Can we make it to November?

Next Swim: Tuesday November(!) 1st 5:30PM

Last Swim: Halloween Monday October 3 1st 5:30PM
Water:  53 rough and murky, Air: cool and windy
Crew:  Gumdrop, Itch

Here's a picture from Saturday's glorious swim

Swim into November?

Next Swim: Monday October 31st 5:30PM

Sunday non-swim report:  After yesterday's near perfect autumn day it was hard to generate any enthusiasm for swimming in cold (54) murky rough water on a cool raw windswept beach.  Maybe hangovers from Capt'ns party last night had something to do with it too. Diablo, Panini, Drangonfly, Itch, Wet Taco, Handyman Hank and me had a Pitsch and called it a day.

Many of us, including me, are ready to hang up the wetsuit for the season. But there are diehards, Itch for one, who want to keep going.  Some were even talking about swimming on November 22nd which would be exactly six months from our first swim of the season.  Persistence or madness?

P.S.  If anyone has any good pictures from the party please share.

October Surprise

Next Swim: Sunday October October 30th Noon

Last Swim:  Saturday October 29th Noon
Water: 55, a little choppy, and somewhat murky
Crew: Showgirl, Panini, Crash, Wet Taco, Gumdrop, Handyman Hank, Mike, Itch, Patriarch

Whoddathunk that we'd have nine people in the water at the end of October?  The beautiful autumn day and the peak fall colors added to the amazement.

Spooky Glowing Eyes

Next Swims:  Friday Oct 28th 5:30 PM, Saturday Oct 29th noon

Last Swim: Thursday Oct 27th 5:30PM
Water:  53 murky small rollers
Crew:  Itch with Diablo lurking in the bushes

Itch, swimming by himself claim to have seen "a pair of spooking glowing eyes in the bushes past Birch Trees".  It sounds like Diablo to me.

Gale Warning Today

Next Swim: Thursday October 27th 5:30PM

Last Swim:  I'm not sure if anybody swam yesterday (Tuesday).  If so, please report.

Forecast for today (Wednesday) looks positively dreadful.  Cold windy rainy and big waves.  So we won't swim today but I'm planning to stop down at 5:30 just to see the predicted 7-9 foot waves.

Try Again

Next Swims:  Tuesday Oct 25th 5:30PM

Non-Swim Report:
Water:  54 with 2-4 ft waves
Cold dark and windy so we'll try again tomorrow

Some Life in the Old Girl Yet

Next Swim: Monday October 24th 5:30PM

Last Swim: Sunday October 23rd noon
Water: 55 clear and a bit choppy
Crew: Gumdrop, Itch, Handyman Hank, Mike, Panini, Drangonfly, Lorraine, Diablo, Wet Taco, Patriarch

A great swim on a beautiful autumn day.  A delirious scene on the beach afterwards.  Panini giving hugs to everyone.  Some of the more unhinged Kru members talking about swimming next weekend. It's amazing what swimming does to your mood.

Last Chance?

Next Swim: Sunday October 23rd noon

Last Swim:  Saturday October 22nd noon
Water: 54 clear and gently rolling
Crew: Gumdrop, Itch, Hank, Diablo (skin!), Wet Taco, Drangonfly, Patriarch

A week of sub 50 water temps and rough water made me think the season might be over, but then today a reprieve sent the temp up to 54, calmed the rough seas and drew many of us back into the water.

But it won't last long, Sunday may well be our last (or at least my last) of the season.

No No Not the Pool

Next Swim: Saturday October 22nd noon
We may also swim Sunday, depending on what we find Saturday

Thursday Oct 20th Non-Swim Report
Water: 47 with 3-4 ft waves - Too Cold and too rough to swim
Itch & Wet Taco and I had a Pitsch and called it a day

This is the six straight day the water temp is below 50, despite all the NOAA maps charts and graphs that show much warmer nearby.  It seems desperate to keep trying but I'm putting off the return to the pool as long as possible.

Still 48

Next Swim: Thursday October 20th 5:30PM

Last Swim: Wednesday October 19th. 5:30PM
Water: 48 dead calm and crystal clear
Crew:Itch, Gumdrop

Fooled (Again!)

Next Swim:  Wednesday October 19th 5:30 PM

Last Swim: Tuesday October 18th 5:30PM
Water: 49 calm and crystal clear
Swimmers: Itch, Wet Taco, Hank, Panini, Drangonfly - Spectator: Patriarch

The Atwater buoy is functioning again and measured as high as 58 yesterday raising our hopes for warmer swim, but alas it was a cruel joke.  Maybe today?

Battle Royale

Next Swim:  Tuesday October 18th 5:30PM

Last Swim:  Monday October 17th 5:30PM
Water:  50 clear with small rollers
Swimers: Itch & Wet Taco, Spectators:  Hank and Patriarch

Ralph and Alice, Lucy and Desi, George and Gracie, Archie and Edith, Kim and Kanye, Itch and Wet Taco.  You don't need to tune into the Hillary/Donald debate to see a good fight between the sexes, just come down to the beach and listen to Itch and Wet Taco trade insults and put downs.  I was a little worried when the two of them plunged into the water that only one would return, but thankfully their battle is just verbal (so far).

Showgirl Returns

Next Swim:  Monday October 17th 5:30PM

Last Swims: Saturday October 15th - Full Moon Swim/ Pirates Pizza Night
Water: 50 with small waves
Crew: Gumdrop, Itch, Wet Taco, Lenore (skin!), and watching from the beach: No-Ply, 2-Ply, Lorraine, Patriarch
Pizzas Consumed:  3 extra large, Pitchers of Beer: Lost Count

Sunday October 16th noon
Water: 47 (yikes!) calm and crystal clear
Crew: Showgirl!, Diablo (skin!), Itch, and watching from shore: Crash, Wet Taco, Hank & Nancy, Patriarch

After a month's absence Showgirl returned to the beach with her trademark flair and flamboyance.  Without hesitation (not much anyway) she threw on her wetsuit and jumped into 47 degree water.  We're glad you're back Showgirl.

Full Moon Swim / Pirates Pizza Night

Next Swim:  Full Moon Swim, Saturday October 15th 5:30PM
Full Moon rises over the lake at 6:12PM
Following the swim we will go out for pizza (Lisa's?)

Sunday October 16th noon

Last Swim: Friday October 14th 5:30PM
Water:  57, 2-3 foot waves
Crew:  Itch, Patriarch, 4-Ply (2-Ply comes to the beach fully clothed over a wetsuit and leaves with more layers than an Eskimo)

Currently the forecast for Saturday night calls for cloudy skies and big waves, but the forecast is often wrong.  The worst that could happen is we skip the swim, have a Pitsch and go for pizza.

Lorraine:  I have your watch.  Diablo found it and gave it to me.

Ecstasy and Agony

Next Swim: Friday October 14th 5:30PM

Last Swim: Thursday October 13th 5:30PM
Water: 57 calm clear
Crew: Kahuna, Wet Taco, Lorraine, Drangonfly, Itch, Patriarch

Swimming at dusk is incredibly beautiful, especially in the full colors of autumn and more especially under an almost full moon rising over the lake.  But emerging from (relatively) warm water to a cold and windy beach was painful.  Fingers didn't work.  Feet turned to blocks of ice.  Even a shot of Pitsch couldn't warm us up.  Drangonfly's excellent birthday cupcakes helped.

Options for Saturday swim are:
1) 7AM swim (Kahuna'a proposal)
2) Midday (noon) swim
3) Full Moon swim - full moon rises over the lake at 6:13PM, followed by Pirates Pizza Night.
Please comment if you have a preference

Message from Lorraine (the Hun, not to be confused with Attila)
I lost my watch (again!) on the beach tonight. Diablo (or anyone else), if you go in the am or anytime Fri and happen to see it where I usually park (near the wall/black pipe), please save it for me! It's a blue women's timex ironman classic digital watch - looks like this https://goo.gl/iQM9ro . Thx.

Birtday Treats

Next Swim:  Thursday October 13th 5:30PM

Last Swim: Wednesday October 12th 5:30PM
Water: 60 flat aqua
Crew:  Itch plus two deer frolicking on the beach

Drangonfly made the mistake of telling us that Thursday is her birthday, so now we are expecting delicious treats.

Diehards

Next Swim: Wednesday October 12th 5:30PM

Last Swim: Tuesday October 11th 5:30PM
Water: 60 murky, 2-3 ft waves
Crew: Drangonfly, Lorraine (The Hun?), Itch, Patriarch

We're going day-to-day now with only a few diehards showing up to swim (among whom I proudly count myself).  The full moon rises over the Lake on Saturday at 6:13PM.  That might be a good opportunity for a Pirates Pizza Night.  Stay tuned.

Lorraine has gone far too long without a swimming name.  Itch has proposed "The Hun" which is a good description of her swimming style.  Last night for example she was determined to make it to the Silver Spring downspout no matter the big waves and current, and then she was upset that her watch wasn't working so she couldn't record the time.

Getting High on the Beach

Next Swim: Tuesday October 11th 5:30 PM

Last Swim: Monday October 10th 5:30 PM
Water: 60 with 2-3 foot waves
Crew:  Itch, Patriarch

Not many people on the beach this time of year.  Tonight it was just me, Itch, and two happy young ladies who were smoking some funny smelling stuff.  Itch and I got high the old fashioned way, we swam.

Good Advice

Next Swim:  Monday October 10th 5:30PM

Last Swim: Sunday October 9th 1PM Atwater Beach "Shipwreck" swim
Water:  59 clear 1-2 foot waves
Crew: Gumdrop, Kahuna, Lorraine, Drangonfly, Itch, Forger, Wet Taco, Patriarch

No finer place to spend a fine autumn day than in the lake.  You just need to remember that it's going to be cold and windy when you emerge from the water so it's important to change into warm dry clothes as fast as possible.  This has been a public service announcement brought to you by mom.  (And don't drink Luxardo it tastes terrible and it will eat you up from the inside.)

Shipwreck Swim Sunday at 1PM

Next Swim:  1PM Sunday October 9th ATWATER BEACH
Meet at the flagpole on top of the bluff.
We will swim to the shipwreck: http://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/vessel/Details/31  The water is very clear and calm and should remain so on Sunday so it should be an excellent day to swim to the shipwreck about a quarter mile offshore.

Last Swim:  Saturday October 8th noon
Water: 61 crystal clear almost calm
Crew: Wet Taco, Drangonfly, Lorraine, Diablo, Gumdrop, Kahuna, Itch, Patriarch

On the way back from Mudslide the surface ripples were moving in the same direction and speed as we were, so the dappled sunlight on the bottom seemed to be moving with us.  It was mesmerizing to be in such total harmony with the lake, sun, sky and water.

Lake Michigan Dreaming

Weekend Swims:  Saturday noon, Sunday 1PM

Last Swim: Friday October 7th 5:30PM
Water:  61 calm and very clear
Crew: Wet Taco, Drangonfly, Gumdrop, Itch, Patriarch

Tonight's sunset was spectacular.  Not looking west towards the setting sun, but looking east over the lake.  Pink, rose, turquoise, indigo, purple and a bunch of other colors, all accented by a cresent moon.  This time of year every swim could be our last. Soon all of this will be a dream.  Or maybe I'm already dreaming?

Nobody's seen Capt'n or Showgirl in weeks.  Hmmmmmmmm

Halloweenie

Next Swim: Friday October 7th 5:30PM (encroaching darkest forces us to start earlier)

Last Swim: Thursday October 6th 6PM
Water: 62, a bit choppy, not clear but at least you could see your hand
Crew: Lorraine, Itch, Patriarch

It's starting to look very Halloweenie on the beach.  Dusk.   Dark Clouds. Deep blue sky.  Muted reds and yellows on the bluff.  Melancholy in an eerie sort of way.  All we need is someone in a scary clown outfit.  Capt'n?  Gumdrop?  Panini?

Great October Swimming Continues

Next Swim: Thursday October 6th 6PM

Last Swim: Wednesday October 5th 6PM
Water:  63 murky and gently rolling
Crew: Lorraine, Drangonfly, Panini, Wet Taco, Itch, Mr Anonymous, Handyman Hank

Our Secret Place

Next Swim: Wednesday October 5th 6PM

Last Swim:  Tuesday October 4th 6PM
Water: 63 clear with 1-2 foot waves
Crew: Itch, Kahuna, Patriarch

It's a bit eerie swimming in the dusk, but great swimming is still to be had.  The colors on the lake bluff are beginning to peak and the view from the lake is one of the most beautiful autumn scenes around.  But few people see it, it's our own little secret place.

Skin in October

Next Swim:  Tuesday October 4th 6PM

Last Swim: Monday October 3rd 6PM
Water: 64 small rollers, murky
Crew: Itch, Wet Taco, Patriarch, plus Mike and his friend were leaving as wee were coming, also Diablo is still swimming in the morning

I don't believe I've ever swum skin in October, but how could I not when the water is 64.

Octoberfest

Next Swim: Monday October 3rd 6PM

Last Swim: Sunday October 2nd Noon
Water: 60(!) Choppy, Very Clear
Crew: Itch, Handyman Hank, Gumdrop, Diablo, Drangonfly, Patriarch

A fine swim today, made even better because it was unexpected.  Where did yesterday's cold gunky water go?  Who cares?

The colors on the lake bluff are intensifying, quite beautiful from the water.  Breathing on both sides I saw brilliantly colored trees on one side, muted pastels of water sky and clouds on the other side, and between breaths golden rippled sand below.

One of our best swims ever, certainly one of the best for October.   Is it too much to ask for more days like this?  Probably, but you never know.

October and Still Going Strong

Next Swim: Sunday October 2nd noon
Note:  The Milwaukee Marathon is Sunday, and I believe Klode is one of the aid stations.  It might be over by noon but if not you may need to park a couple blocks away (or ride your bike)

Last Swim: Saturday October 1st
Water: 56, 2-3 ft swells with chop, gunky especially near shore
Crew: Itch, Gumdrop, Forger, Handyman Hank, Mike, Patriarch

Cool and drizzly weather with cold rough and gunky water did not exactly make for the best swim day.  But it's still way more fun than the pool, so we're going to keep on as long as we can.  It should be sunnier and calmer tomorrow.

Good luck to Marathon participants and volunteers.  Stop by after the event to cool your tired and sore legs and celebrate your accomplishment with a Pitsch.