Slowly Improving

Next Swim:  Today Tuesday June 24 5PM (unless there are thunderstorms nearby)

Last Swim:  Yesterday 6/23 5PM
Water temp: 59
Waves:  small chop
Water Clairity:  Poor
Crew:  David, Sketch, Crispy, Kahuna, Capt'n, Patriarch, and special guest Gigi
Wetsuit/Skin Count:  6/0 (Diablo we need you!)
Pitsch Count: 5

Conditions are improving.  The fog was gone.  Most of the dead fish are gone, and the smell.  The water temp is creeping higher.

Kahuna I will never make fun of you again.  You got your revenge for my blog comment yesterday by suggesting I do the track workout this morning at Shorewood High.  It was kind of like trying to swim with James.

P.S.  Crash is proposing a beer garden outing on Sunday, details to follow.

Nothing Better to Do? Really?

Next Swim: Monday June 23, 5PM

Last Swim:  Sunday 6/22 3PM
Water Temp:  59
Waves: Calm
Water Clairity:  Poor
Crew:  Sketch, Andy, Crispy, Diablo, Kahuna, Capt'n, Patriarch
Wetsuit/ Skin Count: 6/1
Pitsch Count: 7

Today was one of those days when you question your own sanity.  According to Capt'n conditions were much improved from Saturday, but still far from ideal.  Foggy, chilly (both air and water), some smelly dead fish still floating in the water.  So why do we do this?  Because even at her worst we still lover he.  We'll be back for more tomorrow.

Less than ideal...

Next Swim:
   Sunday June 22nd @ 3pm

Last Swim:
   Saturday June 21st @ noon
      Water Temp:  55.3
      Waves: rippled surface / slight current from south
      Air Temp:  64 & dense fog
      Clarity:  murky & unpleasant
      Crew (noon): Gumdrop, Showgirl, Neo, Nanook, David, Capt'n
      Skin / Suits:  1 / 5
      Pitsch:  3
      Crew (6pm):  Diablo, Gumdrop, Sketch, Andy, Capt'n

Cool air temps with even cooler water temps, dense fog and murky water littered with floating debris from the recent rains and unwanted seagull food made for some of the most unpleasant swim conditions that I can ever remember having in Lake Michigan.  Still the Kru was determined to log a swim today.  Kudos to Neo who swam skin despite the unpleasant conditions.  Kudos also to Gumdrop and Nanook (...accompanied by yours truly...) who logged an orange kayak swim despite the navigational challenges presented by the fog and aquatic obstacles.

Saturday June 21st Swim Plans

Next Swims:
   Saturday June 21st @ Noon
   Saturday June 21st @ 6pm followed by Pirates Pizza Night

Pirates Nearly Come to Blows!

Next Swim: ?? Please comment if you plan a swim this week.  (I have relatives visiting until Friday, I can't commit to anything before Saturday.)  If nothing else we will definitely be planning swims for this weekend.  We finally have some hot sunny weather which should raise the water temp.

Last Swim:  Sunday June 15 noon
Water Temp: 54
Waves:  1-2 ft very irregular, choppy and building
Water Clarity:  poor
Crew:  Diablo, Kahuna, Andy, Gumdrop, Andy, Capt'n, Patriarch
Wetsuits:  Everyone except Diablo who is becoming our most hardcore cold water swimmer

Pirates of legend fight over booty, but our sorry pirates Capt'n and Kahuna nearly came to blows over a dispute about the depth of the Appomattox shipwreck.  Capt'n says 10-12 feet, Kahuna says 20-25.  How can we settle this before one runs a sword through the other?  Someone will have to take a kayak or paddle board out there on a calm clear day and measure it.

Anyhow, here is a website with much more information about the ship and the storm that sunk it, with pictures of the ship and the underwater wreck.
http://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/explore_appomattox_serv.cfm   

Sensational Shipwreck Swim

Next Swim:  Sunday June 15th @ noon

Last Swim Saturday June 14th @ noon (Atwater Beach)
   Water Temp:  58 near shore / low 50's away from shore
   Waves:  Calm
   Clarity:  crystal clear
   Crew:  The Patriarch, Diablo, Kahuna, Joe, Capt'n
   Suits / Skin:  4 / 1

Yo ho ho....what a show!  With the exception of water temp today's shipwreck swim may quite possibly have been the most sensational show ever.   The water was crystal clear, the surface was calm and the sand that typically covers sections of the wreck appeared to have been recently swept away.  The entire massive hull of the Appomattox was clearly visible and easy to follow.  According to my GPS visiting the site required less than a 1/4 swim...and if you/re daring enough (...like Kahuna and I...) swimming down to walk the plank requires you to plunge only about 10ft.  (...a challenging feat indeed when you're wearing a wetsuit...)

Following today's swim the entire Kru enjoyed a delicious BBQ Chicken and/or Rib lunch, a few pints of grog and live music....all compliments of the Shorewood Men's club.

Friday Morning Update

During my morning run I stopped at Big Bay to take a temperature reading.  I got 51, a bit too cold for me.  So I think I will pass on a Friday afternoon or full moon swim, and hope for warmer water tomorrow for the "shipwreck" swim:

On Saturday we will do a "shipwreck" swim at noon from Atwater Beach (Lake Drive & Capitol Drive), followed (optionally) by lunch on the bluff.   Meet at the beach overlook near the flagpole.  It will be busy you may need to park a couple blocks away.   

Tickets for the Shorewood Men's Club Barbecue are being sold by Kahuna in advance or day of.  More info:  http://shorewoodmensclub.org