Thermal Inversion

Next Swims:  Sunday @ Noon
Mon - Fri:  5:30 pm?

Last Swim:  Saturday Noon
Water Temp: 61 degrees on the Itch-o-meter, 57 on the Macho-meter
Waves:  Ripples
Clarity:  Nice!
Crew:  Magic Mike, Cap'n, We'Taco, Itch, Mr. Anonymous, Julie and Mr. Bubble

Another great day for a swim!  Even nicer when the sun came out for a moment here and there.  Water much clearer than earlier this week.  Best of all - no bugs!

Biked up to Klode pre-occupied with two thoughts:
(1) Will anyone else be there when I arrive?  Itch probably, maybe one other person
(2) The water will definitely be warmer than the air, it's been in the low 60's last few times I've been, so it must still be in the low 60's

Magic Mike and I debating the validity of Thought #2 as Thought #1 was being invalidated.  Mike citing empirical data about the lake getting cooler, I'm citing metaphysics - Yin and Yang - since Thought #1 was invalid, Thought #2 must be valid.

We'Taco and I discussing the nature of our addictions - our lives revolve around getting our next fix.  Julie sharing her Family and Social History - how she came to swim with a noodle looped around her ankle.

Have a great swim tomorrow everyone.  I'll be doing Jhawk Latebird - tomorrow's supposed to be colder so today was a warm up.

Twilight Zone

Last Swim:  Monday, 5:45 pm
Water Temperature:  65 degrees
Waves:  3 feet?  (according to Atwater Buoy)
Clarity:  Shades of brown
Crew:  Itch, Synchro, Innagadavida
Shore Support:  Cameo by We'taco

Grey skies with some grey fog, light brown water, although not as muddy and trashy as some recent days.  Air was not terribly warm and it was a little windy.  All in all, not the kind of day that most people would think - "OMG, I just gotta go straight to the beach and go swimming!  Can't wait!" 

Innagadavida actually said it was an "ugly day".

On top of all that...it started drizzling lightly during the swim. 

Which brings me to a philosophical question I've been pondering lately...Why do we do this?  Why do we keep coming back?  What draws us to the water, even on the "ugly days"?

It finally came to me on the drive home...I do this for the same reason that Tony the Tiger loves Frosted Flakes - THEY'RE GREAT!

Crisp fall air

Next swims: Sunday @ noon
Mon-Fri 6:15am and 5:45pm

Last Swims: Friday night
Water Temp: 67
Waves: easy going risers
Clarity: Good if all you need is to see the hand at the end of your arm
Crew: Itch, Stickler, We'Taco, Magic Mike
Shore support: Patriarch, Diablo, Handyman Hank, Synchro

Saturday, noon:
Water Temp: 63
Waves: swells of 2-3 feet with a chop all mixed in
Clarity: nasty in close; blue-green and slightly murky a little further out
Crew: Diablo, Itch, Linda the Lamprey, Mr. Bubble, Dan, Magic Mike

On Friday night We'Taco and I were huddling in the shallows of the cove to stay out of the whipping north wind. The water was the warmest place to be. We were talking about how, even though summer is gorgeous and hard to beat, there is something special about fall swims: the sense of stolen time, not knowing how many more swims we have left, being really glad we have THIS swim. Then Itch and Stickler swam in, everyone got out, hustled into warm and dry, took a shot, and strode into the weekend.

Itch dubbed Saturday the third best swim of the season. Pitsch. Then some went off to Doors Open, MKE. Was that only me?

Best season of the swim!

Last Swim:  Thursday, 5:45 pm
Water Temperature:  68
Waves:  Fun swells
Clarity:  Mixed - total mud puddle close to shore, clearer with some trash and debris further out
Crew:  Kuhuna, Itch, Patriarch, Synchro, Capn', Ziggy, Stickler, Mr. Bubble

I'm sure all would agree this has been a great season - I've heard many say so during the last few weeks.  Hence my toast last night - a Spoonerism of our usual toast. 

The water was beautifully warm, and quite delightful after you got past the Brown 25 along the shore.  Once we got  into the clearer water, there were still some Close Enounters with flotsam and jetsam.  Kahuna said he had a Close Encounter with a tree limb and Ziggy (I think) said she swam straight into a branch.

Kahuna, Cap'n and I stopped to chat during the swim.  While Kahuna was telling the story of his Close Encounter, Cap'n all of a sudden exclaims - "Look, a Baby Ruth!", and throws it at Kahuna.  I don't think it was really a candy bar.  I think it was actually a piece of Brown 25. 

While waiting for the Killepitsch to be served up, Synchro introduced us to Xtabentun - a Mayan liquer made of honey with an aftertaste of licorice - pretty good actually. 

Then the Killepitsch was served up and there was mutual agreement - good batch!  Tastes much better than Robitussin!

Someone asked "When did the Kru start drinking the pitsch as part of the ritual?"  Condensed version of the story - 2006. 

WWDD? WWSHD?

Next Swims:  Wednesday thru Friday 6:15AM and 5:45PM

Last  Swim:  Wednesday 09/19 6:15am
Water Temp: warm
Waves: biggish, covered in chop
Clarity: zero
Crew:  Showgirl, Barbie, probably Diablo

I arrived at the parking lot at 6:15-ish and the barriers were still up. But the barriers are no barrier to swimming, my friends.

That said, no other swimmers felt like a barrier.

Largeish waves felt like a barrier.

Crud floating in the water felt like a barrier.

But then I asked myself, "what would Diablo do?" What would Super Hera do?"

At this point, there was a red glow on the horizon. The water felt warm and inviting. The breeze kept the mosquitoes  at bay. So I decided to enjoy the sunrise while on a short swim to the sewerpipe. 

The sun came up just as I got outside the rock piles. Though the sky was gray, there was a cloudless gap just along the horizon. The sun rose bright red, and then disappeared behind the clouds.

Rain, Lightening, Big Waves, (and the Ever-Present Super-Abundant Flying A**holes)

Next Swims:  Monday thru Friday 6:15AM and 5:45PM

Last (failed) Swim:  Tuesday 09/15 6:15am
Water Temp: warm
Waves: BIG
Clarity: zero
Crew:  Julie, Showgirl

Last (successful) Swims:  Julie says Monday morning was an amazing swim to the Love Rock, and I'm sure there was a Monday night swim

Before heading to the beach tis morning, I had checked the weather on my phone and listened to the weather on the radio, and both forecasts clearly missed the mark.

Julie and I optimistically arrived in the parking lot at the new, 6:15AM swim time.  The air temp was dropping, the wind was kicking up, the sky was ominous, and we could hear waves  hitting the beach.  (And mosquitoes, of course, but why waste more time discussing those bastards?)

Julie said, "how about a quick one?" and we grabbed our stuff and headed down the stairs. Once on the beach, the waves were daunting, with breakers close to shore and big splashes over the rock piles.

Queue the lightening flashes.

(I have NO idea what that yellow horizontal line is. Just ignore it.)

(Yellow line again?? Perhaps an alien spacecraft moving too fast for the naked eye? Horizontal lightening flash?)

We had some lovely beach chit-chat, slapped at the mosqitoes (little blood-sucking f*ers), took some pics, admired the lone red tree that's on the way to mudslide, and finally relinquished our hopes for a swim.

The rain held off until we were almost up the ramp. Here's hoping for clear weather this evening.

Weekday swim Times

Next Swims:  Monday thru Friday 6:15AM and 5:45PM

Due to shorter days we need to modify the weekday swim times. After much discussion we settled on 6:15 AM for the morning swim and 5:45 for the evening swim.

Also, we could use some help with blog posting.  if you would like to be a blog author send me your email address and I will get you added as an author.

Weekend Looks Good

Next Swims:
- Friday 9/14 5:30PM
- Saturday Noon (Shipwreck swim at Atwater beach)
- Sunday noon, Klode

Last Swim:  Thursday 9/13 6PM
Water Temp: 66
Waves:  Almost Calm
Water Clarity: Good and improving
Crew:  Itch, Mr. Bubble, Drangonfly, Stickler, Leslie, Sir James, Patriarch

Despite the shorter days there’s still good swimming to be had.  Water temps have been holding in the mid-sixties.  The forecast for the weekend is sunny, warm, low winds, and nearly calm water.

Itch has proposed a shipwreck swim on Saturday.  Our last two attempts were foiled by murky water. It could happen again but there’s reason for optimism as the water clarity has been improving.

As for next week, I think it’s time we bow to the inevitable and move the weekday morning swim later and the evening swim earlier.  I propose 6:30AM and 5:30PM for the weekday swims.  Please comment.

P.S.  Please note that tonight’s (Friday) swim has been moved up to 5:30PM

Fwa, Fwa, Fwa

Next Swim:
   Mon-Fri 6am & 6pm

Last Swim:
    Sunday noon
       Water Temp: High 60's
       Waves: Yep; Waves 4' to 6'
       Clarity: not really
       Driftwood: lots, and lots on the beach
       Crew: Magic Mike, Moondawg, innagaddadavida, Kahuna, Dipper Guy
       Shore Support: Dragonfly, Itch, Diablo, a first-timer who's name may have been elisa, Squezakahuna, and Houndakahuna, 

Sunny skies, reasonably warm water, white caps and pounding surf hitting the rocks greeted the Kru as we descended down the path today.  A good time was had as the Kru headed north, most of us made it almost to birches, moondawg going further.  Dipper Guy just played in the waves in the cove.  More of a battle coming back.  A rousing game of "get the stick in the hole" and "get the rock in the hole" was enjoyed by most on our return. Below is some video of the four of us out there. 

We have reached that stage of the season where we may want to move the morning swim a little later, like to 6:15 or 6:30.  But for now, I've indicated 6:00.   

Finally, for those of you who have been waiting to see the drone footage from the attempted shipwreck swim from a weeks weeks back, try clicking on this link:  

 LM Swimmers.m4v

BIG FOLDERS

Next Swims:
   Sunday at Noon

Last (attempted) Swim Race:
   Location:  Ohio Street Beach, Chicago
   Saturday 09/08 8 a.m.
   Water temp: 7o degrees?
   Waves: 2-4 feet out of the NorEast
   Clarity: not so much
   Crew: Dragonfly, Mr. A, Itch, Kahuna

Well, somebody had to post a new blog someday, so I guess it's me.  

Here's a picture of your Kru's traveling team ready to race:  

But alas and alack, a bunch of TWO-FACED CHICAGO BEARS FANS:

• who managed to suck $320 collectively out of our pockets back in March to get us to register for Big Shoulders (plus the expense associated today with  gas, plus parking, plus mileage);
• who yesterday at noon sent us an email stating "For those nervous folks who keep asking if the race is a go, YES, it’s a go.  In 27 years, we have had once cancellation, and that was 9 foot waves and water spouts on the lake."
• who managed to get us up this morning at 4:00 a.m.; and
• who managed not to have the basic human decency to send us an email this morning telling us the race was cancelled;

decided to cancel today's race as we arrived at the beach.  Arrrrrggghhhh!  "But the water temp is a delightful 70 degrees or so, and the waves are only 2 to 4 feet, what do you mean your cancelling the race?!?!" 

But, externalities affect us not, as Frankl tells us that while we cannot avoid suffering, we can choose how to cope with it, find new meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose.  Your team chose to deal with the slings and arrows of this morning by going for a short 20 minute fun-and-picturesque swim, taking a team photo with one of our colorful new high-tech swag beach towels (see above), and toasting something or other (it really matters not) with a shot of Killepitsch.  My new purpose in life is henceforth to hate all things Chicago-related (at least for the rest of this weekend), bringing me to: THE BEARS STILL SUCK!  GO PACK GO! 

Tomorrow is another day.  Hope springs eternal in the human breast.  The "sun'll come out tomorrow" (or at least that's the forecast, along with forecasted persistent easterly winds over the next 48 hours).  And the buoy temp looks to be hanging consistently at 66 to 68 degrees over the last 48 hours, so Itch is predicting that tomorrow's swim is going to be the BEST SWIM OF THE SEASON, WITHOUT A DOUBT.  Hope to see you there. 

Rain Out, Freeze Out

Next Swims:
   Sunday & Monday at Noon

Last (attempted) Swim:
 Saturday 09/01 noon
 Water temp: FORTY-NINE
 Waves: swells out of the south
 Clarity: zero
 Crew: Kahuna, Magic Mike, Cap'n, Patriarch, Showgirl

Six of us arrived in the parking lot at noon. Some fished around in their cars for raingear.

Yet still we were optimistic.

Amateur meteorologists that we are, we all agreed that the threat of thunderstorms was past.

The rain increased as we took the stairs down to the beach.

Only Itch and I made our way to the water and got out our thermometers. Even before the temperature readout began dropping, my feet were speaking the truth. Patriarch approached, and when I said, "forty-nine" he retreated to safety.

Itch expressed profound ambivalence regarding the lack of swimming, but we commenced to comfort ourselves with alcohol-- tiny bubbles courtesy of Itch.

Sunday is looking much better.

Oh yeah, the haikru contest continues, see yesterday's post.