Picture Perfect

Next Swim: Wed 8/18, 5:45AM, Klode

Last Swims: Mon & Tue 5:45AM

Water Temp: 64

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Excellent

Mon Crew: Diablo, Cap'n, Ramrod, Sarah, Patriarch

Tue Crew: Diablo, Cap'n, Kahuna, Ramrod, Ellie, Crista (sp?), Perry, David, Greg, Erin, Sarah, Bill, Patriarch

No need for words today, the pictures say it all:

The Best Kept Secret in Milwaukee

Next Swims: Mon & Tue 8/16 -17, 5:45AM Klode

Last Swim: Sun 8/15, 1PM, Klode

Water Temp: 71, but occasional pockets of cold water

Waves: Calm, but a big current going north to south

Water Clarity: Crystal Clear

Crew: Diablo, Gumdrop, Kahuna, Cap'n, San Diego Joe, Team Nagle, Brad, David, Eileen, Patriarch

Kahuna Joke-o-Meter: groan

Kahuna's "Does It Float?": Yes

A perfect summer's day brought out everyone. The beach was littered with swimmers, boaters, sunbathers, families, kayakers, young lovers, rock skippers, dogs, and dragonflies. On our way north we dodged between boats and the people swimming off of them. I stopped to talked to one group, who told me that Klode Beach and Whitefish Bay is the best kept secret in Milwaukee. I agree.

Perry's kids kept pace with us along the beach, and we swam skin well over a mile while the sun danced on the bottom. A big current made the return to the beach almost effortless. A special day.

Coming Events:

Pirates Plunge on Sunday http://www.piratesplunge.com/

Tuesday Evening 8/24: Howl at the full moon swim

Sat Sept 11th, Chicago : Big Shoulders http://bigshoulders.org/ (Hurry, it's 80% full!)

Good to Feel Needed

Next Swim: Sunday 8/15, 1PM, Klode

Last Swims: Sat 6AM and 1PM

Water temp: 67

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Very Good

Sat morning crew: Cap'n, Kahuna, Diablo, Beth

Sat afternoon crew: Patriarch, Eileen, Diablo

Cheeezzzeee.... I take a few days off to nurse my sore back, and everything goes awry. Here's the crazy plan they concocted without me (and didn't post until 3AM this morning): get up before dawn on a foggy Saturday morning, to squeeze their sorry butts into wetsuits (despite the fact that the water is very warm), swim out to the weather buoy, over half a mile out, without even stopping along the way to view the spectacular shipwreck.

By contrast, here's what the civilized members of the group did today: a wonderful forty minute skin swim in very warm clear water, under warm sunny skies, in the afternoon, while wedding parties snapped their pictures on shore.

Friday the 13th

Next Swims: Sat 6AM Atwater & Sun 1PM Klode

Last Swim: Friday 5:45AM

Water Temp: mid 60's

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Very Good

Crew: Diablo, Kahuna, Blondie, Perry, Greg, Steph, Capt'n

Day 3 without the Patriarch-o-meter...oh where-o-where is The Patriarch? This was probably another day where we probably could have gotten away without wearing wetsuits had the sun been up for the start of our swim. Once again we swam north up to the rockwall in back. Instead of logging another strip-n-dip Diablo and I decided to entertain the crew with a spectacular display of synchronized swimming.

Saturday morning Diablo, Kahuna and I plan to do a shipwreck swim from Atwater beach at 6am. Sunday the plan is to swim from Klode at 1pm.

Strip-n-Dip

Next Swim: Friday 8/13 5:45AM

Last Swim: Thursday 5:45AM

Water Temp: mid to upper 60's

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Very Good

Crew: Diablo, Padre, Kahuna, Blondie, Ele, Greg, Dave, Capt'n
(early(er) crew: Ramrod, Lil-Sista, Beth)

We were once again greeted by a thick fog along the Klode shoreline. The fog, however, quickly burned off as the sun rose and the air temps began to rise towards today's forecasted high of 90.

This was day 2 without the Patriarch-o-meter. Initial toe tests indicated a temp in the low 60's but upon reflecting back on the moment I think we may have been a little biased towards wearing wetsuits this morning. Perhaps we should have paid attention to the signs which indicated that we didn't really want to wear our wetsuits today....such as realizing that you're still wearing your shorts as you're pulling on your wetsuit or discovering that your wetsuit is on backwards after struggling to pull the wetsuit over your feet. (...of course I won't name any names here...)

This morning's swim took us up to the rockwall and back. Upon arriving back at the beach, Diablo and I returned to the water minus our wetsuits to log a quick journey up to the north beach downspout.

For those who missed this morning's swim but enjoy the jovial conversations....here are a few of the topics that were brought up:

• What sound does your favorite zoo animal make?
• laughing like a pig
• one arm swimming to counter boob imbalances
• The Ruth-o-Meter
• Wetsuit fashion tips...the 80's
• Flash dance
  

Persistant Fog

Next Swim: Thursday 8/12 5:45AM

Last Swim: Wednesday 5:45AM

Water Temp: low 60's

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Good

Crew: Diablo, Perry, Linda, Capt'n

Thick fog persisted this morning along the Klode shoreline. Unlike yesterday's fog which hovered just above the water but allowed you to see the tree tops this morning's fog was just the opposite. A faint rumble of a very distant thunder could be heard occasionally but glimpses of blue sky directly above reassured us that the storms were not upon us.

Without the Patriarch-o-meter this morning we were left to measure the water temp via an old fashioned dip of the toes. Not too bad but probably a tad bit too cold to go skin.

Not wanting to risk a sudden change in the weather we swam close to shore. Our journey this morning took us up to the Garage and down to south south beach before returning.

As a side note about this morning.....no Patriarch....no Marcella...no 21 bun salute...just lots of fog and jokes about Gumdrop, The Patriarch and Padre that upon second thought all had a similar theme. :)

Cap'n Foghorn

Next Swims: Wed & Thu 8/11 & 8/12

Last Swims: Monday 6:30PM, Tuesday 5:45AM

Water Temp: 60

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Very Good

Crew: I'm not sure about Monday night, I wasn't there, but Cap'n said turnout was good.

Tuesday Morning: Kahuna, Cap'n, Diablo, Blondie, Ruth, Greg, Patriarch

It was very foggy this morning, so foggy that those of us the shallows had trouble seeing the swimmers further out. No problem - the Cap'n's evil laugh could probably be heard in Muskegon.

My brother and his family are visiting, so my schedule is a bit uncertain until they leave Saturday morning. But I know the others will carry on if I miss a swim. Especially Diablo, I believe he's been at every single swim!