Near Record Swim

Next Swim:  ??
Once again the water temperature has fallen below 50, which too cold for me and I suspect lower than most swimmers want to attempt.  However there seem to be a couple of you that see the cold water as a challenge, please let us know how that works out for you.  I admire you and think you're crazy in equal portions.

Special kudos to Diablo and Gumdrop who swam without wetsuits in 45.9 degrees this morning.  We believe that is the second coldest ever (If I recall the coldest was 44 something, I'll have to go back and look.)

The average lake temperature is 58 degrees and as high as 70 below Chicago. But thanks to persistent offshore winds we are in the below average part of the lake, for now anyway.  Let's hope the winds shift and blow in the warmer water that is just a few miles offshore.

Interested in Swimming This Evening?

Several people have suggested a swim this evening (Monday 6/30), but no one has committed to a specific time, so please comment if you are coming.

Also, if anyone is interested in another early (5:45AM) swim tomorrow (Tuesday) please comment

Last Swim: Monday 6/30 5:45AM
Water Temp: 51.8
Waves: Calm
Water Clarity:  Good
Crew:  Showgirl, Gumdrop, Diablo, Bubba
Wetsuit/Skin: 1/3

Happy 25th Birthday, Crash!

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.