Full Moon Swim Alert

Last swim:7-30-23

Next swim: you can usually find someone at 6&6, M-F.  Also, special moonlight swim at 8:00 pm this Monday, 7-31-23.

Air Temp: mid 70's

Water temp: 71!! With pockets of 72!!

Clarity: Nope

Waves: full moon force propulsion felt. About 1 footers. 

Krew: Many.  Sorry folks, the scribe counter is on strike.

The slight waves were great, and the temperature was perfect. One could feel the approaching full moons gravity pull in the waves. They were interesting as they somehow seemed to speed one up in both directions. Or maybe It was just an illusion? The waves combined with the perfect water temp made one wonder if one was swimming or at a water park. And it sure beats the 100 degree water they have in Florida now. I hear the swimmers there come out feeling like cooked lobster. 

Come join us for a full moon light swim tomorrow evening at 8. Conditions look great. Though it's a day early, the light will be about the same and the moon rises a half hour earlier. Giving us more swim time before the po po kick us out. 

Living in a Barbie World

Hiya, Barbie!
Hiya, Ken!
Wanna go, for a swim?
Sure Ken, Jump on in!

Last swim: Sunday, July 23, noon

Next swim(s): Regular Schedule;  Weekdays 6am and 6pm; weekends 8am and noon (if those times don't work for you, check blog comments to see if others are organizing alternative group swim times) 

Air temp:  80

Water temp: 64 (but lower than that in several places)

Waves: little bit of push from the South

Clarity: 7/10

Kru: Pemo, Diablo, Sandy, Itch, Brick, Dave, Luna Laguna, Laguna, Lil Laguna, plus newbies Brenna "Butterfly Girl," George "Boy George" (and others probably, my appologies if I left you off the list). 

Who needs to live in a Barbie World, when you've got a perfect Lake to spend a hot July Sunday afternoon in?

When the sublime becomes ordinary

Last swim: Tuesday, July 18, 6am

Next swim(s): Weekdays 6am and 6pm; weekends 8am and noon

Air temp: 64

Water temp: 64.8

Waves: none

Clarity: 8/10

Kru: Linda the Lamprey on the early shift, Lydia the Tattooed Lady, Mermaid Princess, Abby, Mr. Anonymous, Magic Mike, June, her husband and their friends, and at least one other "young guy" swimmer who I did not connect with...

********

Ya gotta be careful.

You can go down to the lake every morning: plate glass bay, beautifully arcing shoreline, sunlight dappling through surface water and playing against the bottom. You can connect with your Kru, you can meet other regulars down at the water. Simple greetings, occasional conversations--the stock and trade of a trip to the beach.  Not even the asshole red-winged blackbird can ruin your trip. You can live in that for an hour and a half, two hours. Then come back the next day and many of those same elements are at play again.  You might run the risk of all this feeling ordinary. 

Fortunately we all know that our experience is far from ordinary. This is why we keep coming. This is why we swim when the water is colder, more tumultuous, and muckier. We know that anything the lake throws at us is some form of a gift. I struggle to understand the gift behind water that suddenly turns 46 degrees when the air temp is 90 or above. This hasn't happened yet, but we're fools if we think it never will. So we buy expensive wetsuits and prepare ourselves for the gifts to come. 

Mean time, Lake Michigan is always there. Come on out for a swim, there's plenty of room. 

Clapback

Water Temp: 57, yes, FIFTY-F-ing-SEVEN

Air Temp:  72

Waves: Flat as glass

Clarity:  Crystal

Kru: (IN the water) Lydia the Tattoo'd Lady, Mermaid Princess, Linda the Lamprey (on the early shift), Showgirl, Mr. Anonymous, The Milwaukee Mermen, featuring Danny, Brady, and their friend

Kru: (ON the water) Moondaug, Jackie

Shore Support: Yoga Lady and... not sure where the Wim Hoffers fall into the equation, but a few of them were there too.

Next Swims:  

    Mon-Fri 6am & 6pm, 

    Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m. and 12 Noon 

    Other swims occur randomly.  Even the scheduled swims are random.  Post a comment if you are looking to swim 

Well........ the past few days/weeks we've had some delightful skin swims in water in the upper 60's.  I even heard 70.

Today was not that day.

The Situation

I was in the parking lot when the Lamprey shared the unfortunate temperature news, followed by a pair of Wim Hoffers.

We arrived on the beach and TTL took the temp.  

57.

Profanities were uttered.

My plan for the morning was merely to work out the kinks of a few new pairs of goggles, so the water temp just reinforced that.  We pulled on our sleeveless suits, other accoutrements, new goggles (me) and got in.  

More profanities.  

The goggles held their seal, and I asked..... "sewer pipe?"

And so we departed the rock piles and swam thru the crystal clear, beautifully flat, and annoyingly cold water.  At the sewer pipe we agreed it was silly not to go further, so we went on to the garage.  Mermaid Princess went to the birches while TTL and I, with our wonky pinky fingers and chilly toes headed back to shore.

Back on the beach we encountered Moondaug and Jackie pumping up their inflatable SUPs.  Jackie had forgotten her paddle, yet they both launched, so I don't know how they solved that problem.  

Also the situation.... beautiful and flat.

As we headed up the ramp, the wind was picking up and the water was getting choppy.

Then She Said, Moondaug "Changed My Life"

Water Conditions:  Flat, crystal clear.
Water Temp:  66 per buoy, some colder pockets along the way, but overall delightful.
Monday Morning Kru:  Showgirl, Magic Mike, Mystery Man, Mystery Woman, Lt. MJ, Kahuna, Willa the Wonder Dog, others whose names unfortunately I didn't get.
Next Swims:  Wednesday-Friday 6am & 6pm, Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m. and 12 Noon

The quote in the above headline was said on the beach post swim today.  Enquiring minds desired additional details, but were too decorous to ask.     

Independence Day Swim 2023

Captn's Log Tuesday July 4th, 2023 - Noon (Big Bay)

Water Temp: 68+

Air Temp:  86 & Mostly Sunny

Waves: Slight chop from Southeast

Clarity:  Crystal Turquoise Blue

Kru: Diablo, Kahuna, Moondaug-Gumdrop, Itch, Wet Taco, Magic Mike, Peaches, Soapy Sophie, Serious Athlete, Lake-Quatch, Hot Sake, Hot Tamale, Rachel, Yanica, Capt'n, +1 more swimmer with shore support from El Presidente Ann, Matt and Burger Time

Next Swims:  Wednesday-Friday 6am & 6pm, Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m. and 12 Noon (post a comment if you are looking to swim at 6 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday.  One of our crazy people might be interested!)

It was a picture perfect day for the annual Independence Day swim from Big Bay!  Kudos to Moondaug, Yanica and Soapy Sophie for completing the journey from Big Bay to Atwater despite swimming against the slight chop the entire way.

Sometimes it takes years for our loyal Kru mates to earn their nicknames...and other times they just happen instantaneously.  (Disclaimer...no guarantees they'll stick tho!)  Christened this holiday weekend were Hot Tamale, Hot Sake (...no relation...) and personal favorite Lake-Quatch. (Oh that one's sure to stick!)

Here are a few images to remember the day by....note the hoppin' beach!  I don't think I've ever seen Big Bay Beach this popular.

Freedom Swim

Last swim: Sunday noon

Water Temp: 63 I

Air Temp: 70

Waves: Choppy and moon driven propulsion on the way back

Skies:  Overcast

Clarity: Decent

Kru: Magic Mike, Diablo, Capt'n, Itch, Rosie, Brick, Wetaco (?), TTL, Stephanie, Moondaug,

Next Swims: 6 PM Monday, 12 noon Tuesday the Fourth at Big Bay,

Join us for this Thing we call a freedom swim. This Tuesday July fourth high noon from Big Bay to Atwater (or lesser) if you like. Weather conditions forecasted to be gentle ripples, warm temperatures, and sunny sky. 

Where the Lady of the Lake  reigns supreme, swim in freedom as liberty rings. See dancing light on gentle rippled waves. Wapentake, a swim, to celebrate the end of kings. After swim hoist a killepitsch and rejoice with no objections or logmenn seen.