold waters.

Fair winds, calm seas... and may the Lady o' the Lake show us a wee bit more mercy next voyage! ☠️

July Fourth Swim

Details re a July Fourth Swim:  As Klode Beach is closed on July 4th, the Kru's July Fourth Swim will be at noon, at Big Bay Beach.  Forecast water temp is ~55 degrees.  Post swim toast to 'MERECA likely.  

Likely Next Swims:  6am M-F (no guarantees) 

                                            noon M-F (this is hearsay)
                                            8am Sat/Sun, 
                                            noon Sat/Sun

Like a Rock

 

It's Been a Minute

 

 Likely Next Swims:  6am M-F (no guarantees) 
                                            noon M-F (this is hearsay)
                                            8am Sat/Sun, 
                                            noon Sat/Sun

Last Swim: Sat., noon.  

Water temp: 60F (I'm a good luck charm), cooler further out

Air Temp: 70's

Water Quality: Bit o chop from the North

Clarity: pretty clear further out

Kru: WeTac, the Family Laguna, Mr. A, Hardware Hank, Sandy (Beach Name Sandy), Several Young Friends of Sandy (I think their names were Zeph, Kylie, Elena and Maggie), Hawaii 4-O, Spawn of Hawaii 4-O, Diablo, Itch, Peaches, Brick (and probably others I forgot). 

Shore Support: Lots of families on the beach, just enjoying the beach

My only comment is it was great to see lots of familiar faces, and lots of new faces.  

Gang Violence: bird edition

 Likely Next Swims:    6am M-F (no guarantees) 
                                            noon M-F (this is hearsay)
                                            8am Sat/Sun, 
                                            noon Sat/Sun

Last Swim: Fri 6am.  

Water temp: 54-56F

Air Temp: 60's

Water Quality: flat!

Clarity: pretty clear

Kru: Lydia the Tattoo'd Lady, Showgirl,  Lt. MJ, Dragonfly, Ala Mode, Linda the Lamprey, Diablo on the early shift

Shore Support: Annoyed Sand Cleaning Lady

The wave forecast changed from chop to flat, so we went to the beach for what might be the last flat day for a few days.  The air was cool, and TTL measured the water at 55? 56?  Yes, still cold.  Unseasonably cold.

Anyway, Dragonfly and Lamprey swam skin, and undoubtedly Diablo did also.

TTL, MJ, and I suited up (no booties) and headed north to just past the cute chairs.  It was really beautiful.

Shortly after we got back on shore, the beach cleaning heavy equipment arrived.  The driver waited patiently (or not) until we changed and got off the beach.

We watched the process for a little bit.  It will be interesting to see the results tomorrow morning, because it seemed a bit awkward.

While we were watching the sand cleaning drama unfold, there was even more drama between a small flock of teenage ducks and a couple of seagulls.  The gulls made an aerial attack and the ducks responded, and that was the end of it.

Into the Fog

Likely Next Swims:    6am M-F (no guarantees) 

                                            noon M-F (this is hearsay)

                                            8am Sat/Sun, 

                                            noon Sat/Sun

Last Swim: Thurs 6am.  

Water temp: 52-54

Air Temp: low 70's

Water Quality: small swells

Clarity: pretty clear

Kru: Lydia the Tattoo'd Lady, Showgirl, Fyn-Fin, Hollywood, Lt. MJ

Shore Support: no 

Before

It was pretty warm up in the parking lot, but the air got progressively cooler towards the water.  Also, fog.  Also, minor waves/chop.  

But we were there to swim, so we suited up and went north. The water was definitely cooler than yesterday. TTL and I went almost to the rock wall.  Who knows where Fyn-fin and Hollywood went-- it was far, given the cooler water.

Lt. MJ forgot her wetsuit.  She wore her accessories (gloves/boots) and still accomplished an impressive swim.

After

When we started swimming, the fog was delightfully thick and we hugged the shore.  As the swim progressed the fog dissipated, and by the end of the swim it was only visible far off shore.