Dead or Alive: Salvation Through Swimming

Next Swims:
        Mon-Fri 6:15 AM and 5 PM
        Saturday/Sunday 8 AM and Noon

Last Swims: 

        Saturday 8am and noon

                People swam, a temperature was taken, waves did their wavy thing, but I have no other details.

        Sunday 8AM

                Water Temp: 62.5

                Air Temp: 59
                Clarity: no
                Waves: flat as glass with a few ruffles later on
                Kru: Handyman Hank, NorthshoreNancy, Magic Mike, Lt.MJ, Cindy, Jenny, Linda the Lamprey,  Luna Laguna, Mr. Anonymous, Ben, Christie, Showgirl & Forger in our first of two swims of the day,  (and maybe a few others who scampered off early)

        Sunday Noon

                Water Temp: 64. something

                Air Temp: low 60's and rising
                Clarity: still no clarity, but improving
                Waves: the smallest of waves out of the north, but no discernible current
                Kru: Other Dave, Rosie, Sandy, Pool Noodle (welcome back!!), Lydia the Tattoo'd Lady, Dragonfly, Courtney (welcome!), Cap'n, Kahuna, Thermos the Warm, We'Taco, Itch, Mr. Bubble, Kim, Diablo, Blake, Showgirl, & Forger making our repeat performance, (and maybe a few others?)

                Shore Support: Jesus and His cast of thousands.  Well... dozens, most not wearing masks, but judge not, lest ye be judged.

Saturday Swim Report:  I have no details, so this report is blessedly short.  Praise the lord.

Sunday 8AM Swim Report:  Swimmers were already heading down the ramp at the unheard of time of 7:58, which is in marked contrast to the noon swim peeps, who refuse to depart the parking lot until the church bells ring. (That may be foreshadowing...)  

After the 8am swim. It really wasn't this ominous.

The reward for early swimming was immediately apparent.  After a long week of giant waves and chunky water, the water was warm (ish) and flat.  

NSN, Forger, Ben, Christie, and I headed south, and swam to the Backhoe Rocks.  I think Ben and Christie went further.  The rest of the group went north. It was an amicable split.  The flat water made the swim feel easy and fast.  There was a bit of post-swim chit-chat, followed by some post-swim coffee.  I lollygagged so much during coffee that it dawned on me that I could swim AGAIN.  And so I did.  Forger must have come to the same conclusion because...

Sunday Noon Swim Report:  God continued to smile down on the Klode Kru, at noon.  Or at least we thought she was smiling on us...

There was a bumper crop of swimmers on the beach for the noon swim.  Everyone swam varying distances north, with Itch, Rosie, and Sandy swimming off the edge of the earth, and back.

Welcome to Courtney, who has been stalking the blog and finally joined us.

The swim was great-- definitely The Best Swim of the Season.  

But there is another story to tell.  As we returned to shore, there was a large crowd of people gathering at the top of the beach.  Many wearing matching tshirts.  Most not wearing masks.  Their numbers continued to build.  Our numbers continued to build.  We speculated about their purpose.  Our purpose was clear:  cleansing our spirits in Lake Michigan followed by the consumption of spirits.  Their tshirts tipped us off:  "Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ."  

These two dudes did not swim.

Cutting to the chase: Dead and Alive, above, performed some baptisms, applause was given, and their group dispersed.

Our group lingered.  Killepitsch was consumed,  chit-chat continued.  Several of us felt reluctant to leave the Church of the Lake and the fellowship of the swim.  Finally, we did leave, knowing that services will continue to be held twice daily.

Post-swim frivolity