Nostalgic Swimming

Next Swims:
* Thurs 6PM
* Fri 6:15AM & 5:30PM

Last Swim:
*Thursday 6:15 am
Water: 64, flat and clear as glass
Crew: Panini, Showgirl

*Wednesday night?

*Wednesday 6:15 am
Water: 64, flat and clear as glass
Crew: Patriarch, Panini, Showgirl

*Tuesday night?

As the summer swim season winds down, every swim is lightly imbued with nostalgia. When I wake up and I want to stay in my warm bed, I remind myself that the days of swimming are numbered, and every morning swim is a gift.

Panini and I arrived at Klode at the same time this morning.  The po-po were there, having a chit-chat in the middle of the parking lot. We did our best to appear law-abiding, and then rewarded ourselves for that effort with a post-swim skinny dip.

Still Great Swimming

Next Swims:
* Tuesday 9/12 6PM
* Wed 6:15AM & 6PM
* Thu 6:15AM & 6PM
* Fri 6:15AM & 5:30PM

Last Swims:
* Tue 6:15 AM
Water: 63 flat calm, crystal clear
Crew: Showgirl & Patrarch

* Mon 6PM
Water: 66 clear, a little choppy
Crew: Itch & Patriarch

* Mon 6:15AM
Water: 63 small waves
Crew: Panini & Patriarch

Not many people showing up this week, which is a shame because fantastic swimming is still to be had.  Take this morning.  Showgirl and I enjoyed a crimson sunrise while swimming through flat crystal clear water.

This time of year days like today are a gift, and every one could be the last.  Come and enjoy while you still can.

Is It Really 64 Or Did You Make That Up?

Next Swims:
* Mon 9/11 6:15Am & 6PM
* Tue 9/12 6:15AM & 6PM
Note that morning swims are moved to 6:15 because it's too dark at 6AM

Last Swims:
Sun 1PM
Water: 66 1-2 ft waves choppy and rough
Crew: Handyman Hank, Wet Taco, Mark, Gumdrop, Liz, Drangonfly, Diablo, Itch, Magic Mike, Patriarch

Sat 1PM
Water 66 wavy and rough
Crew: Gumdrop, Magic Mike, Super Hera, Wet Taco, Diablo

Saturday 8AM
Big Shoulders, Ohio Street Beach, Chicago
64 very choppy "washing machine" water
Crew: Mitch & Itch 5K no wetsuit, Drangonfly & Patriarch 2.5K wetsuit

Before the race at Big Shoulders I happened to be standing near the announcer's tent when he broadcasts that the water temp is 64.  A very upset lady walks up and angrily says to him, "Is it really 64 or did you just make that up?"

I cracked up because that's exactly what happens when I perform my daily pre-swim water thermometer reading and I announce the result to the crew.  There's almost always someone who doesn't believe it.  Mostly they seem to think the water is colder than it really is.

Now of  course my thermometer could be wrong, but it's always within a degree of Itch's fancy thermometer.  Or it could be that the temperature offshore is cooler than measured right at the water's edge.  But I don't think that's the issue.

For whatever reason they believe the lake is colder, rougher and more polluted than it really is. And any evidence to the contrary must be wrong.  But why do they believe that?   I don't really know but my theory is they're psyched out by the lake and really don't want to swim but don't want to wimp out either. So they resolve the internal conflict by changing the external facts.

I've done the same thing to myself a thousand times.  Before some challenge or other I come up with all the reasons why it's too hard and why I shouldn't even try.  Afterwards I wonder what I was so worried about.

Three Things

Next Swims:
* Fri 9/8 6AM and 5:30Pm
* Saturday 1PM
* Sunday 1PM

Last Swim:
Thursday 9/7 6PM
Water: 65 gentle rollers
Crew: Capt'n, Ziggy, Itch, Moondawg, Patriarch

First: Good Luck to all Big Shoulders and Iron Man competitors this weekend!

Second: Mark Your Calendars!

CLOSE TO THE END OF THE SEASON LAKE MICHIGAN SWIMMERS CELEBRATION

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

2:30 PM--people can still get in a swim at noon

2141 N. BUFFUM ST, MILWAUKEE WI (Handyman Hank and Northshore Nancy's new home--you can take the girl outta the Northshore, but you can't take the Northshore outta the girl). HH and NSN will provide burgers and brats, beer, and soda/water.  They ask that people bring a dish to pass. 

Third: Forger pointed out this worthy endeavor:

 http://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/syndicated/duo-walking-332-miles-great-lakes-conservation-awareness/?utm_campaign=Feed:+milwaukeeindependent+(The+Milwaukee+Independent)&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner

Endless Summer - Or At Least It's Not Over Yet

Next Swims:
* Tuesday September 4th, 6AM & 6PM
* Wed 6AM & 6PM
* Thu 6AM & 6PM

Last Swims:
Labor Day
Water: 67 calm
Crew: Handyman Hank, Magic Mike, Wet Taco, Forger, Karen, Drangonfly, Capt'n, Moondawg, Amelia, Becka (sp?), Lennie (sp?), Diablo, Itch, Mark, Molly, Patriarch and special guest John and his Trimiran

Sunday
Water: 70 calm
Crew: Showgirl, Handyman Hank, Magic Mike, Kahuna, Capt'n, Lorraine, Itch, Drangonfly, Kristen, Wade, Diablo, Phil, Molly, Wet Taco, Mr Anonymous, Patriarch

Summer vacation may be over on the calendar but not on the beach.  This was one of the best weekends ever. Despite forecasts of big waves it was smooth as a baby's butt.  The water was a bit cooler Monday, but still very nice.  

Food Truck Brunch at Klode Sunday

Next Swims:
* Sunday noon
* Labor Day noon

Last Swim: Saturday 1PM
Water: 68 gentle rollers - delightful
Crew:  Showgirl, Diablo, Handyman Hank, Magic Mike, Drangonfly, John, Mr. Anonymous, Kahuna, Capt'n, Itch, Patriarch

There is a "Food Truck Brunch" including a beer garden and games for the kids at Klode on Sunday 10AM to 2PM.  Coming for the swimming, stay for the brunch.  It may be difficult to find parking.

Labor Day Weekend Swims

Next Swims:
*Saturday 9/2 1:00PM
* Sunday Noon
* Monday Labor Day Noon

Last Swims:
Fri 9/1 5:30PM
Water: 67, 1 ft waves choppy
Crew: Itch, Wet Taco, Diablo, Capt'n, Patriarch

Thu: No swimmers (that I know of) because of monster waves

Wed 6PM
Water: 68 Calm
Crew: Itch, Moondawg, Magic Mike, Sir James, Lorraine, Super Hera, Nanook, Panini, Patriarch
Wednesday night's swim nearly qualified as a Knucklehead Swim (swimming during a thunderstorm) but we mananged to scramble out of the water before it hit.