Swimming? Or Flying?

Next Swim: Sun 6/20 1:00PM Klode

Last Swim: Sat 6/19 1PM Klode

Water temp: not sure, we didn't have the thermometer, maybe 60?

Waves: calm

Water Clarity: Crystal Clear, Hawaii Clear, Clearer Than I've Ever Seen It

Crew: Gumdop, Diablo, Kahuna, David, Patriarch

Amazing day, warm, bright sun, and very clear water. It's fun to watch the sun dance on the bottom. I haven't seen such clear water since Hawaii. It was so clear, if you look at the swimmer next to you, it's as if they were gliding in air. When things line up right, you can see your shadow swimming below you. Very cool.

Our longest swim of the year, to "three piers", about 2 miles round trip. Let's do it again tomorrow!

Hangover Cure

Next Swims: Sat 6/19 & Sun 6/20, 1:00PM, Klode

Conditions permitting we will attempt to do some longer swims.

Last Swim: Fri 6/18, 5:45AM Klode

Water Temp: 62

Waves: One Foot Chop, with a very strong current going south to north

Water: Finally cleared up from the storm earlier this week, bottom visible

Crew: Cap'n, Diablo, Lane, Patriarch

Swim Coach Dave threw one hell of a party last night. His house is on the Shorewood Criterium course, and so it was the perfect place to enjoy the race and overenjoy the excellent Fixed Gear Beer from LakeFront Brewery. Which made this morning's plunge into the lake particularly harsh. But the swim out to rockpile, and the very challenging battle against the current on the way back, cured my hangover. Harsh medicine, but definitely effective. Now I need a nap.

The Weekend Looks Great, Let's Do a Long One

Next Swim: Friday 6/18 5:45 AM Klode

Last Swims: Wed & Thu 5:45AM Klode

Water Temp: 64 Wed, 63 Thu

Waves: calm

Water Clarity: Very Cloudy, stirred up from Tuesday's deluge

Crew: Wed: Cap'n, Diablo, Gumdrop, Patriarch, Eileen, Gary, Julie

Thu: Cap'n, Diablo, Gumdrop, Patriarch, Kahuna, David

Sorry, I've fallen behind again, just so much going on. The swimming continues to be outstanding, especially considering it's still the middle of June. Most years we haven't even started yet.

How about some longer swims this weekend? I propose a Klode to Big Bay Swim, then run back, or perhaps even Klode to Big Bay and back (aprox. 2.25 miles). Let's discuss Friday morning, or leave comments.

Big Dogs and Big Money

Next Swim: Wed, 6/16, 5:45AM, Klode

Last Swim: Tue, 6/15, 5:45 AM Klode

Water Temp: 64

Waves: One - Two Foot Rollers

Water Clarity: A bit gunky right on shore, but clear 10 meters out

Crew: Cap'n, Diablo, Gumdrop, Kahuna, Patriarch

Another classic quote from Cap'n. Another one of those What Exactly Is He Thinking moments. Is he kidding? Is he drunk? Is he nuts? I'm not sure, so I present it here without further comment. We're standing in the Klode parking lot, gathering our stuff, preparing to head down the bluff to the beach, when a deer ambles out of the bushes and walks across the parking lot right in front of us, and Cap'n says, "Wow, that's a BIG dog".

In other news, thanks to Robin for clarifying what all the fuss is about regarding the use of the park. Here is an article that explain it: http://www.whitefishbaynow.com/news/95915579.html

The line that caught my eye: "There is big money here". It inspires me to create Patriarch's Morning Swim (PMS) Club. Make your $100 tax deductible checks out to "The Patriarch's Health, Welfare, Retirement, and Killepitsch Fund". Join before July 1st and get a FREE Patriarch Foot Washer. BUT THATS NOT ALL. For an additional $25 get your picture taken swimming with Patriarch, and for a mere $10 more, get it autographed.

Scofflaws

Next Swim: 5:45AM Tuesday 6/15 Klode

Last Swim: Monday 6/14, 5:45AM, Klode

Water temp: 64

Waves: calm

Water Clarity: clear

Crew: Cap'n, Diablo, Patriarch, Kahuna, David, Julie

Apparently we are scofflaws, disturbers of the peace, disrupters of the tranquility of Whitefish Bay. Marcella, who leads the morning yoga class, told us there have been complaints about people in Klode park before it opens at 6AM. It even came up at a village board meeting. This is typical Whitefish Bay, of course. No rowdies, no yoga, no exercise class, no swimmers, no fun, nosiree, not in hoity-toidy Bay.

Well come and get me ye lily-livered landlubbers! I'll be der, at 5:45 morrow mornin, cannons blazin, sword drawn. Who be wit me??? Arggghhhhh!!

Swimming, Running, and Beer

Next Swim: 5:45AM Monday 6/14 Klode

Last Swim: Sunday 6/13 noon Klode

Water temp: 62

Waves: 1-2 feet

Water Clarity: a little cloudy

Crew: Gumdrop, Diablo, Patriarch, David, Linda

A swim out to Cedar Grove and back was followed by the Riverwest Beer Run and of course a brew or two. A great Sunday morning.

Gumdrop is our tough guy this year. He was the only one who is swimming without a wetsuit. My cutoff is 65 degrees, we aren't far away.

Shipwreck Tour

Next Swim: Sunday 6/13 9AM Klode

Following the swim, some of us will be heading for the Locust Street Festival to participate in the legendary Beer Run: http://www.locust-street.com/locuststreetfestival.htm

Last Swim: Saturday 6/12 Atwater Beach noon

Water temp: 63

Waves: 1-2 feet

Water Clarity: cloudy near shore, but clear enough further out to see the shipwreck

Crew: Gumdrop, Diablo, Kahuna, Patriarch, Brad

The cool damp foggy weather didn't stop the fun. We swam out to the shipwreck of the Appomattox : http://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/explore_appomattox_intro.cfm

I'm always amazed at how big it is (supposedly it was the largest wooden ship ever built). Diablo, Kahuna and me swam back to shore, but Gumdrop and Brad continued on to the big buoy further out, well over a mile round trip, maybe a mile and a half.

We topped off the swim with chicken dinners, beer, and sundaes, with a cherry on top, of course, courtesy of the Shorewood Men's Club.