2018 Swim Cap Order Deadline - 11:59pm Wednesday August 1st

Ahoy Mates!  Just a quick update on the Klode Kru swim cap order....

Please add a comment to this post with your Kru nickname by 11:59pm Wednesday August 1st if you are interested in ordering. 

Here are the details:
Cost:  $20
What you get:  2 Klode Kru silicone swim caps sporting our super cool Klode Kru logo and personalized with your Kru nickname. 
Colors: One cap will be RED and the other ROYAL.
Estimated Delivery: Thursday August 15th...just in time for the Big Swell Swim on 8/19.

Here's a list of Kru members who have placed an order:
(note: please confirm spelling below is correct)

CAPT'N

CITY MOUSE

COLONEL

DIABLO

DON DIEGO

DRAGONFLY

EL JEFFE

INAGADDADAVIDA

ITCH

KAHUNA

MAGIC MIKE

MOONDAUG

MR BUBBLE

NANOOK

NEO

PANINI

PATRIARCH

SCUBA

SHOWGIRL

SIR JAMES

SNAP

STICKLER

SUPER HERA

THE BIG SHOW

WET TACO

ZIGGY

'O Sole Mio

Next Swims:  Mon. - Fri.,  6 am & 6 pm

Last Swim:
Monday 6am
Water Temp: 67?  70 ?  What am I, a thermometer?
Waves: flat, with a little slight push from the South
Water Clarity: clear
Crew:  Kahuna, Flipper Guy

If you're reading this, kick yourself, because you missed it.  Perfectly warm and clear water, beautiful sunrise, etc., etc., etc.  No, you had to go out boozing all weekend, and then couldn't get out of bed and come down to the beach today, for the best swim of the season.  Ah well, your loss.  

Or maybe you're awake, but you're too addicted to the online shopping, to actually go for a swim (check the time stamps on the comments to yesterday's swim).

Reminder:  Cap'n is taking orders for new Klode Kru swim caps.  If you haven't got one, you should get a pair.  If you already have cap, know that while they are very durable, excellent swim caps, no swim cap lasts forever.  Do you want to risk being without a Klode Kru swim cap, when your current cap has a catastrophic systems failure?  I'm sure you don't.  So read the below blog, and order your cap today, so Cap't can get the order in ASAP.  

(Culture Note:  All these years I thought 'O Sole Mio translated to something like "Oh Me Alone."  Wrong.  It actually translates to Oh Sunny Day!  Who knew? OK, probably millions and millions of people, but not me.  Either way, it works for the today's blog title.)  

Swim Cap Order Time - please comment ASAP if interested

Next Swims:  

   Monday-Friday (7/30-8/3) 6am  & 6pm

Last Swims:

   Saturday July 28th & Sunday July 29th

      Water Temps: Nearly Roastin'!! (69 both days)

      Water Clarity:  Crystal Clear

      Waves: subtle current/chop from south

      Sunday Crew:  The Patriarch, Showgirl, Panini, Itch, Gumdrop Moondawg, Handyman Hank, Northshore Nancy, Kahuna, Magic Mike, Innagaddadavida, Drangonfly, Neo, Jack Frost, Sir James, Stickler, Ziggy, Liz, Molly, Capt'n

Ahoy Mates!  ALL HANDS ON DECK!!!  We be lookin' ta place a custom Klode Kru silicone swim cap order ASAP so that we can have them by the Big Swell Swim.  These silicone caps will proudly display our cool Klode Kru logo as well as be personalized with your Kru nickname.  The cost will be approximately $20 for two caps.  (NOTE: to score the name personalization we're required to order 2 caps per name.)  I'm currently negotiating with the vendor to obtain two different colored swim caps per name.  (i.e. a Red and Yellow cap instead of two red caps.)

IF interested in placing an order, please post a comment with yer Kru Nickname.

Full Moon Swim Tonight*

Friday 07/27, 8PM - Full Moon Swim, details in the previous blog entry.  

Also, Cap'n wants to meet at 7pm to get in a longer swim

Weekend swims: noon both days

Last Swims:
Thursday and Friday 6am
Water Temp: 67
Waves:  flat with a few breezy ruffles
Water Clarity: Crystal clear Friday morning, nearly so on Thursday
Thursday Crew:  Magic Mike, Laguna, Showgirl, Panini, Flipper Guy
 Friday Crew: Magic Mike, Scooby, Showgirl, Flipper Guy, five or so triathletes

 6PM swims as well.

There was more swimming perfection this morning. Flat, clear, warm water. I made it to mudslide, and then took my time on the return trip.  On the way back, I saw a tennis ball, a small submerged tree, and, most interestingly, a pair of swimming trunks.  Light blue with some stripes.  I tossed them on the shore a bit north of sewer pipe, so if they're yours, you know where to find them.

Last night, several of us attended Kahuna's Greater Shorewood Biker's event at Three Lions, benefiting the World Bicycle Relief organization.  It was also a Harry Potter costume extravaganza!  We enjoyed the fabulous ambiance of the 3 Lions outdoor seating, and nearly everyone scored on the raffle.  As if we needed any more fun, then we took a leisurely roll over to Atwater to enjoy the amazing beauty of the full moon.

*guaranteed to be the best swim of the season

Best Swim of the Season

Next Swims:  Mon. - Fri.,  6 am & 6 pm

Friday 07/27, 8PM - Full Moon Swim, details below

Last Swims:
Wednesday 6am
Water Temp: 67
Waves: basically flat
Water Clarity: increasing, though still cloudy offshore
Crew:  Patriarch, Itch, Showgirl, Sarah(?), Flipper Guy

In an inexplicable turn of events, both Patriarch and Itch came to the morning swim today.  Itch was off like a flash, and I never saw him again. Patriarch and I enjoyed some lovely post-swim chit-chat, as only retired people can.

Upcoming Events:
Thursday 07/26, 7:00 PM, Three Lions
Kahuna's brain-child, Greater Shorewood Bikers, is hosting Bike Night at Three Lions Pub.  Due to the outstanding performance of "Team America" at the Shorewood Criterium (including Handyman Hank and Kahuna), Three Lions will tap a quarter barrel at 7:00. Any one with a bike helmet who knows the password will drink for free until the quarter barrel runs out.  GSB will also be conducting a raffle to benefit World Bicycle Relief , a very worthy charity.  Hope to see you then.

Friday 07/27, 8:00PM, Full Moon Swim, followed by socializing at Draft & Vessel
We're on a bit of a tight schedule for this Friday's Full Moon Swim. The moon rises at 8:21.  Klode Park closes at 9:00.  In order to avoid trouble with the WFB popo, we will have to be as efficient and businesslike as usual about our activities.  No goofing off.  No monkey business. No lollygagging. No open intoxicants, no profanity, and above all, no nudity.

Nearly Ideal Conditions

Next Swims:  Mon. - Fri.,  6 am & 6 pm

And keep an eye out for deets of our Friday Full Moon Swim, plus perhaps socializing after?

Last Swims:
Tuesday 6am
Water Temp: 67
Waves: small slow swells
Water Clarity: Nope
Crew:  Showgirl, Panini, Flipper Guy

Monday 6am
Water Temp: 64
Waves: very wavy, with some breakers
Water Clarity: Nope
Crew:  Magic Mike, Showgirl, Panini

I assume there have been evening swims as well.

This was a pretty awesome morning for swimming. It was just Panini and me, with Flipper Guy just finishing his swim when I arrived.  All quiet on in the lot and on the beach.

I was happy and surprised to see my thermometer stop at 67. The big waves have died down, and now it's just low swells, with perhaps a small current out of the north. There is a lot of gunk in the water inside the rock piles, but just cloudy elsewhere.  You can also feel a tangle of seaweed with your feet on the bottom near shore, plus a lot has washed up on the beach.

Other than that, it was a nearly ideal morning of swimming.

More Slapping Around

Next Swims:  Mon. - Fri.,  6 am & 6 pm

Last Swim:  Sun noon.
Water Temp: 61.
Waves:  High.
Water Clarity: No.
Crew:  Dragonfly, Itch, Sir James, Ice Dog, Kahuna and special guest appearance by Panini, and additional onshore support by the Patriarch and Magic Mike.  

Continued big water out there today.  That does not deter Sir James though, who I think did a lap to Michigan and back.  The rest of us, it took us about 13 minutes headed North to get to Downspout, then about 3 or 4 minutes to get back.  Good times. 

If you've not read yesterday's post about Thursday night's event, please do.  If the weather is good, maybe we'll make it a ride from Three Lions over to Atwater, then a summer moonlight dip.  Such is what summer memories are made of.    

SPLISH, SPLASH, SLAP

Next Swim:  Sun 7/22 noon

Last Swim:  Sat noonWater Temp: 57 between rocks, 62 away from shore?Waves: High on shore; offshore amplitude size of wave 2'?Water Clarity: Not
Crew:  Dragonfly, Patriarch, Itch, Magic Mike, Handyman Hank, Kahuna

Water Color:  Brown/Black on shore; pretty blue out there 

Pretty big water out there today.  Lorraine helpfully posted in the comments section before today's swim the National Weather Service beach forecast for Milwaukee County, which is liberally sprinkled with (in all capital letters) such inviting terms as “BEACH HAZARDS," “HIGH WAVE ACTION,”  “STRONG STRUCTURAL CURRENTS,” “STRONG LONGSHORE CURRENTS,” “RIP CURRENTS," "SHARKS." (OK, maybe that last one is not true, but it is Shark Week, so you never know.)

It was one of those days, when you are swimming along, then suddenly you are lifted up, and then "SLAP" your head comes down and hits the water.  

We made our we slowly to downspout, then got on the convey belt back, before carefully choosing our approach between the rocks.  Good times.  

Speaking of good times, mark your calendar for this Thursday night, as my group (Greater Shorewood Bikers) is hosting Bike Night at Three Lions Pub.  Thanks to the outstanding performance of "Team America" at the Shorewood Criterium (including Handyman Hank and me, see below), we won a quarter barrel from Three Lions.  So show up at 7:00, we'll tap the keg, and any one with a bike helmet who knows the password drinks for free until the quarter barrel runs out.

 

We're also conducting a raffle to benefit World Bicycle Relief , a very worthy charity.  Hope to see you then.  

Saturday Noon

Next Swim:  Sat 7/21 noon

Last Swim:  Friday 5:30PM
Water Temp: 56
Waves: 1 ft rolling
Water Clarity: fair
Crew:  Itch, Mr. Anonymous

S I X T Y - S I X

Next Swims:  Monday-Friday 6am and 6pm

Last Swim: Thursday 07/19 6am
Water: 66.  SIXTY-SIX. S I X T Y  S I X
Waves: tiny swells
Clarity: cloudy
Crew: Mr. A, Forger, Laguna, Panini, Showgirl, Julie

Did I mention the water temperature was 66?

It was sunny, the water was pretty calm, and Panini is back. It was so great.

There was one non-swimming moment of note that left me wishing for a camera: in the back of Forgers van was a roll of toilet paper bundled together with a finisher's medal.

Beach Magic (spoiler alert: warm water is back)

Next Swims:  Monday-Friday 6am and 6pm

Last Swim: Wednesday 07/18 6am
Water: 63+
Waves: biggish swells
Clarity: cloudy
Crew: Showgirl, Barbie, Flipper Guy

I heard the waves hitting the beach from the parking lot, so I was feeling a bit pessimistic about the swim. The complete absence of other swimmers did not help the situation.

Then I put my feet in the fantastically warm water. Then Flipper Guy arrived.

I put on my cap, goggles, and barbie, and swam. It was so great. The blue sky peeked around small fluffy clouds. The sun shone. The slow-moving waves slanted towards shore giving the feeling that you were on the high ground above the shore.

When I got back to the beach I noticed a weird beach-magic kind of thing:  in the center of the beach was a 10 foot swath of rocks pushed to shore by the waves, bordered on both sides by smooth sand.

Proving once again that it's always worth getting up for the swim.

FFS

Next Swims:  Monday thru Friday 6AM and 6PM

Last Swim: Tuesday July 17th 6am
Water Temp: 53, from top to bottom
Waves: Flat
Water Clarity:  Crystal
Crew: Laguna Mike, Magic Mike, Showgirl, Flipper guy

As of this morning, the top 1/2" of warm water, and any warm spots had completely disappeared into Patriarch's ice moon, and the water was uniformly COLD.

But... the sunrise was lovely, and the water was flat and clear, and the beach was deserted. So it was still an awesome swim.

The Ice Moons of Pluto

Next Swims:  Monday thru Friday 6AM and 6PM

Last Swim: Monday July 16th 6PM
Water Temp: Irrelevant, wide variations from spot to spot, and from the top inch to 12 inches below
Waves: Gentle
Water Clarity:  Incredible
Crew: Kahuna, Handyman Hank, North Shore Nancy, Stephanie, Itch, Julie, Sir James, Synchro, Super Hera, Patriarch

The trick today was to swim in the top inch and manuever from one relatively warm spot to another between the bone chilling spots.  As usual the very coldest spot was right in front of the rock pile.  I’m beginning to suspect that rock the pile lies atop the wormhole gateway to the Ice Moons of Pluto.

Don't Call Me Shirley

Next Swims:  Monday-Friday 6am and 6pm

Last Swim: Sunday noon
Water: Still mostly cold, 55-ish but with a thin layer of warmer water on top, though definitely not near the rockpile or inside the rocks
Waves: flat
Clarity: crystal clear
Crew: Itch, Magic Mike, Drangonfly, Davida, Michael (NOT Mike!), Handyman Hank, Mr. Anonymous, Showgirl, Stephanie, Cool Hand Luke, Mr. Bubble (Mitch's new nickname) and a Linda the Lamprey sighting as I left the area at 2-ish

It was a weird weather day. As I biked over, there was plenty of wind, so I was expecting waves, but at beach level the air was calm and the water was flat. As we went down the ramp there was so much fog that the water was mysteriously invisible.

The thermometers yielded wild temperature variations, but the bottom line was........ cold.  Again. Some suited up, others went skin, and we headed north into the fog. The warm air makes it a lot easier to get into cold water, but there was still plenty of shrieking about the cold. Or that could have just been me.

It was food truck Sunday again at Klode, so my whole swim was powered by thoughts of what I was going to eat afterward.

Back at the beach, nearly everyone who exited the water made the same comment about how breathtakingly cold the water was just off the rockpile. However, if you managed to achieve escape velocity past the insanely cold water, you were rewarded by several patches of warmer water. 

Finally, please allow me to offer some clarity on a few swimmer names:  Davida is David with an A, Ara is R-a not Air-a, our newest swimmer is Michael not Mike, and Mitch has achieved nickname-hood as Mr. Bubble.

To the best swim of the season.

Cold Spots and Warm Spots

Next Swims:  Sunday July 15th 7AM & Noon

Last Swim: Saturday noon
Water: Cold as hell (55) and clear as a bell
Waves:  Small and Gentle
Crew: Lamprey, Magic Mike, Showgirl, Drangonfly, Handyman Hank, Itch, Gumdog Moondrop, Liz, Patriarch

Large variations in temperature.  Controversy of the day:  Do the warm spots make the cold spots feel colder or do the cold spots make the warm spots feel warmer?

Either way, there was a cold spot near the rock pile that was absolutely the coldest I ever felt, I mean my teeth hurt!

Don Diego reports that a group (of triathletes I assume) are swimming at 7AM Sunday.

Damn the Icebergs, Full Speed Ahead

Next Swim:  Saturday July 13th Noon

Last Swim:  Friday 5:30PM
Water Temp:  51 yikes!
Waves:  1 ft Choppy
Water Clairity Excellent
Crew:  Itch, Drangonfly, Mr. Anonymous, and Lamprey swam earlier

Wow!  I have completely underestimated the fortitude of the Crew.  So I guess we’re swimming Saturday noon after all, come hell or cold water.

Actually there is a sliver of hope.  The Atwater Bouy is recording temperatures in the 60s, and there is a big current pushing north, which is the direction between the bouy and Klode Beach.  Maybe....Just Maybe...................

Cold Water Alert!

Next Swim:  Sunday?

I was not at the Friday morning swim, but I got two reports of very cold water - 40’s.  Yikes!  This was probably caused by the persistent offshore winds of the last few days.  It probably won’t warm up again until the wind shifts to onshore which looks like Saturday evening.  Caveat:  My predictions of Lake Michigan conditions are usually wrong.

Anyhow, I am not planning to swim Saturday, but if there are any brave souls out there who want to give it a shot post a comment and maybe there are other hearty souls who might join you.

As for Sunday, if I swim at all it will have to be early (8AM or thereabouts).  Anyone interested?  I reserve the right to wimp out if it’s still that cold!

P.S.  I told some of you that I saw a coyote on Shore Drive near the beach the other day.  But after looking at some pictures on the web I’m pretty sure it was a fox, not a coyote.

Magic Toes And Magic Mermaid

Next Swims:  Monday - Friday 6AM & 6PM

Last Swim: Tuesday 6PM
Water. Temp: 65
Waves: Gentle Rollers
Water Clairity: Good
Crew:  Magic Mike, Sir James, Scratch, Super Hera, Patriarch

Magic Mike strode into the water and pronounced the temp to be 65.  It turns out he was exactly right.  I measured 65 from shore but it was warmer away from the rocks.  Yesterday’s cold water was just a bad dream, and we all had a nice long swim to make up for yesterday’s cold shortened swims.

Four of us entered the water, but when I returned and looked back there were still  four swimmers in the water.  I’m not sure where she came from but somehow Super Hera appeared!

Jinxed (or that's what Itch says)

Next Swims:  Monday thru Friday 6AM & 6PM
 
Last Swim:  Tuesday 6am
Water Temp:  54
Waves: Lots and lots of waves, out of the north
Clarity:  Super HD Clear
Crew:  Magic Mike, Laguna, Mr. Anonymous, Showgirl, First-Time-Mike

Itch accused us of jinxing the lake by being too happy about the warm and flat water. 

As usual, he was right.  Temps continued to decrease overnight, and waves increased, so that we were faced with wavy, 54 degree water this morning.

Rather unfortunately, today was also the day that a new swimmer, Mike, chose to join us.  Welcome Mike, and we do apologize for the water conditions this morning. You should have come yesterday.

THAT SAID, it was still pretty great.  Usually when it's this wavy, the clarity is terrible.  Today, as we were being thrashed by the waves, you could still see every ripple of sand on the bottom as the sun shone through the water.  That beauty kept me slogging to the birches, and the waves carried us back to the beach.

Plunge!

Next Swims:  Monday thru Friday 6AM & 6PM

Last Swim:  Monday 6PM
Water Temp:  56
Waves: Calm
Clarity:  Super HD Clear
Crew:  Scratch, Handyman Hank, Wet Taco, Inagaddadavida, Sir James, Taylor, Brian?, Patriarch

Water temperatures plunged today from 66 at 6AM to 56 at 6PM.  Despite that, several of us had a pleasant but short swim.

I suspect the culprit was evil offshore winds that have blown the last couple of days.  The wind is supposed to turn around tonight, so it could be warmer (but wavier) tomorrow.  Or maybe not.  As always the lake is fickle and unpredictable.  

Perfection

Next Swims:
   Monday-Friday 6am & 6pm

Last Swim:
   Monday 07/09 6am
      Water Temp: 66
      Waves:  flat, tho starting to ruffle up out of the south near the end
      Water Clarity: excellent
      Crew: Kahuna, Forger, Laguna, IceDog, Showgirl, NamelessNewGuy

These are the days we wait for. The water was warm, clear, and flat. 

My favorite non-swimming moment of the morning:  we were getting ready and I had the sun at my back.  Forger paid me some nice compliment, and Kahuna brayed, "you can't see her!!"

Laguna and NamelessNewGuy hustled quickly into the water and were never seen (by me) again. Forger launched, followed by me, and later Kahuna. IceMoonDog was out on his SUP.  I made my 2018 maiden voyage to the landmark formerly known as mudslide.

It was an all-around awesome morning swim, with an extra bonus abandoned towel acquisition by me. 

The Drought Continues....

Next Swims:
   Sunday July 8th @ noon
   Monday July 9th @ 6am & 6pm

Last Swims:
   Friday July 6th @ 6pm
      Water Temp: Aye, it was decent
         (63 macho-meter / 66 Itch-o-meter)
      Waves:  organized 1-2ft / moderate chop
      Water Clarity: stirred up but blue
      Crew: Scratch, North Shore Nancy, Handyman Hank, Drangonfly, Capt'n plus 1 more with Special Guest Appearance by New Doo Showgirl

   Saturday July 7th @ noon
      Water Temp: Almost Roastin'
         (68 Itch-o-meter / 69 Moon-Duck-o-Meter)
      Waves: less then 1ft with moderate current from south
      Water Clarity:  Cloudy with Caribbean Blue Hue
      Crew: Scratch, North Shore Nancy, Handyman Hank, Drangonfly, Liz, Lorrain, Gumdog Moondrop, Magic Mike, Crash, Capt'n

How dry I am.......how dry I am......how happy I'll be....when I finally get, a shot of Pitsch.

BLIMEY!  In all my days of swimmin' with the Klode Kru I can't remember goin' 2 consecutive swims without a traditional celebratory shot of our favorite alixir.  The Kru be gettin' restless.  Surely we be at the brink of mutiny unless a remedy is found soon!  Following today's swim there were rumblins that mid summer parley of named Kru members might be needed to remedy this and other concerns.  Stay tuned me Hearties...

BIG WATER!

Next Swims:
 Friday July 6th at 6pm
 Sat & Sun at noon (?)  

Last Swim:
 Friday, July 6th at 6 am
 Water Temp: Mostly Roastin' (guessing 65 - 67, cooler by the rocks) 
 Water Clarity: A bit stirred up
 Waves: Big!  Not the biggest I've seen, but still very good sized
 Crew: Whitney, Debby, Julie, Mr. A and Kahuna; Diablo early?  

What a difference a day can make. From clear, flat water, to powerful crashing waves; who did what to piss off the Lady of the Lake?  Upon arrival at Klode this morning one could see the flag flapping stiffly, pointing in a Westerly direction, and hear the surf crashing on the shore.  The early crew (I just now found out someone else announced this morning's swim was going to happen at 8 am), was treated to clear skies, and pleasant temperatures.  Definitely a day for surfers.  Mr. A and I worked our way North towards downspout, and I think I got there in just under 9 minutes.  I swam on a little further, but it was something akin to working out in an endless pool.  Only more fun, of course.

The return trip (with a course plotted to stay well away from the rocks) was rather much swifter.  Whitney, Debby and Julie (pictured below) let discretion be the better part of valor, and swam and played around within the rocks.



Should be a good weekend for swimming. 

July 4th Big Bay Swim - Part 2

Next Swims:
 Friday July 6th at 8am & 6pm
 Sat & Sun at noon(?) 

Last Swim:
 Thursday July 5th - 6pm (Big Bay)
 Water Temp: DECENT (63 per Macho-Meter / 65 Itch-o-Meter)
 Water Clarity: Crystal Clear
 Waves: rippled surface with light current from north
 Crew: Scratch, Drangonfly, Loraine, El Jeffe, City Mouse, Ziggy, Taylor, Brian, Julie, Capt'n

 A barricaded parking lot and a member of Whitefish Bay's finest greeted the Kru Thursday evening as we arrived at Klode for our 6pm swim. Due Wednesday evening's weather, the Klode fireworks were moved to Thursday evening which consequently closed the beach. Fortunately great minds think alike and the Kru knew to migrate south to Big Bay for Thursday's swim.

 A delightful evening for a swim. Air temps were in the upper 70's, the skies were clear and the wind was calm. The shoreline water temps measured in the mid-60 but warmer pockets of water were encountered during our swim. We were also blessed with crystal clear water that allowed you to easily admire the sand and rocks adorning the lake bottom.....even in 20ft of water.

 Best of luck to the Kru members participating in the Big Swell Swim in Devils Lake. I know Sir James and The Big Show are participating. Anyone else?

Swimming Fireworks (or not)

Next Swims:
Thurs and Friday 6AM & 6PM (maybe some bonus swims in there as well)
Bonus Swims:
        Noon Thursday, sponsored by We'Taco
        8AM Friday, sponsored by Drangonfly, Showgirl, We'Taco


Last Swims:
Thursday Noon
Water Temp: 64
Waves: A bit ruffly out of the north
Water Clarity: very good
Crew: We'Taco, Mr. Anonymous, Showgirl

Thursday 6am
Water Temp: 61
Waves: Flat as glass
Water Clarity: excellent
Crew: Laguna Mike, Laura (first of the season), Showgirl

Rarely is it not worth dragging out of bed for a morning swim, and today was no exception.  There was a bit of a gauntlet to run-- I had to move the barricades to the parking lot, and Laura and I held up the orange snow-fence for each other to crawl under in order to head down the ramp.

Today was the first time I remember seeing the firework set-up still on the beach on July 5th. Unfortunately, I had no phone with which to document it, but it was pretty impressive.

Wednesday 07/04 Noon
Water Temp: 66.5
Waves: chop out of the south, and building
Water Clarity: good
Crew: Linda the Lamprey, Taylor (first swim with us ever! Welcome Taylor), Cap'n, Drangonfly, Phoenix, Magic Mike, Allie, Itch, Mitch, Liz, Big Show, Sir James, Icedog, Stephanie (+ Mr. Stephanie??), Kahuna, Showgirl, sorry if I missed anyone
Shore support: Allie's 3 lovely children + bonus child, Squeeze o'Showgirl,Eric's shuttle service

Kahuna's nephew, demonstrating with great style what is expressly forbidden by the WFB popo. The Klode Kru shall not be held liable for any loss of life or limb resulting from the viewing of this photo.

Rising water levels have made the Big Bay beach even smaller than it was before.  Nevertheless, we squeezed in, and got ready to swim.

Last 4th of July several of us swam from Big Bay to Atwater, and many did this year as well, with James and Big Show doing a round trip. Welcome to Taylor, who came all the way from Ireland just to swim with the Klode Kru.

The push from the south phenomenal-- Drangonfly and I swam 20 minutes south, and made the return trip in TEN minutes.  It was kind of ridiculous. The non-Atwater swimmers hung around the beach for a while, toasted to the most spectacular swim of the season, snacked on Drangonfly's strawberries, and then filtered away to our next holiday activity.

Run Over by the Poop Mobile

Next Swims:
2:30pm and 6pm Tuesday
NOON at Big Bay on Wednesday the 4th
Thurs and Friday 6AM & 6PM (there maybe some bonus swims in there as well)

Wednesday July 4th, we will not be able to swim at Klode because of the firework preparation.  So let's meet at Big Bay at noon. Drangonfly mentioned doing another Big Bay to Atwater swim, which was one of our epic swims last summer. I'm not in shape for that this time, but could provide transportation if desired.

Last Swim:
Tuesday 6am
Water Temp: 58 and 57.9 per Patriarch and my thermometers, respectively
Waves: Flat as glass, tho starting to swell up near the end of the swim
Water Clarity: excellent
Crew: Magic Mike, Mr. Anonymous, Patriarch, Showgirl

This week has given us back the Lake Michigan that we know and love: crystal clear and flat as glass.  The water temperature leaves a tiny bit to be desired, but... let's be profoundly grateful for what we have.

It was a quiet morning at the beach.  Patriarch and I engaged in post-swim chit-chat, pondering why people would come to the beach to work out, but never actually enter the water. I made a daring water approach to the forbidden Private Beach, with no negative consequences.

Some of you will be relieved (no pun) to hear that the Klode beach-level port-a-potty was cleaned out by the poop-cleaning truck guy while we observed from a safe distance, mercifully upwind. As we were near the top of the ramp, we had to leap out of the way or risk being ignominiously run over by a giant tanker full of sh*t.  Lake Michigan swimming is not for sissies.

Brigadoon, or... Garage Mirage

Next Swims:
Monday July 2nd 6AM & 6PM
Tuesday July 3rd 6AM & 6PM

Wednesday July 4th, we will not be able to swim at Klode because of the firework preparation.  So it will be either Atwater or Big Bay.  Due to misplaced priorities, Patriarch will not be available to mastermind our swim, so please express your preferences about time and place in the comments. I think that Atwater beach also closes due to fireworks, but not as early as Klode.

Last Swim:
Monday 6am
Water Temp: 56.6
Waves: Flat as glass
Water Clairity: improving-- you can see the bottom nearer shore
Crew: Magic Mike (the real one), Showgirl, Forger, Kristina (sorry I forgot your nickname) Brian, Diablo (early), Flipper Guy (keeping an aloof distance as usual)
Shore Support: Judy (Mrs. Magic Mike), and quite a throng of morning exercisers hefting weights and running up and down the hill

I once again let my internal clock decide whether I would swim this morning, and happily, it did.

I arrived at Klode at the same time as Magic Mike,  to a crowded parking lot.  Could these all be swimmers, we wondered? No. They were morning exercisers, maniacally running up and down the ramp, and doing other exhausting things at the bottom.

We made a better choice, and jumped in the lake. At 56F, I mentally committed to the sewerpipe, but when I got there, I swam on thru the gorgeous flat water to the birches. Due to the low sun and clear skies, the garage made a rare and welcome appearance.

The Private Beach Sign is a bit off-putting, so I did a some research about Wisconsin laws and found this: "...the Wisconsin State Supreme Court has ruled that when conflicts occur between the rights of riparian owners (owners of lands bordering lakes and rivers) and public rights, the public's rights are primary and the riparian owner's secondary."
Full story here: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/waterways/about_us/doctrine.htm

The Coolest People in Milwaukee

Next Swims:
Monday July 2nd 6AM & 6PM
Tuesday July 3rd 6AM & 6PM

As for July 4th, we will not be able to swim at Klode because of the firework preparation.  So it will be either Atwater or Big Bay.  Unfortunately I will probably not be able to join you, so I leave the details of time and place to my fellow bloggers.

Last Swims:
Friday 6PM, Saturday noon, Sunday noon
Water Temps: Variable. High 50’s to low 60’s
Waves: 1-3 ft, choppy
Water Clairity:  Very Good

Friday 6PM Crew: Stephane, Sarah, Magic Mike, Mitch, Drangonfly, Synchro, Patriarch

Saturday Noon Crew:  Liz, Magic Mike, Sir James, Big Show, Capt’n, Ziggy, Scratch (Itch, until his beard grows back), Drangonfly, Kahuna, Gumdog Moondrop, Mitch, Alcatraz Joan, Ironman Chris, Patriarch

Sunday Noon Crew: Sir James, Big Show, Forger, Mr. Anonymous, Scratch, Capt’n, Ziggy, Lorraine, Drangonfly, Gumdog Moondrop, Liz, Eleanor, Magic Mike, Mitch, Stephanie, Patriarch

The water is on the coolish side but feels absolutely wonderful on these god awful heatwave days.  There is no finer place to be than Klode (finer by far than Carolina).  We are without a doubt the coolest people in Milwaukee, literally.

As if our swim nicknames aren’t confusing enough, Kahuna muddied the water (so to speak) even further by naming our newest swimmer “Magic Mike”, somehow forgetting that we already have a Magic Mike.  I guess we have to make allowances for advancing age.