Lazy Days

Next Swim: Sun 8/8 1PM

Last Swim: Sat 8/7 9AM

Water Temp: 63

Waves: calm

Crew: The Patriarch, Diablo, Kahuna, Perry, Linda, Beth, Robin, Capt'n

Upon the first dip of the toe in the water this morning one would have put the water temp around 60...at the most. The official reading from the Patriarch-o-meter though read 63. Still a bit cool for a skin swim...but being a tad bit unmotivated this morning we just couldn't muster enough energy to climb into our wetsuits. To make us feel better though...The Patriarch offered to proclaim what ever water temp would make us feel better. Without hesitation Diablo wished for a water temp of 67 and the Official Proclamation was made by the Patriarch: "67 it shall be!"

So a skin swim it was...all the way to Cedar grove for all but Kahuna who continued his journey northward after we had paused to contemplate whether or not to turn around.

Swim time for Sunday is 1pm. With an air temp forecasted to be in the 90's perhaps the water temps will be a tad bit more hospitable for a skin swim....if not though, The Patriarch has vowed to have some Killepitsch on hand to warm us up afterward!

Unbelievably Clear

Next Swim: Sat 8/7 9AM

Note: Robin is interesting in swimming at 2PM instead, if interested put a comment in this blog or call or email her.

Last Swim: Fri 8/6 5:45AM

Water Temp: 62

Waves: calm

Crew: Diablo, Lane, Perry, Patriarch

The water was so clear and clean and calm it seemed like we were gliding through air rather than water. It was so pleasant we went all the way to "three piers" before turning back.

I wish I had a dollar for every person who asked me how we can swim in such a polluted lake, and when I tell them how clear the water is, they don't believe me. Their loss, I guess.

Cool, But Pleasant

Next Swim: Friday 8/6 5:45AM Klode

Last Swims: Wed & Thu 5:45AM Klode

Water temps: 61 Wed, 60 Thu

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Perfectly Clear

Wed Crew: Cap'n, Diablo, Kahuna, Blondie, Sarah, Ruth, Patriarch

Thu Crew: Cap'n, Diablo, Kahuna, Blondie, The Sistas, Beth, Ruth, Greg, Patriarch

The lake has cooled a bit, and so our streak skin swims has ended at eight. Other than that, the conditions have been about perfect. Clear calm water and gorgeous sunrises over the lake.

Check out this article about the unusual conditions on Lake Michigan this summer:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/99978884.html

Moody

Next Swims: Wed & Thu 8/4 & 8/5, 5:45 AM Klode

Last Swims: Mon 6:30PM, Tue 5:45AM

Water Temps: Mon evening 55, Tue morning 59

Waves: Mon evening small chop, Tue morning calm

Water Clarity: Cloudy Mon evening, Clear Tue morning

Mon Evening Crew: Gumdrop, Greg, Patriarch

Tue Morning Crew: Diablo, CaptaIn, Lane, David, Greg, Patriarch

The water temperature went from 73 on Sunday at 2PM, to 63 Monday morning, to 55 Monday evening, back up a little to 59 Tuesday morning. There were no big winds or currents to account for it. Just another example of how difficult it is to predict her moods. You never really know how she'll treat you until you show up on the beach. Just like every other woman I know. (Now we'll find out how many women read this blog)

Silent Treatment

Next Swims: Monday Evening 6:30pm & Tue 5:45Am

Last Swims: Monday 5:45AM

Water temps: 63

Waves: none

Water Clarity: Excellent

Crew: The PatrIarch, Diablo, Kahuna, Blondie, Perry, Capt'n

Perhaps not as creepy as a strangle ole' man staring at you, or that strange ole' man who can remove his teeth at the blink of an eye....but I must admit there was something a little eerie this morning about The Patriarch's silent treatment of the group. Nare a word he did say the entire morning....not even to announce the water temp.

Now why, why would The Patriarch do this? Was it perhaps the result of going over board on grog last night? Or perhaps the result of deafening echos in his head from mermaids calling out to him? Most likely though....if I had to guess...it probably has to do with Blondie. I've been told that Blondie actually spells her name "T-R-O-U-B-L-E"....and that she is. Just ask The Patriarch....after all he knows everything. ...the only problem is, he's not talking.

As chilling as The Patriarch's silent treatment was this morning...perhaps even chillier was the fact that we logged a Cedar Grove and back skin swim with the water temp uncomfortably below our traditional threshold of 65. Amazing in some regards...but down right scary when you pause to consider who else swims at temps like this without a wetsuit. What's next for us...European cut Speedos??? YOWZA!!!

Warmest Water Ever

Next Swims: Mon & Tue 5:45Am

Also, if there is interest, a 6:30PM Monday swim, please comment

Last Swims: Sat & Sun 2PM

Water temps: Sat 67, Sun 73!!!!

Waves: big chop, extra effort required

Water Clarity: Excellent

Sat Crew: Cap'n, Gumdrop, Diablo, Kahuna, Sonnakahuna, Eileen, Patriarch

Sun Crew: Cap'n, Gumdrop, Diablo, Kahuna, Sonnakahuna, Eileen, Perry, Brad, Steve, Patriarch

Wow! I'll have to look back, but I don't recall water this warm ever. We really didn't need the shots of Killepitsch to warm us up, but they tasted great anyway.

Upcoming events of note:

Sat Aug 21st, Madison Open Water Swim

https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=1259&smid=2254

Sun Aug 22nd: Pirates Plunge - http://www.piratesplunge.com/

Sat Sept. 11th: Big Shoulders - http://www.bigshoulders.org/

A Pod of Moby Dicks

Next Swims: Sat & Sun, July 31st and Aug 1st, 2PM both days, Klode Beach

I hesitate to predict anything, but this should be a prime swimming weekend. The water is warm and clear and should just get better.

Last Swims:

Fri 7/30 5:45AM

Water Temp: 67

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Excellent

Crew: Diablo, Cap'n, Blondie, David, Lane, Greg, Patriarch

Thu 7/29 6:30PM

Water Temp: 70!

Waves: Small Rollers

Water Clarity: Somewhat Cloudy

Crew: Diablo, Gumdrop, Perry, Erin, Sarah, JJ, Patriarch

Thursday evening we were joined by a new swimmer, Sarah. Her dad watched from shore, and he told me that he had seen us Monday night, swimming and howling under the full moon. He said we looked like a pod of whales.

Which got me to thinking about how normal people perceive us. I used to think that we were viewed as brave, but foolish and reckless for swimming in a cold, dangerous and polluted lake. Or perhaps we were viewed as crazy or idiotic.

But now I realize we are seen as the evil consequence of man's abuse of nature. Man has dumped excrement, pesticides, fertilizers, oil, medical waste, and god knows what else into the lake. And anyone that would venture in must inevitably be affected. And so our brains are eaten away by ecoli, our skins turned glowing green by radioactive waste, our flesh gnawed by invasive species. We are a pod of mutant malevolent Moby Dicks, lurking in the frigid depths, surfacing in the dark to howl at the moon.