Full Moon Swim  

Last Swim; Tue 10-23-18

Beach: Klode
Water temp: 48
Air Temp: 48
Waves: Sunset/moon rise  lit with lively  2-3 foot swell in about 3/4 time
Water Clarity: mystic
Crew: Moon Daug 
Shore support; Diablo, Wet Tacho, Synchro

Next swim; I think Itch is still holding  5:30 on week days, and noon on weekends, post to be sure 

On the walk down half the crew was on their way up. After a little bit of banter and arm twisting some were convinced to head back down for another look, others were more responsible.  The waves were loud, and the skies relatively clear.  As the close proximity of the rising moon and setting sun put its particular shine on the water, the Viking swim ensued. 

At the after swim celebration party, possible designs for beach saunas, the nature of true love and happiness (possibly related to the fore-mentioned),  and proper beach etiquette (when in doubt one can wear dark sun shades or cheap sun glasses :)) were discussed. Also mentioned was Captn's annual Halloween party (Terror at Ted's). All Klode members are invited This Sat (today)

Hunters Full Moon Swim

Next swim; Tuesday  5:50PM, California Pizza afterwards

Please join us tomorrow for a great changing of the season swim. As the sun is setting at 5:56, the moon will be rising at 5:55. The mingling of the two lights on the colored autumn leaves along the shore promises to be spectacular, as a touch of crisp autumn air heightens the senses. Swim skin, or suite up, for this beautiful but short celebration.

Afterwards, nice warm libation and pizza at California Pizza, where we can ruminate upon the seasons stories (or make them up!) about our fav times/people.

Moon Swim!!

Last Swim:  Thursday, 5:15 - 5:45 pm

Sunset:  6:03

Air Temp:  56 with clear sky

Water Temp: 51

Waves: Fairly calm w/some ripples

Water Quality:  Pretty nice, but not crystal clear.  Water very clean.  

Crew:  Itch, Diablo, Mr. Bubble and out of town guest Mary Ann.

Shore SAG:  HandyMan Hank

It was fun to introduce my co-worker, Mary Ann to the Klode Kru experience.  She's from Effingham, IL, and is an open water swimmer, but this was the first time she'd ever been in Lake Michigan.  It was also the first time for her swimming in cold water and only the second time she'd worn her wet suit.

Overall, it was a great evening for a swim.  Itch and Hank arrived just as Mary Ann and I were getting in our wet suits.  Learned that the Official water temp was 51 degrees, just before stepping in.  Itch came in the water shortly thereafter.  Mary Ann was struggling a little bit, so Itch made sure she was OK.  Diablo swam out just as I was swimming in.  

So, I thought swimming in 51 degree water would be no problem, and it really wasn't.  Until I got out.  I wasn't expecting to shiver like that.  Both Itch and Diablo ask "Where's your jacket?" Sweat pants and sweat shirt weren't cutting it.  

The sun is down and the moon is up when we make our toast "Moon Swim!" Mary Ann's first shot of Killepitsch.  She likes it!  Some debate about whether or not this is a good batch.  

Next Swim - Seems like Itch reliably arrives weekdays at 5:30.  Diablo comes by closer to 6.

This weekend?  Noon again?  Not sure how much interest there'll be if the weather forecast for this weekend holds up.  

The Beach Art Project was much advanced on Sunday.  Working title:  "The Yin-Yonic Implications of [removed.]"  (I believe this groundbreaking work is currently unfunded, and the artists are donating their time. TBD pending final sale, which I hope will in turn help construct the planned LM Swimmers Beach Clubhouse...please share your Gallery connections...)

One more fairly nice day

Last Swim:  Tuesday, 5:22 pm

Air Temp:  Mid to upper 70s

Water Temp: 60

Waves:  1 - 2 feet

Clarity:  Murky, some junk along the shore

Crew:  Moon Daug, Handyman Hank, Mr. Bubble, Itch

Late Arrival/Parking Lot Support:  Diablo

Little bit better today than yesterday.  Water not quite as choppy and a tiny bit cleaner.  Air temp about the same on the beach as on top the hill - beach was colder yesterday.  No biting flies!

Next Swim?  

Indian Summer

Next Swim: 5:20 pm Tuesday?
Last Swim:  Monday 5:15/5:30
Water Temp: 59.5 on the shore, felt more like 55.9 away from shore
Waves: 2-3 feet
Clarity:  Nah,  Lots of junk along the shore, cleaner further out but not clear
Crew:  Mr. Bubble, Handyman Hank, We'Taco, Itch, Drangonfly
Shore Support:  Northshore Nancy

Another even warmer warm day.  More in store for tomorrow.
Reportedly lots of heavy wave action earlier in the day.  Small Craft Advisory cancelled by 4 so must have settled down.

Sunset Tuesday is 6:19, so I figured 5:20 would be a little better meet up time.  Earlier times are tough for me, too.  But then again, how many more days like today?

No hace frío cuando bebemos café con Cuarenta y Tres

Next Swim:  5:15 pm, Mon-Fri?  (Sunset will be 6:15 by Friday)
Last Beach Inspection:  Noon Sunday
Water Temp: 55
Wind:  20+ mph easily along the lake
Waves:  Huge, crashing over the rocks
Clarity:  Light brown for 1/4 mile along shore, lots of debris
Shore Crew:  Patriarch, Kahuna, Itch, Diablo, Mr. Bubble

Rough day - no swimmers, no surfers, big pieces of driftwood, pounding waves crashing every few seconds.

Kahuna saved the day spreading around samples of some Cuarenta y Tres liquer with warm coffee.
"This is really good!" - it was unanimous!

Here's a photo from Kahuna showing the cultural pursuits we were pursuing in lieu of swimming.

Kahuna's Kommentary

Diablo contemplating his great work of modern art, just before it descended into the Lake’s Shredder.

Oh the impermanence of Life, Art, and Lake Swims. 

 And alcohol. 

Topping off his demonic Ceremonial Tree of Fall with his anti-star, supported by his acolytes.  

Will this black ritual undue the curse cast upon the Lake by the fool who pronounced yesterday “that there’s plenty of good swimming left this season”?  

Ah, but that same person also pronounced that we should visit Klode as often as possible - so this photo shows we doing our part.  

Forecast for tommorow looking better

60 - 60

Next swim: Sunday, noon
(unless the Packer game conflict is real enough for folks that they'd want to sway the group toward an earlier time--debate in the comments)

Last swim: Saturday, noon
Water temp: 59
Waves: regular, small, gentle waves from the north
Clarity: Blue green, slightly murky, couldn't see the bottom
Crew: Mr. Bubble, Stickler, Itch, Panini, Diablo, Magic Mike

With both air and water temps near 60, we had a 60-60 swim. This may well be the best we can hope for as October advances: no bugs and no bitter winds on shore; nothing that causes pain in the water. As we swam north along the shore, we saw that the colors are starting to hint at what they'll become by the third week of October. You know there'll be a fair share of summer-like days between now and then.

In each of the last two years, we swam into November. This means that there are weeks and weeks of swimming to be enjoyed down at the beach. Don't let it pass without heading to Klode as often as possible.

Surfs Up

Water:  55

Air:  53

Waves: Yes

Wind:  Oh yeah, maybe 20 mph

Clarity: Yeah, right

Shore Support:  Itch, Synchro, Mr. Bubble

Pulled in to the parking lot to find only Itch and Synchro, and strong winds pushing the flag around.

Synchro's wearing gloves - "I'm not swimming"

Walk Down, thinking "Well, if Itch is swimming, I'm swimming, too"

Get to the beach and see what at first looked like a couple of logs bobbing around on the waves, then noticed the logs were paddling on surfboards.

Itch performs the ritual with the Itch-O-Meter, Mr Bubble gets out swimcap, goggles

Itch - "Are you swimming?"

Mr. Bubble - "Aren't you?"

Itch - "Hell no.  The water is 55 degrees"

End of discussion

Surfers come out to chat with us - 

"Are you guys the Klode Kru? You guys are really out there!"
#irony

Morning Swims Return!

Next swim: 5:30PM, M-F, 6:30AM Friday? (text or comment if you want to swim Friday morning)

6:30am Thursday Morning:
Water temp: 57
Air Temp: 53
Waves: out of the north, and building fast
Clarity: none
Crew: Julie, Showgirl

6:30am Wednesday Morning:
Water temp: 59
Air Temp: ? warm
Waves: rollers out of the south
Clarity: none
Crew: Julie, Showgirl, Cormorant (the bird, not the person)

Morning swim time has slid to 6:30AM.

Julie and I swam Wednesday and Thursday mornings this week.

Today we did a quick swim to the north sewerpipe, just as the sun came up and the wind arrived. By the time we got back, the wind was causing my barbie to  hit me in the head-- a new experience. The air was cool enough that it felt better to stay in the 57F water than dash to my towel in the low-50's air.  We were nearly at the beach when we decided to do a last minute swim around the rock pile-- it's hard to let go of the swim. 

Wednesday the waves were out of the south, so we swam just past picnic table, enjoyed the sun peeking through the clouds, and  headed back.

Julie prays for a warm-water miracle from the god of water. Her prayers were not answered.

Today's pictures courtesy of Terri Hart-Ellis, by way of NSN.

Fuck the Pool!!

Last Swim:  Wednesday, 5:30
Water Temp:  62.5 degrees
Air Temp: 82.5 degrees?
Waves:  Yeah baby!  Nice swells, at least 3-4 feet
Clarity:  Not terribly clear but not muddy or murky
Crew (in order of appearance):  Mr. Bubble, Synchro, Handyman Hank, Itch, Kahuna, Moon Daug, Diablo, We'Taco
Shore Support:  NorthShore Nancy

To state the obvious - OMG!  What a beautiful warm day. 
So, we all enjoyed the lovely weather and were grateful for the reasonable water temperature. 
All the same, none of us had any illusions - this can't last forever. 
Our embrace of today's warm weather lead to some optimistic thoughts about the future:
"Are we going to have a post season party somewhere, sometime?"
"Thanksgiving Day swim is a thing - who's in?"

But then, just before the Pitsch was poured, Mr. Bubble had to burst everyone's bubble by mentioning a most unwelcome subject - SWIMMING IN A POOL 😓😖😝😡😢😣😧😫😬😭

Strong emotions all around inspired Itch to make a heartfelt toast. 
Nay, it was more than a toast, it was a rallying cry FUCK THE POOL!  

Tune into tomorrow for another episode of Thermal Inversion:  The Series


 

Swimming in Autumn

Beach: Klode
Water temp: 60
Air Temp: 60
Waves: a longish and slight undulating structure
Water Clarity: cloudy
Crew: Itch, Synchro, Stickler, Moon Daug, Diablo
Next swim: Klode, 5:30 PM, M-F
Skin:2, suit-3

   The walk down, scattered with fallen golden leaves,  was a nice prequel to a spectacular autumn swim. As Stickler mentioned the buoy that takes pictures of the waves about 2 K out from Atwater, we were anticipating a nice wave structure, and were not disappointed.  The fall air and water temperature were refreshing, and the graceful long wave structures were mesmerizing as one observed the changing leaf colors along the shore. Upon exit Synchro pointed out two owls flying above.

   Talk ensued from some about the ending of the season and how it should be celebrated. While others were not planning on ending anything. Perhaps a compromise can be made -celebrating the changing of seasons, while not declaring an ending to swim season, as some have swum all winter long in the past.

    Also mentioned were winter swim escapes to California,  particularly La Jolla Cove. There is a nice swim group that regularly swims out of there and organizes open water swims/races. It's a beautiful area, a protected park with lots of fish, seals, and sea lions. A group showing perhaps can be arranged with lodgings if enough people are interested?