Drama & Chills with the Changing Seasons

  Next swims: 

Mon - Fri 6am, 5pm; Sat & Sun 8am and noon

Last Swim: Thursday, 6 a.m.

Air temp: 53
Water temp: 66 per TTL

Waves:  About 1 foot waves to start, 2 feet by finish
Clarity: Murk, pale brown, clearer away from the rocks
Kru:  Showgirl, Lydia the Tatooed Lady, Linda the Lamprey, Corryn,  Jenna, Dragonfly

Spectacular pre-dawn driving over the Hoan with black sky, stars and white clouds to the left, pale sky with orange tint and black clouds to the right.

Eerie darkness and chill as we tried to persuade ourselves that we really wanted to do this.

The scene was dramatic and thrilling as we, only visible as silhouettes, waded into the waves which felt surprisingly warm and welcoming compared to the air.  Entering into the swim as a bargain, we knew what awaited us on the return.  Truly an intro to the wild and exciting Fall season.

As I swam the eastern sky staged its own dramatic act with intense sunrise hues.  The western sky lit up as well with a vivid swath of pink, luring me on to the Cute Chairs.  But gauging the cold which was starting to settle around my shoulders (I had protected my upper arms with sleeves), I wisely turned at Old Mudslide.

The entire shore was cinematic orangey golden in the newly rising sun.  The waves began to increase, and by the time I neared the rock piles forward motion seemed equally balanced with up and down.  We were almost surfing into shore by the end.  Unfortunately lots of gunk was also surfing in.

Getting changed was a re-introduction to the joys of hypothermia.  We shivered into socks and sweatshirts and planned to meet up at Stone Creek Coffee, a location appreciated for snazzy design and delicious and creative baked goods.

Sitting around the table, I realized we were six women who ranged in age from 30 to 62, with every decade represented.  Lots of laughter and wit in a wide-ranging conversation and also as got to know Jenna, our newest member.  

"Thanks for being so welcoming," she said.

"Yah, you fit right in, can you tell?" I said.  In other words, you're as weird as the rest of us.

So grateful I have stumbled upon this amazing group of badass kindred souls who share a strong sense of what is a good use of our time here on Earth.

Eewww....But! Sign of Tesla!

 Next swims: 

Mon - Fri 6am, 5pm; Sat & Sun 8am and noon

Last Swim: Thursday, 6 a.m.

Air temp: 66? I forget
Water temp: 68.5 per TTL

Waves:  About 1 foot waves
Clarity: Murk, pale brown
Kru:  Showgirl, Lydia the Tatooed Lady, Super Hera, Kahuna, Dragonfly

Shore Support:  Wim Hofer

It was 3 full days after the MMSD "event", but the wind had switched from NNE to SSE and brought all kinds of mucky muck with it.  I swam into a big green patch of ooze coming back to shore. This was somewhat mitigated by the delightfully warm water and the frolicsome waves.

But!

Before we embarked on our swim,  in advance of the sunrise, Kahuna pointed out an unusual cloud formation:  The Sign of Tesla in the sky!  It is kind of faint in the photo below but was clear as day.

Suddenly a deep voice boomed out:

"You get a Tesla!"

"You get a Tesla!"

"And You get a Tesla!"

Actually it was Kahuna's voice - he was inspired by the unholy sight!

                                            

                                            Kahuna electrified by the Sign of Tesla

    

"Actually I'd get a Tesla, but I don't like the guy," he added.

Sun and Moon

 Next swims: 

Mon - Fri 6am, 5pm; Sat & Sun 8am and noon

Last Swim: Wednesday, 6 a.m.

Air temp: 66
Water temp: Warmer than the air, estimated and toe-mometers at 67

Waves:  mild chop
Clarity: Not too clear but blue, not brown
Kru:  Showgirl, Dragonfly, Doug & Bill.  Sandy on the later shift.

Shore Support:  Mermaid Princess

I was apprehensive about the swim as we were only 48 hours out from a major MMSD dump....but in that time the winds and currents had been pushing the mess south.  Indeed it seemed one of the cleaner days and if it wasn't clear, it was a nice shade of blue.  Showgirl caught a slight odor near the rocks but I smelled nothing, even though I was prepared to.  We have swam in much worse, many times.

The sun didn't actually rise, but peeped artistically through the clouds.  On my right breaths was the sun, on my left, the waning gibbous moon.  We swam north and had a strong push back south.

 A decent swim and I'm glad I went.  I did take a shower though when I got home!

Full Moon Swim

 

Full moon swim:  Sat. 9-10-22, 7:30 P.M.

Looking forward to the warm water holding on a clear night, and a flat surface. Full moon rises over the lake at 7:44 pm, with a sunset at 7:11 PM.  Come on out and swim in the harvest full moon rays, with an after-swim twist of Pitsch if you choose. Or maybe just watch the light of the full moon on these last days of summer.  So, who's in?

Meet Bobber! ...plus Labor Day Swim plans

Next swims: 

Labor Day @ 8 am and Noon (a.k.a. Captn's Birthday Swim)
then back to usual schedule, Mon - Fri 6am, 5pm; Sat & Sun 8am and noon

Last Swim: Sunday @ Noon

Air temp: Mid 60s, cloudy and windy
Water temp: 66 Itch-express / 64 Itch-o-meter / 61.7 Macho-meter

Waves:  3ft+ Sea Monsters
Clarity: murky near shore / clearer further out
Kru: Itch, Diablo, Bobber (formerly known as "The Other Dave"), Magic Mike, Wet Taco, JK (Just Kidding...it's Jon Krist!), Luna Laguna, Laguna, plus LIl' Laguna, Ziggy, Capt'n

When you swim amongst big waves it's crazy what you some times see/find...and never see.  Most common are stories of how you swam right next to a fellow Kru mate...but never saw them.  Or times when you swear you saw a Mermaid swimming nearby but nar could you find a fellow Kru mate to corroborate the story.

....and then there's today's story.  Whilst I was returning to the safety of the Klode shore to celebrate my victorious battles against an onslaught of giant sea serpents I sawr something elusively peculiar floating (bobbing) in the water.   One moment it was there, plain as day...but following the next wave it would disappear.  My mind raced in wonderment, what could it be?  Drift wood?  Remnants of the scudge? Or perhaps a lost soccer ball?  After what at times felt like a senseless search for Davy Jones Locker...success!  It wasn't driftwood, the scudge or even a soccer ball...it was none other than "The Other Dave" just bobbing in the water.  ...and from that, a new legend was born...the legend of "Bobber".  

So the story has been told, so shall it be known that from henceforth "The Other Dave" will now be known officially as "BOBBER"! 

Get Out and Vote!

Next swims: 

Sunday @ 8 am and Noon

Labor Day @ 8 am and Noon?

then back to usual schedule, Mon - Fri 6am, 5pm; Sat & Sun 8am and noon

Last Swim: Saturday @ Noon
Air temp: Upper 60s, cloudy and windy
Water temp: 58
Waves: Rockin and Rolling, 4 feet+
Clarity: 5/10.  A bit dirty near the rocks, could see bottom further out
Kru: Itch, Diablo, The Other Dave, Peaches, Capt'n, Brick, Sunny Luna Laguna, Mr. Bubble and most importantly, Andy (aka Bum Foot, Peg Leg or Pool Boy)

Shore Support:  Princess Vivian and her book, Ziggy

As the group was assembling - I noticed a guy I had seen before who was wearing a "medical boot" for a bone fracture.  I couldn't remember his name, so I asked Ziggy - What's that guy's name?  She immediately replied - "Bum Foot", but no she didn't know his real name.  Ziggy answered so quickly and confidently, that I assumed there was a Klode Kru Consensus that this was his new nickname.  So, I approached Bum Foot and said - "I understand you have a new nickname, Bum Foot"  Please remind me though - what is your real name?".  "Andy".  

Andy was not aware that he had been given the nickname Bum Foot, but he liked it.  He said it would help remind him that his foot is not back to normal yet and that he should quit acting like it is.  

However, as I discussed the new nickname with the other Kru members, I learned that there was not yet a Klode Kru Consensus on the new nickname.  First I learned that Kahuna had come up with the nickname - "Pool Boy", but that Synchro had nixed that name.  Then it was alleged that MoonDaug had spontaneously come up with "Peg Leg", which seemed pretty appropriate.  Although the Other Dave pointed out that a peg leg is a permanent appendage, whereas a boot is temporary. 

So, in order to establish a proper consensus for Andy's nickname, I'm asking everyone to do their civic duty 

GET OUT AND VOTE

GET OUT AND VOTE

GET OUT AND VOTE

This will be a SPECIAL ELECTION in several respects:

1. 100% CONVENIENT - Cast your vote in the Comments section anytime of day or night
2. 100% TRANSPARENT - Secret ballots lead to rigged elections.
3. VOTE EARLY AND VOTE OFTEN - You can vote as many times as you like, but if you do vote more than once, none of your votes will count.  

Here's the sample ballot:

REFERENDUM:  

What will be Andy's Klode Kru nickname going forward?

1. Bum Foot
2. Peg Leg
3. Pool Boy
4. Something Else

Beware the SCUDGE

Next swim: Mon - Fri 6am, 5pm; Sat & Sun 8am and noon

Last Swim: Thursday, 6 a.m. 

Air temp: 75

Water temp: 66   

Waves: Flat.   

Clarity: Clear 

Kru: Showgirl,  Lt. MJ, Tattooed Lady, Sunny Luna Laguna, Super Hera, , Kahuna.  Dragonfly, unknown others on early shift

Reminder:  Cafe Kahuna will be open on the beach on Friday morning!  Coffee and treats (bakery or carrot sticks?  please vote in the comments)  

As we walked down the hill a long line of....floating material....was revealed stretching from east of the rocks far away to the south.  We had observed this material in more of a clump or raft formation to the south yesterday, and wisely swam north.

We swam north again today, but there was no escape.

Just off Tree Massacre (south of Mudslide) on the way back, both Showgirl and I swam right into masses of the excrement-smelling stuff.  I have been told it is a form of algae, but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck? 

We named it SCUDGE, a fitting combination of SCUM and SLUDGE.

                                            Eyes closed in anticipation of running amuck into SCUDGE.

On the plus side, water was very flat and clear with little to no current.  Temps were comfortable though a wall of cold water surprised us just outside the rock.  Conversely, it was a wall of warm water at sewer pipe on the return.

Sunrise was magnificent.