Ground Hog's Day

Next Swims:  Mon-Fri @ 6 am and 5 pm, Saturday/Sunday @ Noon
Last Swim:  Sunday @ Noon
Water Temp:  65
Air Temp:  low 80's and sunny
Clarity:   PERFECT AGAIN 11 or 12 out of 10
Waves: steady small ripples, boat wake size
Kru:  Capt'n, Ziggy, Itch, Handyman Hank, Mr. Bubble, Diablo, Linda the Lamprey, Lydia, Dragonfly, We'Taco, Kahuna, Magic Mike, Mary Jo, Showgirl, El Jefe y Senora TBD,  Chris, Synchro, Mr. Anonymous, IceDaug, Panini, 
First Time This Season:  Stickler, The Other Dave,
Shore Support:  NorthShore Nancy, Squeeze-o-Showgirl

Before I get into how wonderful it was today, Kahuna asked me to post a public service announcement in today's blog - it's pasted below.  Quick summary - seeing how beaches have been re-closed in Texas, Florida and other places, it behooves all of us to be as cautious as possible.  Kahuna's PSA shares some specific tips on that.  

Today was Ground Hog's Day - a repeat of yesterday - except that the water was warmer, the weather wasn't as hot and sticky and more people showed up.  Including Stickler - first time this season!

So, great turnout today by the Kru, but unfortunately, also great turn out today by people on big boats who love to park their stuff just north of Klode.  Today, there were also a couple of folks on jet skis following them around.  

Now, normally, I like to promote an attitude of live and let live.  They don't bother us, we don't bother them, everyone's happy. Gezellig is the Dutch word for it.  That was my attitude today, until I noticed I was breathing in internal combustion engine exhaust fumes during my swim 😝😝😝😝  If I wanted to breathe in exhaust fumes, I'd be out riding my road bike on the freeway!

But enough complaining about the one thing that detracted from so many other things that made today a perfect swim day.  Such as seeing your shadow on the lake floor and seeing the line up of colorful Barbies and swim caps heading back in to the beach. 

Kru Covid Public Service Announcement

Some of you recall that beaches were closed in Milwaukee County early this year.  Other places (such as Miami-Dade County), announced this week that they are re-closing their beaches, due to a surge in Covid cases.  So far, there have been over 10,000 cases in Milwaukee County, and 371 deaths.  Others who have come down with Covid, have not died, but have sustained lasting disability.  Every person who comes down with Covid, puts those healthcare workers who must provide treatment to them at risk of death or disability.  None of us want to get Covid, and none of us want to spread Covid to a loved one, a healthcare worker, a Kru member, or anyone else.  Older people are especially susceptible to dying from Covid (and the Kru has many members who are over age 55).  The recent trend in Wisconsin and Milwaukee County regarding the rate of infection has been rising.  It unfortunately is easy to blame beach-going on outbreaks or surges (even if there is little evidence that beach going is a major or minor cause of Covid spread).  If the County or local health departments are considering re-closing beaches, we want to be in a position to be able to make this case:  (1) open water swimmers are not contributing to the surge (by being able to point to the fact that none of our group has tested positive); (2) open water swimmers are using the beaches in a responsible way (socially distanced and masked); and (3) as exercise or beach gathering activities go, open water swimming is really low risk.  You can help make this case.  Here’s how:

1. Live your life away from the beach in a responsible way, so that you don’t become infected, and inadvertently bring Covid to the beach and spread it to other Kru members.
2. Don’t go to the beach if you are experiencing any symptoms.
3. When at the parking lot and on the beach, engage in strict social distancing (stay at least six feet away from anyone who is not a member of your household).
4. Don’t share stuff (like googles or shot glasses).
5. Wear a mask.

Generally, we wear masks not to protect ourselves, but to protect others (especially to prevent the unknowing spread of disease by an asymptomatic person), but it is widely reported that if two people are having a conversation and both of them are wearing a mask, the chances that an infected person will convey Covid to the un-infected person go dramatically down.  The CDC has said the following regarding beach going:

Closer and longer interaction with people who don’t live together raises their risk.  The more an individual interacts with people he or she doesn’t live with and the closer and longer each interaction is, the higher the risk is of getting infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.

While the CDC is not calling for the closure of beaches, the CDC encourages staying away from beaches when you are experiencing symptoms, maintaining at least six feet of social distance (both in and out of the water),  and covering your nose and mouth with a cloth face mask (especially in a situation in which you are unable to maintain at least six feet of social distance). 

Covid won’t be here forever.  Hopefully by next summer, everyone will be vaccinated and immune.  Social distancing and mask wearing are annoyances, but compared to the awfulness of spreading or contracting Covid, the above precautions are just not that burdensome, especially given the short period of time that is left in the remainder of the 2020 swim season.