Next Swim: Saturday June 13th noon at Atwater Beach, meet at the flag pole in Atwater Park (the east end of Capitol Drive) If permissions permit we will do a "Shipwreck Swim" out to the wreck of the Appomattox, about a quarter mile off shore.
Last Swim: Thursday June 11th 6AM
Water Temp: 53
Waves: Disorganized
Crew: Jason, Mr. Anonymous, Diablo
Westsuit/Skin: 2/1
Saturday is the excellent Shorewood Men's Club Barbecue at Atwater Park, so as has been our custom we'll meet for a swim followed (optionally) by barbecue. Tickets can be purchased from Kahuna. Half chicken dinners are $10.50, half rack of ribs is $13. Includes all the fixings. Beer and Ice Cream available for purchase. Good stuff!
If the water is warm enough and clear enough and calm enough, we'll swim out to the wreck, an amazing sight if you've never seen it. Pictures and more info here: http://wisconsinshipwrecks.org/vessel/Details/31
Friday, June 12, 2015
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Barely Bearable
Next swim: Thursday June 10th 6AM
Last Swim: Wednesday June 9th 6AM
Water Temp: 52
Waves: Calm
Water Clarity: Very Good
Crew: Bubba, Zoom Zoom, Diablo, Showgirl, Kimberly, Danielle, Patriarch
Everyone in wetsuits, except of course ice man Diablo.
The water was four degrees higher than yesterday, inching up into the "barely bearable" range (as far as I'm concerned anyway). The first couple minutes were difficult, but not so bad after that. I managed my first trip to "Garage" this year, and several swimmers went further. Another beautiful morning on the beach.
Today's quote of the day is from Bubba who said upon entering the water, "52 my ass!".
P.S. There is a new Lake Michigan swim event called the Great Lake Plunge on August 22nd in Evanston. It looks like a good alternative for those of us who didn't get into Big Shoulders.
http://www.greatlakeplunge.com
Last Swim: Wednesday June 9th 6AM
Water Temp: 52
Waves: Calm
Water Clarity: Very Good
Crew: Bubba, Zoom Zoom, Diablo, Showgirl, Kimberly, Danielle, Patriarch
Everyone in wetsuits, except of course ice man Diablo.
The water was four degrees higher than yesterday, inching up into the "barely bearable" range (as far as I'm concerned anyway). The first couple minutes were difficult, but not so bad after that. I managed my first trip to "Garage" this year, and several swimmers went further. Another beautiful morning on the beach.
Today's quote of the day is from Bubba who said upon entering the water, "52 my ass!".
P.S. There is a new Lake Michigan swim event called the Great Lake Plunge on August 22nd in Evanston. It looks like a good alternative for those of us who didn't get into Big Shoulders.
http://www.greatlakeplunge.com
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Nothing Like a Nice Swim
Next Swim: Wednesday 6/10 6:00AM
Last Swim: Tuesday 6/9 6AM
Water Temp: 48
Waves: Flat Calm
Water Clarity: Crystal Clear
Swim Crew: Diablo, Kahuna, Gumdrop
Skin/Wetsuit: 1/2
Spectators: Mr. Anonymous, Patriarch
The quote of the day comes from Kahuna who said as he emerged from this morning's adventure, "There's nothing like a nice swim………and that was not a nice swim".
It was an ideal day for swimming in every way but one. The water was clear and calm, the morning was beautiful. Paddle boarders glided across the lake. But the water was frigid! It didn't stop Kahuna and Gumdrop and Diablo (who swam skin!), they're better men than me!
I've heard the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Well then we are definitely insane, because we'll be back Wednesday morning. It's just got to be warmer, right?
Last Swim: Tuesday 6/9 6AM
Water Temp: 48
Waves: Flat Calm
Water Clarity: Crystal Clear
Swim Crew: Diablo, Kahuna, Gumdrop
Skin/Wetsuit: 1/2
Spectators: Mr. Anonymous, Patriarch
The quote of the day comes from Kahuna who said as he emerged from this morning's adventure, "There's nothing like a nice swim………and that was not a nice swim".
It was an ideal day for swimming in every way but one. The water was clear and calm, the morning was beautiful. Paddle boarders glided across the lake. But the water was frigid! It didn't stop Kahuna and Gumdrop and Diablo (who swam skin!), they're better men than me!
I've heard the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Well then we are definitely insane, because we'll be back Wednesday morning. It's just got to be warmer, right?
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Aqua Blue & Tan Swim
Next Swim:
Sunday June 7th @ 1pm
Last Swim:
Saturday June 6th @ 1pm
Water Temp:
53.3 (macho-meter)
54 (Mr. Ducky-o-meter)
55 (Kahun-o-meter)
Air Temp: 64 & Sunny
Waves: rippled to very slight chop
Clarity:
thick sand-filled nearshore
clear blue water 200-300m from shore
Crew: Diablo, Kahuna, Gumdrop, Showgirl, Panini, Capt'n
Suit / Skin: 5/1
Pitsch Count: 6
Completely saturated with sand, the near shore water today had a distinctive light tan hue to it. While it was thick enough to prevent you from seeing your hand in front of your face I would certainly not characterize it as murky or brown but more like a light tan paste. By sharp contrast about 200-300 meters away was the beautiful blue water easing its way towards. This water was so clear that you could easily see the sandy lake bottom about 12-15ft down. (...which in case you're wondering translates to about 25-30ft in the Kahuna measurement system...) As pleasant as it was to swim through the clear blue water it was noticeably cooler than the tan water.
Sunday June 7th @ 1pm
Last Swim:
Saturday June 6th @ 1pm
Water Temp:
53.3 (macho-meter)
54 (Mr. Ducky-o-meter)
55 (Kahun-o-meter)
Air Temp: 64 & Sunny
Waves: rippled to very slight chop
Clarity:
thick sand-filled nearshore
clear blue water 200-300m from shore
Crew: Diablo, Kahuna, Gumdrop, Showgirl, Panini, Capt'n
Suit / Skin: 5/1
Pitsch Count: 6
Completely saturated with sand, the near shore water today had a distinctive light tan hue to it. While it was thick enough to prevent you from seeing your hand in front of your face I would certainly not characterize it as murky or brown but more like a light tan paste. By sharp contrast about 200-300 meters away was the beautiful blue water easing its way towards. This water was so clear that you could easily see the sandy lake bottom about 12-15ft down. (...which in case you're wondering translates to about 25-30ft in the Kahuna measurement system...) As pleasant as it was to swim through the clear blue water it was noticeably cooler than the tan water.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Weekend Bust
Next Swim: TBD, maybe a 6AM morning swim later this week when it calms down and warms up a bit
Saturday it was cold windy and raining hard. Sunday was cold and windy but at least it was sunny. But the high winds and waves had stirred up a lot of sand and silt and the normally enticing sparkling blue lake was a most unpleasant shade of brown, not just near shore but almost to the horizon. Capt'n measured the water temp at 46 and still falling before he couldn't stand it anymore. Four of us threw down a Pitsch and called it a day. Perhaps we've been over anxious in swimming this early. Better days can't be far away!
Saturday it was cold windy and raining hard. Sunday was cold and windy but at least it was sunny. But the high winds and waves had stirred up a lot of sand and silt and the normally enticing sparkling blue lake was a most unpleasant shade of brown, not just near shore but almost to the horizon. Capt'n measured the water temp at 46 and still falling before he couldn't stand it anymore. Four of us threw down a Pitsch and called it a day. Perhaps we've been over anxious in swimming this early. Better days can't be far away!
Friday, May 29, 2015
No Kahuna, it doesn't get any easier
Next Swims: Saturday and Sunday May 30th and 31st, 1:00 PM both days
Last Swim: Friday May 29th 6AM
Water Temp: 46!
Waves: A little chop
Water Clarity: Excellent
Crew: Nanook, Showgirl, Jamie, Chris, Diablo, Patriarch
Skin/Wetsuit 1/5
I beg to differ with Kahuna who commented on yesterday's blog. Talking about cold water he wrote, "Every day I go in, it gets a little easier".
There were no wimp-outs today, everyone gave it a shot. If you can get past the first couple minutes it usually gets better, but today the water was so painfully cold that I couldn't swim more than a few strokes without standing up to get my face and hands out of the water. After four or five attempts I finally gave up and turned back.
But three brave souls, Showgirl, Nanook and Jamie, made an "official" distance swim to downspout and back, so it is possible. Maybe I need more neoprene. No, what I really need is warmer water. The good news is that if you look at the big picture of lake temps, it is definitely warming up, especially the southern end, it just hasn't quite made it here yet. Maybe this weekend.
Here's a fun event: https://www.teamunify.com/EventShow.jsp?team=wiwsac&id=530868
Lee Kass Memorial Splash and Dash
Although it's not open water, it's a good time, I've done it several years and always had fun.
Last Swim: Friday May 29th 6AM
Water Temp: 46!
Waves: A little chop
Water Clarity: Excellent
Crew: Nanook, Showgirl, Jamie, Chris, Diablo, Patriarch
Skin/Wetsuit 1/5
I beg to differ with Kahuna who commented on yesterday's blog. Talking about cold water he wrote, "Every day I go in, it gets a little easier".
There were no wimp-outs today, everyone gave it a shot. If you can get past the first couple minutes it usually gets better, but today the water was so painfully cold that I couldn't swim more than a few strokes without standing up to get my face and hands out of the water. After four or five attempts I finally gave up and turned back.
But three brave souls, Showgirl, Nanook and Jamie, made an "official" distance swim to downspout and back, so it is possible. Maybe I need more neoprene. No, what I really need is warmer water. The good news is that if you look at the big picture of lake temps, it is definitely warming up, especially the southern end, it just hasn't quite made it here yet. Maybe this weekend.
Here's a fun event: https://www.teamunify.com/EventShow.jsp?team=wiwsac&id=530868
Lee Kass Memorial Splash and Dash
Although it's not open water, it's a good time, I've done it several years and always had fun.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Friday 6AM
Next Swims: Friday May 29th 6AM
Also, there will be weekend swims but the forecast for Saturday is iffy, hopefully we'll find a window of calm between storms, check back for times
Last Swim: Thursday May 28th 6AM
Water Temp: 47
Waves: Calm
Water Clarity: Excellent
Swimmers: Kahuna/Nanook
Skin/Wetsuit: 0/2
Watching from shore with tails between our legs: Mr. Anonymous, Diablo, Patriarch
A beautiful warm sunny calm morning on the beach. But that was deceptive. Icicles of pain went up my feet and legs as I waded in to take the temp. But that didn't stop Nanook and Kahuna, who made an official swim to the north sewer pipe and back, showing up the rest of us who could only watch ruefully from shore.
I'm not deterred. Today's sunny warm calm weather is sure to warm the water (right?), so we'll try again Friday morning.
Also, there will be weekend swims but the forecast for Saturday is iffy, hopefully we'll find a window of calm between storms, check back for times
Last Swim: Thursday May 28th 6AM
Water Temp: 47
Waves: Calm
Water Clarity: Excellent
Swimmers: Kahuna/Nanook
Skin/Wetsuit: 0/2
Watching from shore with tails between our legs: Mr. Anonymous, Diablo, Patriarch
A beautiful warm sunny calm morning on the beach. But that was deceptive. Icicles of pain went up my feet and legs as I waded in to take the temp. But that didn't stop Nanook and Kahuna, who made an official swim to the north sewer pipe and back, showing up the rest of us who could only watch ruefully from shore.
I'm not deterred. Today's sunny warm calm weather is sure to warm the water (right?), so we'll try again Friday morning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
