Don’t Be A Die-Hard

Next Swim: Tuesday 10/10 5:30PM

Last (non) Swim:  Monday 5:30PM - No one brave enough to endure 47 degree water.

In yesterday’s post I listed the swimmers I consider to be “Die-Hards” because they keep swimming even when the water is icy cold.  Wet Taco objected to being left off this list, and there may be others who felt I was unfair to them.

But hear me out dear friends.  Not being on the Die-Hard list is a good thing, not a bad thing.  The term Die-Hard does have some positive connotations :  persistent, tough, gritty, macho.  But it has many more negative connotations: obstinate, stubborn, pig-headed, dumbkoph, estupido, loco, idiot, lacking sense, triathlete, ultramarathoner.

So my friends Non-Die-Hard friends, feel good that I see you as a person with the good judgement to say, not swim during a thunderstorm, as opposed to someone who somehow sees virtue in violent shivering.

The Diehards Keep Swimming

Next Swims:
* Monday 10/9 5:30PM
* Tuesday 10/10 5:30PM

Last Swims:  I wasn’t at the beach Monday morning or Sunday afternoon so I have no report for those swims.

Saturday 1PM
Water: 50 with 1-2 foot swells
Crew: Itch, Drangonfly, Moondawg, Magic Mike, Panini

Friday 5:30PM
water: 53 with 1 foot waves
Crew: Itch, Magic Mike, Drangonfly, Handyman Hank

I’m just going day by day now hoping for water temps above 50, my personal limit.  But I’m a wimp, a few die yards keep going: Itch, Diablo, Mike, Showgirl, Drangonfly, Moondawg etc.  

The End is Nigh, But Hopefully Not Quite Yet

Next Swims:
* Friday 10/6, 5:30PM
* Saturday 1PM
* Sunday Noon

Last Swim:
Thursday 5:30PM
Water: 53 Calm and Clear
Crew: Synchro, Wet Taco, Itch

The lake is definitely cooling off, but a decent day or two is still possible.  It’s been such a great swim season. It’s hard to let go.  We’ll keep trying until it’s hopeless.

Gloom & Doom

Next Swims:
* Thursday Oct 5th 5:30PM
* Friday Oct 6th 5:30PM

Last Swims:
Wednesday 5:30PM
Water: 47!! Clear and Calm
Crew:  Itch was the only one brave enough to swim tonight, skin no less, as the rest of watched from shore and cursed the cold water.

Tuesday 5:30PM
Water:  52? (No one had a thermometer so this is an estimate.)
Crew: Nanook, Drangonfly, Handyman Hank, Panini

Monday 5:30 PM
Water: 59 very rough
Crew: Wet Taco, Drangonfly, Cool Hand Luke, Patriarch

Gloom descended with the readings on my thermometer.  It started at 65, but quickly fell to 59, then 53, then 49, and finally bottomed out at 47.  My lower limit is 50, so this could be doom for me as far as this season goes. But last year I was able to get in a November swim, so there still is hope.

Others, like Diablo and Itch, will keep going for a while no matter what, so if you don’t mind a little shivering head on down.

Swimming in October!

Next Swims:  Monday - Friday 5:30PM

Last Swims:
Sunday 2PM
Water: 63 2-3 ft waves, very rough
Crew:  Capt'n, Diablo, Amelia, Mitch, Wet Taco, Lorraine, Moondawg, Magic Mike, Patriarch

Saturday 2PM
Water: 65 choppy
Crew: Handyman Hank, Panini, Capt'n, Mitch, Drangonfly, Moondawg, Patriarh

Friday 5:30PM
Water; 60, 3-4 ft waves
Crew: Drangonfly Moondawg, Wet Taco

Thursday 5:30PM
Water 62, 1ft swell
Crew: Drangonfly, wet Taco, Itch, Patriarch

We've made it to October and the swimming is still decent.  Actually more than decent, with water temps in the low to mid sixties. We'll keep going as long as it makes sense, and maybe a bit beyond.

Meanwhile, 2-Ply sent me a picture of his new twins and tells me that No-Ply had no problem delivering two six and a half pounders!  Presenting Emmett & Hazel:

Drain the... hot water heater

Next Swims:
* Saturday & Sunday 2:00 PM

Last Swims:
  Friday 6:15 AM
  Water: 58-ish, clear, with a bit of a current out of the north
  Crew: Milkman, Showgirl

  Thursday 5:30 PM, no details

I was on the beach alone this morning, starting to talk myself out of getting in the cool water, when Milkman arrived.

And so we swam.  I continue to be delighted by the Big Tree, so that's where I went.  Milkman zoomed past me as usual, and then did the same on the return trip.  The sunrise, water, peaceful beach... were all lovely.

My water bill and gas bill will be soaring this month due to ridiculously long post-swim hot showers.

Always Rewarding

Next Swims:
* Thursday  5:30PM
* Friday September 29th 6:15AM and 5:30PM
Note that evening swims now are at 5:30PM

Last Swims:
Thursday 6:15 AM
Water: 58.9, clear, with slow swells stirring up the sand on the bottom
Crew: Mr. Anonymous, Panini, Showgirl

The air was cooler than the water this morning, and we all agreed that the water inside the rock piles was significantly cooler than the water outside.

It was shivery getting in. We sucked it up and headed north.  I visited the Big Tree again, and persuaded Mr. A to take a look, too.

Back on shore, we were positively gleeful over the fact that we had managed to drag ourselves out of bed, made it to to the beach, and had been so perfectly rewarded with a great swim and awesome sunrise.