Next Swims:
Gumdrop is swimming today Thursday @ 4PM, email him if interested. His email is in blogger profile: https://www.blogger.com/profile/16653021692065113816 (sorry I can't make it)
On Saturday we will do a "shipwreck" swim at noon from Atwater Beach (Lake Drive & Capitol Drive), followed (optionally) by lunch on the bluff. Tickets for the Shorewood Men's Club Barbecue are being sold by Kahuna in advance or day of. More info: http://shorewoodmensclub.org
Last Swim: Thursday 6/12 6AM
Water Temp: 51
Waves: Calm
Water Clarity: Surprisingly clear, usually after a big rain the near shore is cloudy with runoff and sediment, but not today
Crew: Me, Myself, and I
Well since no one else showed up this morning I presume that means the morning crew needs warmer water to lure you out of bed, not that I blame you. It's too bad because the lake was extraordinarily beautiful this morning in a fog shrouded melancholy sort of way. Anyhow, since the water temp is likely to stay the same or even go lower I won't be showing up tomorrow morning.
Last night I talked to a bunch of swimmers at the Superrun in Lake Park, all anxious to swim but hoping for warmer water. It will happen eventually of course, but it's frustrating in the mean time.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Too cold. Too dark. Too windy. Too rainy.
Next Swims:
Thursday 6/12 6AM
Gumdrop wants to swim Thursday @ 4PM, email him if interested. His email is in blogger profile: https://www.blogger.com/profile/16653021692065113816 (sorry I can't make it)
We will probably do a Friday morning swim at 6AM, check blog tomorrow.
Also, Friday the full moon rises over the lake at 9PM exactly. The weatherman predicts clear skies so the viewing should be great. If interested in a "full moon swim" please comment.
On Saturday we will do a "shipwreck" swim at noon from Atwater Beach (Lake Drive & Capitol Drive), followed (optionally) by lunch on the bluff. Tickets for the Shorewood Men's Club Barbecue are being sold by Kahuna in advance or day of. More info: http://shorewoodmensclub.org
Great minds think alike. This morning Bubba and I independently came to the same conclusion, it was too cold, too dark, too windy and too rainy to swim. I know, I know. We're wimps. We've swum in worse. But here's the choice: extra shuteye in a nice warm bed, or go swimming knowing that you will be exiting the water in a cold rain. Chills and even hypothermia are going to set in very quickly. You can try to mitigate the chills by immediately running up the bluff, not even stopping to remove a wetsuit, jump in the car, crank the heat and change into dry warm clothes as quickly as possible (made more difficult by numb hands). It might keep you warm, probably not.
I turned off the alarm, rolled over, and went back to sleep.
Thursday 6/12 6AM
Gumdrop wants to swim Thursday @ 4PM, email him if interested. His email is in blogger profile: https://www.blogger.com/profile/16653021692065113816 (sorry I can't make it)
We will probably do a Friday morning swim at 6AM, check blog tomorrow.
Also, Friday the full moon rises over the lake at 9PM exactly. The weatherman predicts clear skies so the viewing should be great. If interested in a "full moon swim" please comment.
On Saturday we will do a "shipwreck" swim at noon from Atwater Beach (Lake Drive & Capitol Drive), followed (optionally) by lunch on the bluff. Tickets for the Shorewood Men's Club Barbecue are being sold by Kahuna in advance or day of. More info: http://shorewoodmensclub.org
Great minds think alike. This morning Bubba and I independently came to the same conclusion, it was too cold, too dark, too windy and too rainy to swim. I know, I know. We're wimps. We've swum in worse. But here's the choice: extra shuteye in a nice warm bed, or go swimming knowing that you will be exiting the water in a cold rain. Chills and even hypothermia are going to set in very quickly. You can try to mitigate the chills by immediately running up the bluff, not even stopping to remove a wetsuit, jump in the car, crank the heat and change into dry warm clothes as quickly as possible (made more difficult by numb hands). It might keep you warm, probably not.
I turned off the alarm, rolled over, and went back to sleep.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Old Friends
Next Swim: Wednesday 6/11 6AM (unless it's raining heavily, which is possible according to the weather man)
I seem to be running into anxious swimmers everywhere. Yesterday it was Coach Dom (the Shorewood High track and cross country coach). Everyone has the same question: when the heck is the lake going to warm up?
Bubba to the rescue! In the blog comments he reported swimming by himself Monday and Tuesday morning. That's double good news. First it's good to hear he's been swimming again, we thought he was injured. More importantly, he reports water temperatures in the mid-50's. OK that's not warm exactly, but certainly better than the 40's we've seen recently. Apparently onshore winds we've had the last few days are finally blowing in some warmer water.
Bubba, I for one will be happy to join you tomorrow (weather permitting).
Also, we hope to do a "shipwreck" swim on Saturday at noon at Atwater Beach, followed by the Shorewood Men's Club barbecue on the bluff overlooking the beach. Kahuna is selling tickets. A shipwreck swim is a swim to the wreck of the steamship Appomattox which lies about a quarter mile offshore, it's quite a sight but we need clear calm water for best viewing.
P.S. To Terri P who asked a question about PM swims on weekdays. Yes, we will do that when the water warms up a bit more, stay tuned.
I seem to be running into anxious swimmers everywhere. Yesterday it was Coach Dom (the Shorewood High track and cross country coach). Everyone has the same question: when the heck is the lake going to warm up?
Bubba to the rescue! In the blog comments he reported swimming by himself Monday and Tuesday morning. That's double good news. First it's good to hear he's been swimming again, we thought he was injured. More importantly, he reports water temperatures in the mid-50's. OK that's not warm exactly, but certainly better than the 40's we've seen recently. Apparently onshore winds we've had the last few days are finally blowing in some warmer water.
Bubba, I for one will be happy to join you tomorrow (weather permitting).
Also, we hope to do a "shipwreck" swim on Saturday at noon at Atwater Beach, followed by the Shorewood Men's Club barbecue on the bluff overlooking the beach. Kahuna is selling tickets. A shipwreck swim is a swim to the wreck of the steamship Appomattox which lies about a quarter mile offshore, it's quite a sight but we need clear calm water for best viewing.
P.S. To Terri P who asked a question about PM swims on weekdays. Yes, we will do that when the water warms up a bit more, stay tuned.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Cold Water? So What!
Next Swim: Sunday 6/8, 9:30AM (We are swimming early so as to allow time to get to the Locust Street Beer run which begins at 11:30)
Last Swim: Saturday 6/7 1:00 PM
Water temp: 55, but as usual warmer and colder pockets
Waves: Small Chop
Water Clarity: Excellent
Crew: Phil, Kahuna, Neo, Diablo, Gumdrop, Cap'n (late as usual), Panini, Showgirl, Putin, Patriarch, plus spectators James, Sarah, and Brad
Wetsuit/Skin: 5/5
The lake is taking a long time to warm up this summer, which I suppose was to be expected given the long cold winter. But that didn't stop ten hearty Crew members from enjoying a refreshing dip, including five who swam without wetsuits in very cold water.
Last Swim: Saturday 6/7 1:00 PM
Water temp: 55, but as usual warmer and colder pockets
Waves: Small Chop
Water Clarity: Excellent
Crew: Phil, Kahuna, Neo, Diablo, Gumdrop, Cap'n (late as usual), Panini, Showgirl, Putin, Patriarch, plus spectators James, Sarah, and Brad
Wetsuit/Skin: 5/5
The lake is taking a long time to warm up this summer, which I suppose was to be expected given the long cold winter. But that didn't stop ten hearty Crew members from enjoying a refreshing dip, including five who swam without wetsuits in very cold water.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Swim Plans for 6/7
Next Swims:
Saturday June 7th @ 1pm
Sunday June 8th @ TBD
Current Conditions at 4pm 6/6:
Water Temp: 54.2
Air Temp: 75 & Sunny
Waves: <1ft p=""> Clarity: Crystal
The maps indicate the 60 degree water is approaching....perhaps it will be here by tomorrow. Regardless 54.2 isn't bad compared to what we've had all week. Plan is to swim Saturday at 1pm and then survey the Kru for a Sunday swim time. The Locust Street Beer Run is at 11:30am so I'll be lobbying fer an early or late swim Sunday. :)
Saturday June 7th @ 1pm
Sunday June 8th @ TBD
Current Conditions at 4pm 6/6:
Water Temp: 54.2
Air Temp: 75 & Sunny
Waves: <1ft p=""> Clarity: Crystal
The maps indicate the 60 degree water is approaching....perhaps it will be here by tomorrow. Regardless 54.2 isn't bad compared to what we've had all week. Plan is to swim Saturday at 1pm and then survey the Kru for a Sunday swim time. The Locust Street Beer Run is at 11:30am so I'll be lobbying fer an early or late swim Sunday. :)
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Miracles Happen
I don't have a swim to report today but I do have a good story. Spoiler Alert: This is one of those made-for-Hollywood tear jerkers where everything goes wrong for the story's heroes (me and Cap'n), but right at the end a miracle occurs and everything turns out all right. And you say to yourself THAT would NEVER happen in real life, but it DID and we have a picture to prove it. So grab a box of tissue and read on.
It all started innocently enough. The temperature maps of the lake were all showing mid-40s, but I was driving by Big Bay late afternoon and said to myself "sometimes the maps are wrong, I'll take a reading". And sure enough I registered 52 off the pier, still cool but warm enough to think about. And the sun was shining and the water calm and crystal clear. Never did our Lady look so inviting. She was asking me, no begging me to swim. I know what you're thinking: "Patriarch you should know better". But I can't resist Her siren song.
So I text Cap'n and see if he could he could meet me at Klode in an hour, and he says sure and we are hoping for a great swim. As we descend the bluff we run into our old friends Dave and Not Dave's Wife. We tried to get them to swim with us but they rejected us (cue the tissues). But they did give us some good news, a photo shoot involving an attractive blonde is happening on the beach.
We walked by the photographer and model, and we're intrigued and curious, but what can we say that wouldn't make us sound like a couple of creeps? So we walk by. We wade into the water and our thermometers immediately plunge into the 40's. She's done it again, our beloved Lady had seduced us, enticed us, flirted with us, and then spit us out like bad food. So now we've been thrice rejected: Dave, Not Dave's Wife, and the Lake. I'll pause for a moment as you probably need to grab another box of tissue.
So, sad, rejected, despondent and depressed, we start walking up the bluff. The sight of the model was even more depressing, because we want to talk to her, but we might as well try to talk to a mermaid. Then the miracle happens. Out of the blue she says "I recognize you two from the swim blog". Turns out this particular mermaid is a certified yoga instructor, writes a blog about healthy eating, is a triathlete training for Chicago, follows our blog and plans to swim with us. Unbelievable, right? Well here is a link to her blog and below that a picture of her and your heroes.
http://www.thefitgirlskitchen.com
Copywright: Patriarch 2014, Hollywood and Broadway producers interested using this story for movie and play productions can contact my agent at CrazyCap'n.com
It all started innocently enough. The temperature maps of the lake were all showing mid-40s, but I was driving by Big Bay late afternoon and said to myself "sometimes the maps are wrong, I'll take a reading". And sure enough I registered 52 off the pier, still cool but warm enough to think about. And the sun was shining and the water calm and crystal clear. Never did our Lady look so inviting. She was asking me, no begging me to swim. I know what you're thinking: "Patriarch you should know better". But I can't resist Her siren song.
So I text Cap'n and see if he could he could meet me at Klode in an hour, and he says sure and we are hoping for a great swim. As we descend the bluff we run into our old friends Dave and Not Dave's Wife. We tried to get them to swim with us but they rejected us (cue the tissues). But they did give us some good news, a photo shoot involving an attractive blonde is happening on the beach.
We walked by the photographer and model, and we're intrigued and curious, but what can we say that wouldn't make us sound like a couple of creeps? So we walk by. We wade into the water and our thermometers immediately plunge into the 40's. She's done it again, our beloved Lady had seduced us, enticed us, flirted with us, and then spit us out like bad food. So now we've been thrice rejected: Dave, Not Dave's Wife, and the Lake. I'll pause for a moment as you probably need to grab another box of tissue.
So, sad, rejected, despondent and depressed, we start walking up the bluff. The sight of the model was even more depressing, because we want to talk to her, but we might as well try to talk to a mermaid. Then the miracle happens. Out of the blue she says "I recognize you two from the swim blog". Turns out this particular mermaid is a certified yoga instructor, writes a blog about healthy eating, is a triathlete training for Chicago, follows our blog and plans to swim with us. Unbelievable, right? Well here is a link to her blog and below that a picture of her and your heroes.
http://www.thefitgirlskitchen.com
Copywright: Patriarch 2014, Hollywood and Broadway producers interested using this story for movie and play productions can contact my agent at CrazyCap'n.com
Monday, June 2, 2014
Wussed Out
Next Swim: ??? Whenever the water temp gets above 50 again.
We stuck our toes in the water this morning and it was immediately obvious that the water temp had plunged again. After considerable hemming and hawing and with no one volunteering to lead the way, we headed back up the bluff with our tails between our legs.
Upcoming events:
Saturday June 14th at Atwater Beach - Shipwreck swim (conditions permitting) followed by Shorewood Men's Club Barbecue
Post Swim Cookout at Patriarch's: exact date TBD, but sometime soon
We stuck our toes in the water this morning and it was immediately obvious that the water temp had plunged again. After considerable hemming and hawing and with no one volunteering to lead the way, we headed back up the bluff with our tails between our legs.
Upcoming events:
Saturday June 14th at Atwater Beach - Shipwreck swim (conditions permitting) followed by Shorewood Men's Club Barbecue
Post Swim Cookout at Patriarch's: exact date TBD, but sometime soon
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