Next Swim: Monday June 30th 5:45AM
Also possibly an afternoon swim, depending on the conditions tomorrow
Last Swim: Sunday 6/29 noon
Water Temp: 57
Waves: very small
Water Clarity: Excellent
Crew: Showgirl, Panini, Ana, GG, Phil, Gumdrop, Diablo, Capt'n, Sketch
Wetsuit/Skin: 8/1
Pitsch Count: 6
The west wind brought in colder clearer water today, but the good news is the lake as a whole is finally warming up, with a lake wide average temperature of 59. That should give us more opportunities for warmer water swims.
Those who are members of the Wisconsin Bike Federation, check out the cover of the July Bike Fed Magazine. It pictures four bikers riding in front of one of the rock piles on our very own Klode Beach at dawn. It's a nice picture but it would certainly be a lot better if photographed us swimming past the rock pile. What the heck is the point of biking down the beach if you don't swim?
Congratulations to Crash on her 25th birthday, which we celebrated at the Beer Garden after the swim.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Surviving the Storm
Next Swim: Sunday June 29th noon, followed by Crash's birthday celebration at the Estabrook Beer Garden (no gifts please)
Last Swim: Saturday June 28th noon
Water Temp: 62
Waves: Very Choppy
Water Clarity Improving
Crew: Showgirl, Panini, Tim, David, Gumdrop, Neo, Capt'n
Wetsuit/Skin: 3/4
Pitsch Count: 12
Suddenly a thunderstorm popped up out of nowhere. It was bright and sunny, nothing on the radar when a dark cloud formed and thunder boomed. Luckily as it reached the lakeshore the storm died out just as quickly as it had formed and turned into just a gentle sprinkle. Just a reminder to keep an eye on the sky. Most storms come from the west over the lake bluff and so you don't see them until they're right on top of you.
We celebrated our not so harrowing escape with a double round of Pitsch. (Well it was a handy excuse, not that we need one.)
Last Swim: Saturday June 28th noon
Water Temp: 62
Waves: Very Choppy
Water Clarity Improving
Crew: Showgirl, Panini, Tim, David, Gumdrop, Neo, Capt'n
Wetsuit/Skin: 3/4
Pitsch Count: 12
Suddenly a thunderstorm popped up out of nowhere. It was bright and sunny, nothing on the radar when a dark cloud formed and thunder boomed. Luckily as it reached the lakeshore the storm died out just as quickly as it had formed and turned into just a gentle sprinkle. Just a reminder to keep an eye on the sky. Most storms come from the west over the lake bluff and so you don't see them until they're right on top of you.
We celebrated our not so harrowing escape with a double round of Pitsch. (Well it was a handy excuse, not that we need one.)
Friday, June 27, 2014
Lost in the Fog?
Next Swim: Saturday 6/27 noon
Last Swim: Friday 6/26 6AM
Water Temp: 61
Waves: Calm
Water Clarity: Still murky but improving, bottom visible 6ft down in some spots.
Crew: John, Nivens McTwist, Diablo, Gumdrop, Bubba
Wetsuit/Skin Count: 2/3
Watching from shore: Me and the Duck family
We get a text from Cap'n now and then, but nobody has seen him in several days, prompting speculation that he is:
a) lost in the fog
b) on an extended bender
c) become a zombie (although some might say he already was)
d) don't know, but there's a woman involved somehow
Our old friend Crash invites the Crew to help her celebrate her birthday at the Estabrook Park beer garden on Sunday any time after 1PM, no gifts or cards please.
Last Swim: Friday 6/26 6AM
Water Temp: 61
Waves: Calm
Water Clarity: Still murky but improving, bottom visible 6ft down in some spots.
Crew: John, Nivens McTwist, Diablo, Gumdrop, Bubba
Wetsuit/Skin Count: 2/3
Watching from shore: Me and the Duck family
We get a text from Cap'n now and then, but nobody has seen him in several days, prompting speculation that he is:
a) lost in the fog
b) on an extended bender
c) become a zombie (although some might say he already was)
d) don't know, but there's a woman involved somehow
Our old friend Crash invites the Crew to help her celebrate her birthday at the Estabrook Park beer garden on Sunday any time after 1PM, no gifts or cards please.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Rain Rain Go Away
Next Swim: Friday 6/26 6AM
I did not swim yesterday but I did stop by the beach yesterday to check conditions. The water temp was 62. The dead alewives that had been floating in the water are gone, no stench of dead fish. The water near shore is still brown and murky, but 50 meters offshore it abruptly clears to bright blue. The beach is still marked as "closed" due to ecoli counts (as are all the beaches north of Bradford), but I believe that's based on a reading from several days ago.
At Klode the main issue is not the sewage dumping by MMSD, but rather the heavy rains which lead to storm sewer runoff from the street sewers that empty directly into the lake, carrying with them all the fertilizer and pesticides from lawns and gardens, as well as oil, leaves, pollen and other gunk. A veritable feast for growing stuff. The good news is that no more rain is predicted for the next couple days, but then some rain is possible this weekend.
I did not swim yesterday but I did stop by the beach yesterday to check conditions. The water temp was 62. The dead alewives that had been floating in the water are gone, no stench of dead fish. The water near shore is still brown and murky, but 50 meters offshore it abruptly clears to bright blue. The beach is still marked as "closed" due to ecoli counts (as are all the beaches north of Bradford), but I believe that's based on a reading from several days ago.
At Klode the main issue is not the sewage dumping by MMSD, but rather the heavy rains which lead to storm sewer runoff from the street sewers that empty directly into the lake, carrying with them all the fertilizer and pesticides from lawns and gardens, as well as oil, leaves, pollen and other gunk. A veritable feast for growing stuff. The good news is that no more rain is predicted for the next couple days, but then some rain is possible this weekend.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
65!!
Next Swim: Wed 6/25 5PM
Last Swim: Tue 6/24 5PM
Water Temp: 65, which felt very pleasant after all the cold water we've experienced thus far
Waves: Calm
Water Clarity: Poor, somewhat gunky from all the rain runoff, and still some dead alewives floating around
Crew: Nannook, Patriarch, with a guest appearance by Andy
Wetsuit/Skin Count: 0/2
Pitsch Count: 0
Finally! Warm water! My first skin swim of the season. We were put off at bit by the gunky water near shore, but the warm water lured us in. We speculated that perhaps the water was cleaner further out, but the very heavy fog kept us close to shore. Hopefully the warmth will stay and the gunkiness dissipates.
With the warmer water perhaps we can try early morning swims again. Please comment if interested.
Last Swim: Tue 6/24 5PM
Water Temp: 65, which felt very pleasant after all the cold water we've experienced thus far
Waves: Calm
Water Clarity: Poor, somewhat gunky from all the rain runoff, and still some dead alewives floating around
Crew: Nannook, Patriarch, with a guest appearance by Andy
Wetsuit/Skin Count: 0/2
Pitsch Count: 0
Finally! Warm water! My first skin swim of the season. We were put off at bit by the gunky water near shore, but the warm water lured us in. We speculated that perhaps the water was cleaner further out, but the very heavy fog kept us close to shore. Hopefully the warmth will stay and the gunkiness dissipates.
With the warmer water perhaps we can try early morning swims again. Please comment if interested.
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.
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.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
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.
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.
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