Minimalist Swimming in the Rain (with a side of drama)

Next Swims:  
     Saturday/Sunday Noon at Klode   
     Saturday bonus swim: 7AM 
     Mon-Fri 6AM, 5PM 
Last Swim:  Friday 6AM
Water Temp:  70? (we don't know because we're minimalists!)
Air Temp:  warm and rainy
Clarity:   Nope
Waves: slow swells out of the north
Kru:  Dragonfly, Pool Noodle, Showgirl, Ala, welcome Ben, with Don Diego and Chris on the late shift

A few sprinkles leaving my house turned into a steady rain at Klode.  A parking lot conference convened and we consulted weather and lightening maps.  There was continued rain but no lightening.  

Ala arrived and firmly settled the matter:  we would swim.

However, the indecision of the moment caused Dragonfly to forget that her car was in neutral. There was a brief, heart-stopping moment where she was slowly rolling towards Ala's car. She braked, and disaster was averted.  But then... her car wouldn't start.  So PN, Ala, and I pushed it back where it belonged.  She decided to allow the car to reconsider it's choices, and we headed down to the beach.

We went minimalist and left all but the most important gear in the cars. It was liberating to walk down the ramp nearly ready to jump in.  Apparently it IS possible to swim without bringing a gigantic backpack along.

At beach level, we admired how someone had cleverly covered their gear with an umbrella.

With one eye on the sky, and an ear out for thunder, we decided to swim north, since that allows for a hasty departure from the water should the swim turn knucklehead.

Rainy swims have a magic all their own.

About when we turned around, Clever Umbrella guy, Ben, appeared.  It was his first swim with the Klode Kru-- welcome Ben!

With no towels, clothes, or bags, we left the beach quickly.