Whitecap Bay

Next Swim: Sunday 8/29, 1:00PM, Klode

Last Swim: Sat 8/28 1PM

Water Temp: 67

Waves: Two Footers, Extremely Choppy

Water Clarity: Varied, clear some places, cloudy others

Crew: Blondie, Padre, Cap'n, Diablo, Crash, Scott, Jeff, John, Brad, Beth, Gwen, Patriarch

Whitecaps covered Whitefish Bay today, making for a rough ride. Waves were only two foot, but they seemed to be coming from every direction, pushing against you one second, swamping you from behind the next. I rarely, if ever, swallow water when I swim, but today I did several times. We were tossed, turned, bleached, blended, knotted, tie dyed, spun, and hung out to dry.

I can't wait to do again tomorrow. See you on the beach!

Weekend Plans

Weekend Swims: Sat & Sun, 8/28 & 29, 1:00PM, Klode

Last Swims: Thu & Fri, 5:45AM

Water Temp: 68 both days

Waves: Small Chop Thur, Calm Fri

Water Clarity: Mostly Clear

Thu Crew: Cap'n, Diablo, Crash, Slip&Slide, Sarah, James, Perry, Beth, Kelly, Patriarch

Fri Crew: Kahuna, Blondie, Diablo, Cap'n, Slip&Slide, Patriarch

For all the great conditions, we have yet to do a Big Bay swim, even though we've gone further than that in the other direction. Conditions permitting, perhaps we can try this weekend. It's just a bit over a mile one way. The options would be to swim one way, and then drive or run back (bring some stuff to stash at the other end), or swim both ways.

Who is Howling at Who?

Next Swims: Thu & Fri, 8/26 & 8/27, 5:45AM Klode

The swimming has been so fantastic that there's hardly time for blogging. Swimming at Klode is only the beginning, it's also been the Pirates Plunge, going out to eat, pounding shots of Killepitsch, howling at the moon, doing Blondie's pop quiz. More and more swimmers are joining us. This has gone beyond just an informal swim group. We're establishing a whole Lake Michigan Swim Culture. We have our own beach, our own nicknames, our own beverage, our own jokes, our own slang. All we need is someone to start singing songs about us.

Anyhow, here is a summary of our last four swims:

Dates: Mon AM, Tue AM, Tue PM, Wed AM

Water Temps: 67-70, comfortably skin-swimmable

Waves: Calm to small rollers and a little chop

Water Clarity: Cloudy Mon & Tue, Settled down and cleared up on Wed

Mon AM Crew: Cap'n, Diablo, Crash, Slip&Slide, Blondie, Gabe, Patriarch

Tue AM Crew: Cap'n, Diablo, Bill, Patriarch

Tue PM Crew (a record!): Cap'n, Diablo, Crash, Gumdrop, Kahuna, Blondie, Slip&Slide, San Diego Joe, Sarah, Eileen, James, Cathy, Jeff, Beth, Patriarch

Wed AM Crew: Cap'n, Diablo, Crash, Sarah, Lane, Colin, Gabe, Patriarch

Irony Dept: Our "Howl at the Full Moon Century Swim" was a great success, even though the star of the show decided not to show, preferring to hide behind the clouds. But there he was, in all his glory, setting in the western sky on Wednesday morning when we arrived on the beach before sunrise, more than a bit groggy from last night's swim and post-swim feast. I think he was howling at us, rather than us howling at him.

By the way, I aced Blondie's quiz. I believe I was the only one to do so, despite everyone else trying to cheat. I await my trophy. Blondie, if you send me the quiz I'll post it, it was very clever.

Also, a number of you have been taking pictures, if you have any good ones send them to me and I will post them.

See you on the beach!

A Fine Day to Walk the Plank

Next Swims: Mon 8/23 5:45AM Klode

Tuesday 8/24 7:00PM "Howl at the Full Moon Century Swim"

The full moon rises over the lake at 7:23PM. This will also be our 100th swim of the season.

Double reason to celebrate afterwards, perhaps some Killepitsch, and maybe out to eat afterwards?

Last Swims: Sunday - Pirates Plunge

Water Temp: 68

Waves: 3-5 foot swells at the start, but smaller near shore

Current: Very big current pushing south, requiring constant course corrections.

Water Clarity: Excellent

Crew - about 40 people, here are some that swim with the Klode crew:

Megan (1st woman, 1st overall), Cap'n (third male), Gumdrop, Kahuna, Diablo, Ramrod, JJ, Eileen, Sarah, Beth, Jeff, Eric, Patriarch (I'm probably missing a couple - sorry!)

Kudos to "Pirate Steve" for pulling off a first rate event. Except for a glitch on getting bags back to the beach, everything was terrific. There were an amazing number of boats and jet skis providing support. I don't understand why there weren't more swimmers. This has got to be one of the most fun new events in some time.

The big waves and currents added to the fun (at least that's my opinion). The start boat was rolling heavily in the swells, and so it felt really good to walk the plank and get in the water. The water was very clear and clean. I swam directly towards the finish line the whole time, but about halfway through I realized that I was no longer swimming perpendicular to the beach, but at a good angle, the current had pushed me well south. I wonder how far I really went?

Afterwards we celebrated with a shot of Killepitsch, and breakfast at Ma Fischers. Beth, Kahuna, and I could not pass up the Sunday morning Bloody Marys, and before we left Cap'n held a pistol to our heads, and gave us a choice between a shot, or a shot to the head. What could we do?

Saturday's Swim:

Klode 1PM

Water temp: 67, but pockets of very cold water

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: cloudy, from the overnight rain

Crew: Cap'n, Gumdrop, Diabo, Linda, Eileen, Sarah, Sarah's parents Willy & Kathy, Phil, Walt, Chris, Patriarch, and we ran into Eric who was already in the water.

Here is a picture taken by Eileen:

Some Things Are Indescribable

Next Swims: Sat 8/21, 1:00PM, Klode

Sunday 8/22: Pirate's Plunge http://www.piratesplunge.com/

If you wish to car pool, meet at 6:30AM at the south end of Bradford Beach, near the Northpoint Custard Stand

Last Swim: Fri 8/20 5:45AM

Water Temp: 67

Waves: One Foot Rollers

Water Clarity: Mostly Clear, but some murky spots near shore

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

Sometimes words fail. I mean how do I explain Kahuna trying to walk on the bottom carrying a large rock? Or Diablo chasing grasshoppers on the beach? Or Gumdrop's budgie smuggler? Well if you really want to know what a budgie smuggler is, you can Google it, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Another Record

Next Swim: Fri Aug 20, 5:45AM, Klode

Last Swim: Thu Aug 19 5:45AM

Water Temp: 65

Waves: Small Rollers

Water Clarity: Excellent

Crew: Cap'n, Ramrod, Diablo, Kahuna, Padre, Slip&Slide, Blondie, James, Lane, Gabe, Colin, Sarah, Beth, Patriarch

Wow! Fourteen swimmers on the beach this morning! A new record, at least for a weekday morning. I mean who gets up before dawn to swim in cold Lake Michigan? I guess insanity is contagious. Speaking of dawn, the sun is coming up later each morning, which means it rises during our swim, which is very cool. Maybe that's one of the reasons we do this?

Here is the latest on the Great Klode Park Controversy:

http://www.whitefishbaynow.com/news/100952269.html

Here's my plan if they ever come after us for being too loud in the morning: I'll plea bargain, become a highly paid informant and turn in Cap'n for rowdiness, obscenity, partial nudity, drinking in the park, piracy, disturbing the peace, bad jokes, and SWI.

Approaching the Century Swim

Next Swim: Thu 8/19 5:45AM

Last Swim: Wed 8/18 5:45AM

Water Temp: 65

Waves: Calm

Water Clarity: Excellent

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

Another day of clear calm water. This has been an amazing summer so far, the water has been much warmer, clearer, and calmer than last year. We haven't had a single day of two or more foot waves. It's fun to swim in calm water, but it's fun to play in the waves too, so I hope I'm not jinxing anything by wishing for some wave action.

Coming Events:

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

There is no transportation from the beach back to the boat launch, so I suggest we meet at Bradford Beach at 6:30 to take the water temp, plan strategy (mine is to hang on to Diablo's feet and have him tow me to shore), and form car pools to the start. Also, we should plan to go to breakfast afterwards. Any suggestions? I know Alterra is nearby, but maybe we want to go somewhere with heartier fare?

Also, next Tuesday evening will be a "Howl at the Full Moon Swim", and if all goes well, it will also be our 100th swim of the season. More than enough reason for a sip or two of our favorite beverage.

To our old friend James: I saw your blog comment. Glad to hear your shoulder is healing. Hope to see you on the beach soon. Bring Jessica and some of the other Schroeder masters with you.