The Proclamation

Beach: Atwater
Water temp: 71
Waves: 1/2 ft waves from the east
Water Clarity: 10-12ft visibility
Crew: The Patriarch, Greg, Gabriel, Mike, Mike (+kids), Sandie, Scott, Robin, Capt'n
Next Swim: Monday Noon at Klode

The Scene: It was a spectacular day for a swim, perhaps the best of the year. Sunny, air temps in the mid-70s and a water temp of 71....OUTSTANDING!

Today's mission: swim straight out from the Atwater beach approximately 1/4 mile to a buoy marking a 100 year old shipwreck. A few of us did this swim last year so we basically assumed the routine would be the same this year. Spot the buoy from shore, swim out to it, checkout the wreck, swim back.

The Plan: despite the warm water temp we decided to wear our wetsuits as there were several boats in the area passing between the beach and the buoy. As the journey was only expected to be 1/2 mile total (1/4 out & 1/4 back) we would ditch our suits upon returning and head out for another swim.

The Result: The journey out to the buoy felt like FOREVER...well, that is you were just planning on swimming 1/4 mile. As it turned out, the buoy we sighted from shore was well more than 1/2 mile out....and it was not the buoy for the shipwreck. (...It actually was a scientific buoy complete with solar panels and complex looking instrumentation....) Apparently the buoy marking the shipwreck is no longer in the water. Several of us though, did spot the shipwreck as we were swimming out.

The Encounter: Upon swimming back to the beach we came across Mike and his family who were swimming out to the shipwreck. Upon noticing that we were all clad in wetsuits he exclaimed, "let it be known that while you guys are swimming in your wetsuits, even my 8 year old daughter is embarking on this journey without the assistance of a wetsuit!" Hear ye, hear ye...it has been said and now it has been written, so let it be known to everyone. :)

The Finale: Not to be out done though...and staying true to the plan...let it be also known that The Patriarch, Greg and myself all stuck to the code and ditched our wetsuits and completed this afternoon's lake adventure clad only in our speedos.

Shipwreck Swim Sunday Noon Atwater

Swim conditions are excellent!  The water is (relatively) warm, and crystal clear.  A perfect time to explore a shipwreck:  

http://www.maritimetrails.org/visit_trails_details.cfm?RESOURCEID=8

Join us at noon Sunday at Atwater beach.

Saturday Cap'n's birthday swim

Beach: Klode

Water temp: 68

Waves: small chop

Water Clarity:  crystal clear

Crew: Mike, Gabriel, Sandie, Lindsey, Linda, Robin, Cap'n, Patriarch

The few, the proud, the brave (me!) did not wear wetsuits.  The wimps (everyone else!) did. I went to "sewer pipe" (almost).   The wetsuit group went further, a couple to Big Bay, the rest made the round trip.  Everyone had a great time.

Friday Night Full Moon Swim

Beach: Klode

Water temp: 68

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Good

Crew: Gabriel, Robin, Sandie, Greg, Gumdrop, Cap'n, Patriarch

A fine evening swim was capped off by hot chocolate, chicken chowder, and pizza at the California Pizza Kitchen.  I'm sure the waiter thought we were nuts when we ordered hot chocolate.  I guess he would be right. 

Friday noon swim:

Beach:  Klode

Water temp:  65

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity:  Good

Crew:  Cap'n, Patriarch

Yes, you are reading it right, Cap'n and me swam three times Friday!  All the fun we could stand!

Howl at the Moon Tonight 6:45

Beach: Klode

Water Temp:  68 Thursday evening, 64 Friday morning

Waves:  Choppy Thursday evening, Calm Friday morning

Water Clarity:  Stirred up sand and murky Thursday evening, Clear Friday morning

Crew: Thursday: Robin, Cap'n, Patriarch, Friday: Gabriel, Cap'n, Patriarch

Next Swims:  Conditions are excellent, and sun and offshore winds are predicted all weekend, so it can only get better.  This will probably be the best swimming of the season, so we're going to take full advantage of it:

Full Moon Swim tonight at Klode 6:45 PM.  The full moon rises over the lake at 7:07, preceded by Jupiter at 6:23, although Jupiter will be difficult to see until it gets dark.  Since it will be sunny all day, I expect water temp in the high sixties (but you never know until you get there).  Perhaps we can go for pizza afterwards? 

Saturday:  11AM Klode, Cap'n's Birthday Swim.  Conditions permitting we will do a one way or (optionally) round trip to Big Bay (aprox. 1.1 miles one way).  If necessary we'll arrange car pools before we leave.  Or possibly we'll do a "spash and dash" (i.e. run or jog back).

Sunday and Labor Day:  long swims, not sure yet exactly when, stay tuned. 

Lots to report:  Last night the water was warm enough that we swam without our wetsuits, and we could have stayed in forever, but the chop made for hard work, so we did the mile or so to "sewer pipe" and back.

This morning Gabriel demonstrated his mettle.  The zipper on his wetsuit broke, so he swam without one.  Since the water temp was only 64, Cap'n and me figured he wouldn't make it far, but he ate up the whole mile and a quarter to rockpile and back.  As he learned, it's not so bad in the water, the real suffering starts when you get out.  He was shivering hard.  But no complaints or whining from Gabriel, he ran a lap around the mulch track at Klode, then hopped on his bike to ride home.

Note:  Cap'n and me have learned the hard way, when the water temperature is in the mid-sixties, it's possible to swim quite a way without a wetsuit.  BUT, you need to be very careful not to let your core chill or you will suffer a lot when you get out.  Knowing this, it's best to get out well before you feel really chilled.

This weekend looks stupendous.  I hesitate to predict anything, but I expect water temps in the high sixties at least, maybe(?)..... hopefully(?)....... possibly(?)...... 70!!.  

Full Moon and Temperature Rising

Beach: Klode

Water temp:  68! Wednesday evening, 63 Friday morning

Waves:  Very choppy Wednesday evening, calm Thursday morning

Water Clarity:  Excellent

Crew:  Patriarch solo Wednesday evening.  Steve, Gabriel, Cap'n, Patriarch Thursday morning

Next swims:

Thursday 4:30 PM Klode - today's sunny sky and east wind portend warm water this afternoon

Friday morning: 6AM Klode

Friday evening: Full Moon Swim - meet in the Klode parking lot at 6:45PM, the full moon rises at 7:07PM

The planets align.  Neptune, god of the sea, smiles.  Jupiter will lead the full moon into the sky tomorrow night.

We've had an incredible streak of good swim conditions.  A whole week of rockpile-or-further swims, and afternoon no-wetsuit swims most days.  

This morning we were having so much fun we swam way past rockpile to log almost two miles.  I hesitate to predict anything, because the lake always confounds our predictions, but things look very favorable for swimming all weekend.  Perhaps we can try a Klode to Big Bay swim, and if we're really luck we can make the round trip. 

Another Great Morning

Beach: Klode

Water temp: 61

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity:  Much clearer than the past few days, bottom mostly visible.

Crew: Gabriel, Cap'n, Patriarch

Next swims:  Thursday 6AM Klode, possibly 4:00 PM today (depends how far I get on moving four yards of dirt - ugh!)

This weekend:  Friday, moonrise swim at 7PM (full moon will rise over the lake at 7:07PM)

Hopefully a longer swim Saturday or Sunday - we haven't swum to Big Bay yet this year, and it's already September!

This morning we enjoyed another great sunrise swim on a calm clear day.  We swam to rockpile and back, and we were having so much fun we swam another fifteen minutes or so.

Deja vu Double Dip

Beach: Klode
Water temp: 65
Waves: Choppy
Water Clarity: still stirred up..but clearing.
Crew: The Patriarch, Lindsey, Capt'n
Next Swims: Wednesday 6AM Klode

The Patriarch and I returned this afternoon for another installment of our 'No Wetsuit or Bust' swims. We weren't disappointed but the borderline no wetsuit temp and a cool easterly breeze didn't make the decision to walk the plank any easier. But we gotter done!

Lindsey arrived shortly after our exit from the lake and posed a new opportunity for us....a chance to double dip on the double dip! Who could pass up on such a rare opportunity...well, I for one couldn't. :)

Clad in wetsuits for the second journey we comfortably swam up to the end of the rock wall and back. The choppy waves moving from south to north made for a quick journey out and great workout for the return leg.

Plan is to swim Wednesday morning at 6am. Perhaps this weekend we can log a Big Bay swim....or perhaps a Beach Drive swim? Interested? ....please comment.

Plunging Into Retirement

Beach: Klode

Water temp: 61

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: still stirred up

Crew: Gabriel, Cap'n, Patriarch

Next Swims:  Today (Tue) 4:30PM No Wetsuit or Bust

Tomorrow 6AM Klode

Today was my first day of retirement, and it couldn't have begun better.  A sunrise swim on a clear cool calm morning.  Next wifey and I will be taking a long bike ride, stopping for lunch somewhere along the way.  But it can't be too long, we have to be back in time to meet Cap'n for a "No Wetsuit or Bust" swim this afternoon.  Life is good.

Coming up Friday is a full moon.  Conditions permitting, we'll be doing a moonrise swim around 7PM.  Stay tuned for details.