Here Comes the Sun King

Next Swims: Mon - Fri @  5:30 pm,
Saturday/Sunday @ Noon

Last Swim: Sunday, 10/27 @ Noon
Water Temp: 45 per itch-0-meter
Air Temp: 49 at Noon, warmed up to 55 by 1:00, pure sun, not a cloud in the sky
Waves: 6-8" by the rocks,  lighter further out and reportedly bigger swells even further out
Clarity: all sorts of gunk by the beach, clearer further out but still translucent
Kru: Mr. Bubble, Mr. Anonymous, Itch, Diablo, Eric

Arrived at 11:50 and saw a guy who also looked like he had come to swim but didn't recognize him at first - it was Eric. He said he came down to see if anyone else was going to come today - same for me.  No sooner get done saying that than Itch's pickup pulls up, Diablo's car pulls in and then Mr. A shows up on his bike.  I look over at Eric and say "I guess we're doing it".  

We trudge down to the beach and stop to look at the ton of junk that is floating in the water on the north side of the beach, after the steel barrier.  Almost solid black.  Our stretch of beachfront has some junk floating in it, but must be 50 times more on the other side.  Itch does his thing with the itch-o-meter, no one is surprised and no one changes their mind about going in.  

Everybody gets back at the same time and we prepare to partake of the sacramental Killepitsch - what should we toast to?  "The Sun!", says Eric.  "The Sun King!" elaborates Mr. Bubble.   Ever the contrarian, Itch makes his toast to "The Waves".  We debate this for a few seconds - we liked being warmed by the sun.  Itch explains the basis for his outlook  - "Everybody says good things about the sun.  The waves don't get dick!".   Sold!  "The waves don't get dick - I'll drink to that!"

Twist again....

Next Swims: Mon - Fri @  5:30 pm,
Saturday/Sunday @ Noon

Last Swim: Wednesday, 10/9 @ 5:30 pm
Water Temp: 55 per itch-0-meter
Air Temp: 60 and cooling, light cirrus clouds
Waves: 4" - 6" swells at regular intervals
Clarity: 5/10
Kru: Mr. Bubble, Synchro, Mr. Anonymous, Itch, Handyman Hank, Tattoo Lady, Super Hera

I know it can't/won't last - in the meantime, it's a treat to have these mid 50 water temps, clear sky with the setting sun, lake has a naturally beautiful color.

So, if you haven't been to Klode for a while, then
Come on let's twist again like we did last summer
Yeah, let's twist again like we did last year
Do you remember when things were really hummin'?
Yeah, let's twist again, twistin' time is here

Things are still really hummin' - Twistin' time is definitely still here!

btw - Brent Emery asked me to share that he has neoprene gloves on sale at his shop for $25.  

Otra Vez

Next Swims: Mon - Fri @  5:30 pm,
Saturday/Sunday @ Noon

Last Swim: Tuesday, 10/8 @ 5:30 pm
Water Temp: 56 foot-0-meter
Air Temp: 60 and mild without a cloud in the sky, light wind
Waves: 8" - 12" swells at regular intervals
Clarity: Pretty good  3-4/10
Kru: Mr. Bubble, Handyman Hank, Synchro

Synchro's first swim after returning from CA.  Hank actually drove a car to Klode.  But otherwise, things very much the same today as yesterday - sunny, cloudless sky, consistent water temps, relatively clear water.    

Made a symbolic toast without the K-Pitsch - best swim of the season since Synchro got back.  

Carpe Diem

Next Swims: Mon - Fri @ 6 am and 5:30 pm,
Saturday/Sunday @ Noon

Last Swim: Monday, 10/7 @ 5:30 pm
Water Temp: 56 per itch-o-meter
Air Temp: 60 and mild without a cloud in the sky
Waves: Very gentle ripplest - almost glass mostly, very light ripples here and there
Clarity: Nice but not crystal, 3/10
Kru: Mr. Bubble, Itch, Diablo, Mr. Anonymous, AA, Linda the Lamprey

I was going to skip swimming tonight and come back this weekend until I got a glimpse at the weekend forecast - high 30s/low 40s.   Today is supposed to be the warmest day this week.  Not too many more beautiful days like today left this year.  No need to think any further. 

Sunny Day

Next Swims: Mon - Fri @ 6 am and 5:30 pm,
Saturday/Sunday @ Noon

Last Swim: Sunday, 10/6 @ Noon
Water Temp: 56 per itch-o-meter
Air Temp: 65 and sunny, with strong winds occasionally
Waves: Very flat - almost glass mostly, very light ripples here and there
Clarity: Nice but not crystal, 3-4/10
Kru: Mr. Bubble, Magic Mike, Itch, Diablo, Handyman Hank, Moondaug, Pool Noodle Julie, Eric

What a lovely, sunny day for a swim and hanging out with the Kru for a while. Water was warmer than some of us were expecting and was pleasant and smooth.    

Today's toast - Our sympathies to those who didn't make it here today.  

btw - Pool Noodle Julie said she did make it down to the beach at 6 am a couple times last week, for a quick solo swim. 

Time Has Come Today

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

Last Swim: Saturday, 10/5 @ Noon
Water Temp: 53 per itch-o-meter
Air Temp: 57, with intermittent sunshine and strong winds occasionally
Waves: 3-4 feet, coming frequently
Clarity: Brown with lots of plant debris by shore
Kru: Mr. Bubble, Magic Mike, Itch, Diablo on second shift

 There may have been a distortion in the space-time continuum today.

 For starters - I arrive at 11:50. Just one or two non-Kru cars in the parking lot, no bikes in the rack or locked to trees, no one sitting by the flagpole. I wait for a few minutes until I hear church bells ringing - that's the signal it's time to head down to the beach, right? Maybe people are already down there, even though my phone says it's only 11:56.

Head down the hill - nobody's around. Waves are pretty wild but doable, water feels like low 50's, so I wait for a while. Start thinking if no one is coming, maybe I should head over to Atwater, where the water's probably warmer and probably more people on the beach. Head back up and run into Itch and Magic Mike heading down.

Itch does his thing with the itch-o-meter and comes back with the number. We decide to swim south, since that's where the big waves are coming from, but also decide to go around the north end of the big rock pile instead of going out between the rock and steel barrier. Waves seem even higher over there, and they are routinely crashing over the steel barrier.

As we start heading back up, here comes this tall guy with glasses - Diablo! - he's pointing at his watch like we're the ones who are late. He accuses us of not setting our clocks back - we point out that he must not have set his clocks back, since he's coming late.

It doesn't occur to me until later that this may be more than just a simple misunderstanding of what time it is. Especially since it happened twice in about an hour. Finally, I recognize the obvious -

Now the time has come (Time)
There's no place to run (Time)
I might get burned up by the sun (Time)
But I had my fun (Time)
I've been loved and put aside (Time)
I've been crushed by the tumbling tide (Time)
And my soul has been psychedelicized (Time)

The Fog Comes in on Little Cat Feet, Chapter 2

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

Last Swim: 
Tuesday, 10/1 @ 5:30 pm
Water Temp:  53 per itch-o-meter
Waves:  Not glass but very smooth, gentle ripples
Clarity:  Very murky, 8/10, even by shore
Kru:  Mr. Bubble, Daiblo, Itch,
Shore Support:  We'Taco

Tonight's swim was definitely a swim with a purpose - beat the rain!  It was forecast to come rolling back in by 6:30 but we didn't want to take any chances.  Very thick fog along the water tonight, too.  Itch walked down early and was just heading out when Diablo and I arrived.  Very thoughtfully, Itch had written the water temp in the sand, very clearly and in two places.  Much obliged, Itch!  Saw WeTaco on the beach and heading back up just as I was coming in .  Itch made it back a few minutes later, and offered us a quick shot of Pitsch.  We head back up the hill - the ritual has been completed once again - with a taste of the sacrament at the end.  The circle of life is complete again.