Next Swim: Monday 9/10 6PM
Note: Diablo and I decided it's too cold and dark in the morning to continue weekday 6AM swims so we'll be swimming in the evenings instead. If some of you want to continue morning swims let me know and I'll put it in the blog.
Last Swims: Saturday 9/8 Big Shoulders at Ohio Street Beach in Chicago
Sunday: 1PM Klode
Water Temp: Big Shoulders 72, Klode on Sunday 70
Waves: Very rough and choppy for Big Shoulders, 2-3 feet with a strong northerly current on Sunday at Klode
Water Clarity: none
Big Shoulders Crew: James, Jake, Brian, Kahuna, Patriarch
Sunday Klode Crew: Diablo, Patriarch
Congratulations to James and Jake who both took first place in their age groups! Also, our old friend Megan, who used to swim with us but now lives in Chicago was second woman overall and first in her age group. These are all great accomplishments as there were many very good swimmers in the race. With apologies to James, I would feel remiss if I didn't report the results of the annual Megan/James grudge match, which was once again won by Megan, but only by 40 seconds in a race that lasted just over an hour. Next year, James!
Friday night the Chicago near shore marine forecast was predicting 6-9 foot waves with rip currents and waterspouts. As so often happens with Lake Michigan predictions, it was completely wrong. The waves were 1-2 feet at most, but it was very rough and choppy. There must be something about beaches that are next to breakwalls that turns big waves into lots of smaller choppier waves. As much as I've swum in big chop this year, this was worse and all during the race I was tasting the breakfast which I had eaten three hours before. Brian said the same thing. Even so, we got 'er done.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
Showtime
Next Swim: Sunday 1pm - check back Sunday morning for location
Update: Sunday's swim will be at Klode at 1PM
Last Swims:
Thursday 9/6 - 6PM
Friday 9/7 - 6AM
Water Temp:
Thurs PM - 71.6
Fri AM - 67.2 (warmer offshore)
Waves:
Thurs PM - gentle rollers < 1ft
Fri AM - Calm
Clarity: Clear
Crew:
Thurs PM - Kahuna, Wonder Woman, Ali-Kat, Sarah, Lorraine, Ele, Andy, Capt'n with special guest appearance by The Patriarch
Friday AM - The Patriarch, Diablo, Kahuna, Speed, Gundrop, Showgirl, Geoffrey, Capt'n
It's time to cash in on our summer of swimming!! Good Luck to all who are participating in the Big Shoulders and Ironman events this weekend. Stay tuned for details on a date/time/location for a Pirates Pizza Night where our fellow Klode Kru mates will share their war stories. {perhaps next Tuesday or Friday evening?}
Update: Sunday's swim will be at Klode at 1PM
Last Swims:
Thursday 9/6 - 6PM
Friday 9/7 - 6AM
Water Temp:
Thurs PM - 71.6
Fri AM - 67.2 (warmer offshore)
Waves:
Thurs PM - gentle rollers < 1ft
Fri AM - Calm
Clarity: Clear
Crew:
Thurs PM - Kahuna, Wonder Woman, Ali-Kat, Sarah, Lorraine, Ele, Andy, Capt'n with special guest appearance by The Patriarch
Friday AM - The Patriarch, Diablo, Kahuna, Speed, Gundrop, Showgirl, Geoffrey, Capt'n
It's time to cash in on our summer of swimming!! Good Luck to all who are participating in the Big Shoulders and Ironman events this weekend. Stay tuned for details on a date/time/location for a Pirates Pizza Night where our fellow Klode Kru mates will share their war stories. {perhaps next Tuesday or Friday evening?}
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Good Luck to all Ironman and Big Shoulders Participants!
Next Swims: Friday 9/7 6AM
No scheduled swim Saturday, as many will be in Chicago for Big Shoulders or Madison for Ironman
Sunday 9/9 1PM, Check back Sunday morning for swim location - if conditions are right we'll swim from Atwater Beach out to the wreck of the Appomattox.
Last Swims: Wed 9/5 6AM & 6PM, Thu 9/6 6AM
Water Temps: Wed morning 68, Wed evening 69, Thursday morning 65
Waves: Choppy on Wednesday, Flat calm on Thursday morning
Water Clarity: Excellent
Wed AM Crew: Gumdrop, Showgirl, Diablo, Cap'n, Patriarch
Wed PM Crew: Kahuna, James, Amazing, Matt, Patriarch
Thu AM Crew: Gumdrop, Showgirl, Scooby, Brain, Diablo, Patriarch
The big weekend is here! Many of the crew will be participating in either Big Shoulders in Chicago on Saturday or Ironman in Madison on Sunday. From a swimming perspective we couldn't be more ready, given all the great swimming we've done over the last two months and more.
Scooby posed the question: Has anyone ever done both Big Shoulders and Ironman in the same year? It would be very difficult both athletically and logistically, but crazier things have been accomplished. Anyone know the answer?
The current prediction for the for Big Shoulders is warm water and big waves, but keep in mind there was a similar forecast last year and the actual conditions were flat and cool (65) water. So my suggestion would be to come prepared for anything.
Good luck to all!
No scheduled swim Saturday, as many will be in Chicago for Big Shoulders or Madison for Ironman
Sunday 9/9 1PM, Check back Sunday morning for swim location - if conditions are right we'll swim from Atwater Beach out to the wreck of the Appomattox.
Last Swims: Wed 9/5 6AM & 6PM, Thu 9/6 6AM
Water Temps: Wed morning 68, Wed evening 69, Thursday morning 65
Waves: Choppy on Wednesday, Flat calm on Thursday morning
Water Clarity: Excellent
Wed AM Crew: Gumdrop, Showgirl, Diablo, Cap'n, Patriarch
Wed PM Crew: Kahuna, James, Amazing, Matt, Patriarch
Thu AM Crew: Gumdrop, Showgirl, Scooby, Brain, Diablo, Patriarch
The big weekend is here! Many of the crew will be participating in either Big Shoulders in Chicago on Saturday or Ironman in Madison on Sunday. From a swimming perspective we couldn't be more ready, given all the great swimming we've done over the last two months and more.
Scooby posed the question: Has anyone ever done both Big Shoulders and Ironman in the same year? It would be very difficult both athletically and logistically, but crazier things have been accomplished. Anyone know the answer?
The current prediction for the for Big Shoulders is warm water and big waves, but keep in mind there was a similar forecast last year and the actual conditions were flat and cool (65) water. So my suggestion would be to come prepared for anything.
Good luck to all!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Deceptively Cool?
Next Swims: Wed 9/5 6AM & 6PM, Thurs 9/6 6AM
Last Swims: Tue 9/4 6AM & 6PM
Water Temp: 66.1 (am), 70.7 (pm....but cooler away from shore)
Air Temp: 69 & partly cloudy (am), 76 & Sunny (pm)
Waves: calm (am), slight chop (pm)
Water Clarity: The further from shore the better
Crew:
am - The Patriarch, Diablo, Gumdrop, Kahuna, Showgirl, Ali-Kat, Capt'n
pm - The Patriarch, Sir James, Jack Frost, Scooby, Ali-Kat, Mr. Amazing, Linda, Lorraine, Eric, Ken, Capt'n
You ever wonder why some days the water just feels colder even though the temps haven't changed much? For whatever reason today's temps of 67 & 70 didn't seem to provide the same comforting embrace it has all summer. It's probably just subliminal....after all, The Patriarch did declare the end of summer in his last blog post...and the days are getting shorter...although perhaps I may have consumed a little too much grog at the Biergarden yesterday. Ah, now that sure was a grand time we had at the Biergarden yesterday....
Of course I could throw in a theory or two...such as how warm humid air makes cooler water feel even colder....especially when the moon is still shining as the sun slowly rises from behind a bank of clouds....on a morning where you promised your crew mates a journey to see Scooby's treasure...even though the water was filled with sand and other floating particles which all resulted from heavy overnight rains....but instead of admitting to the slim possibility that you could even find the treasure chest much less see it you encouraged the crew to press on into the dark blue yonder....with you and yer crew mates clad in nothin' more than a swim suit and cap which left more to the imagination of yer fellow crew mates than it did to warm yer soul....wait...oh, darn!!! I'm out of rum....why am I always out of rum!?!?!
Last Swims: Tue 9/4 6AM & 6PM
Water Temp: 66.1 (am), 70.7 (pm....but cooler away from shore)
Air Temp: 69 & partly cloudy (am), 76 & Sunny (pm)
Waves: calm (am), slight chop (pm)
Water Clarity: The further from shore the better
Crew:
am - The Patriarch, Diablo, Gumdrop, Kahuna, Showgirl, Ali-Kat, Capt'n
pm - The Patriarch, Sir James, Jack Frost, Scooby, Ali-Kat, Mr. Amazing, Linda, Lorraine, Eric, Ken, Capt'n
You ever wonder why some days the water just feels colder even though the temps haven't changed much? For whatever reason today's temps of 67 & 70 didn't seem to provide the same comforting embrace it has all summer. It's probably just subliminal....after all, The Patriarch did declare the end of summer in his last blog post...and the days are getting shorter...although perhaps I may have consumed a little too much grog at the Biergarden yesterday. Ah, now that sure was a grand time we had at the Biergarden yesterday....
Of course I could throw in a theory or two...such as how warm humid air makes cooler water feel even colder....especially when the moon is still shining as the sun slowly rises from behind a bank of clouds....on a morning where you promised your crew mates a journey to see Scooby's treasure...even though the water was filled with sand and other floating particles which all resulted from heavy overnight rains....but instead of admitting to the slim possibility that you could even find the treasure chest much less see it you encouraged the crew to press on into the dark blue yonder....with you and yer crew mates clad in nothin' more than a swim suit and cap which left more to the imagination of yer fellow crew mates than it did to warm yer soul....wait...oh, darn!!! I'm out of rum....why am I always out of rum!?!?!
Monday, September 3, 2012
Ending the Summer in Fine Style
Next Swims: Tue 9/4 6AM & 6PM, Wed 9/5 6AM
Last Swim: Labor Day 9/3 Noon
Water Temp: 68
Waves: Less than a foot
Water Clarity: The further from shore the better
Crew: Cap'n, Crash, Lorraine, Amazing, Diablo, Karen, Jake, Jack, Patriarch, Bruce, Wonder Woman and her sidekick Wonder Girl, Kim, Cheryl, Ali-Kat, Ryan, Gumdrop, Slip&Slide, Lori
A fine summer day with (relatively) warmer water and (relatively) calmer seas made possible our first long swim in a while. Some of us swam to the orange kayak. Well actually the kayak "swam" to us near the mudslide. But some made it as far three piers and the Amazing One tacked on another quarter mile at the end.
This being Labor Day and myself being a Gentleman of Leisure, I magnanimously toasted the working slobs that make up the rest of the group. Work harder, and keep those pension checks coming!
Afterwards we headed to the Estabrook Beer Garden to celebrate a fine summer day and an excellent swimming summer. Summer may be over but there's more great swimming ahead.
Anyone interested in car pooling to Big Shoulders on Saturday please let me know.
Last Swim: Labor Day 9/3 Noon
Water Temp: 68
Waves: Less than a foot
Water Clarity: The further from shore the better
Crew: Cap'n, Crash, Lorraine, Amazing, Diablo, Karen, Jake, Jack, Patriarch, Bruce, Wonder Woman and her sidekick Wonder Girl, Kim, Cheryl, Ali-Kat, Ryan, Gumdrop, Slip&Slide, Lori
A fine summer day with (relatively) warmer water and (relatively) calmer seas made possible our first long swim in a while. Some of us swam to the orange kayak. Well actually the kayak "swam" to us near the mudslide. But some made it as far three piers and the Amazing One tacked on another quarter mile at the end.
This being Labor Day and myself being a Gentleman of Leisure, I magnanimously toasted the working slobs that make up the rest of the group. Work harder, and keep those pension checks coming!
Afterwards we headed to the Estabrook Beer Garden to celebrate a fine summer day and an excellent swimming summer. Summer may be over but there's more great swimming ahead.
Anyone interested in car pooling to Big Shoulders on Saturday please let me know.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Biergarten Ho!
Next Swim: Labor Day, Sunday 9/3, High Noon, followed by the Estabrook Park Biergarten
Last Swim: Sun 9/2 1PM
Water Temp: 67 (for once Capt'n got it right when he predicted warmer water!)
Waves: 3-5 feet, with a very strong current, especially on the sand bar
Water Clarity: None
Crew: Cap'n, Mike, Gumdrop, Diablo, Lorraine, Kim, Patriarch
The waves didn't look all that big from shore, but they were powerful. As I crossed the sandbar I got thrown sideways and off balance by one breaker and then knocked on my a** and body slammed into the sand by the wave right behind. Wow!
Everyone made it back safe, although Kim gave us some anxious moments when she drifted close in front of the rock pile on the way in. We celebrated our survival with a toast to lost goggles. I got mine knocked off yesterday, and Kim lost hers today.
The wind is predicted to die down, but remain onshore, so I'm hopeful for continued warm temps tomorrow with smaller waves (but of course my predictions are even worse than Cap'ns).
Last Swim: Sun 9/2 1PM
Water Temp: 67 (for once Capt'n got it right when he predicted warmer water!)
Waves: 3-5 feet, with a very strong current, especially on the sand bar
Water Clarity: None
Crew: Cap'n, Mike, Gumdrop, Diablo, Lorraine, Kim, Patriarch
The waves didn't look all that big from shore, but they were powerful. As I crossed the sandbar I got thrown sideways and off balance by one breaker and then knocked on my a** and body slammed into the sand by the wave right behind. Wow!
Everyone made it back safe, although Kim gave us some anxious moments when she drifted close in front of the rock pile on the way in. We celebrated our survival with a toast to lost goggles. I got mine knocked off yesterday, and Kim lost hers today.
The wind is predicted to die down, but remain onshore, so I'm hopeful for continued warm temps tomorrow with smaller waves (but of course my predictions are even worse than Cap'ns).
Saturday, September 1, 2012
WARM WATER HO!!!
Next Swims:
Water Temp: 59 (...but upper 60s-70 further out & up at Mudslide)
Air Temp: 68 & Mostly Cloudy
Waves: 1-3ft every 4 seconds
Water Clarity: sand filled near shore / clear 150+ meters out
Crew: The Patriarch, Diablo (skin), Gumdrop, Kahuna, Showgirl, Nivens McTwisp, Little Fish, Ryan (skin), Capt'n with special guest appearance from Ali-Kat and Lorraine
Greeting us today was a steady diet of 3ft waves crashing into the Klode rock piles. The water was considerably warmer than yesterday but still shy of 60 along the shoreline. In addition to being on the cool side the water was also saturated with sand. Despite the less than perfect conditions the Klode Kru today was determined to get er done!
The swim up to Cedar Grove was cold and murky with occasional white capped sea serpents challenging your efforts to move forward. Those of us who chose to continue our journey up to Mudslide were treated to an exceptional surprise....a wall of clear blue & warm water! The sight was remarkable...one moment we were swimming in cold murky water and then in a blink of an eye we were suddenly surrounded by exceptionally clear blue warm water. Even more remarkable was the fact that we could swim along this line of contrasting water conditions as if there was a magical barrier preventing the murky water from mixing with the warm pristine water. Needless to say we chose to follow this line all the way back to Klode...opting to stay just a few strokes on the warm side.
- Sunday 9/2 1pm
- Monday TBD
Water Temp: 59 (...but upper 60s-70 further out & up at Mudslide)
Air Temp: 68 & Mostly Cloudy
Waves: 1-3ft every 4 seconds
Water Clarity: sand filled near shore / clear 150+ meters out
Crew: The Patriarch, Diablo (skin), Gumdrop, Kahuna, Showgirl, Nivens McTwisp, Little Fish, Ryan (skin), Capt'n with special guest appearance from Ali-Kat and Lorraine
Greeting us today was a steady diet of 3ft waves crashing into the Klode rock piles. The water was considerably warmer than yesterday but still shy of 60 along the shoreline. In addition to being on the cool side the water was also saturated with sand. Despite the less than perfect conditions the Klode Kru today was determined to get er done!
The swim up to Cedar Grove was cold and murky with occasional white capped sea serpents challenging your efforts to move forward. Those of us who chose to continue our journey up to Mudslide were treated to an exceptional surprise....a wall of clear blue & warm water! The sight was remarkable...one moment we were swimming in cold murky water and then in a blink of an eye we were suddenly surrounded by exceptionally clear blue warm water. Even more remarkable was the fact that we could swim along this line of contrasting water conditions as if there was a magical barrier preventing the murky water from mixing with the warm pristine water. Needless to say we chose to follow this line all the way back to Klode...opting to stay just a few strokes on the warm side.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
