Two by Two plus Two

Next Swims:
Mon - Thu @ 6ish am and 6 pm, 
Friday @ 6ish am and 5:30 pm
Saturday/Sunday @ Noon

Last Swim: 
Tuesday 9/24 @ 5:00 and 6:00 pm
Water Temp:  54 per patriarch-o-meter
Waves: mostly flat with some gentle 2" swells
Clarity:  Very, could clearly see bottom by the rocks.  
Kru: 
First Shift - Patriarch and Handyman Hank
Second Shift - Mr. Bubble and Synchro

Pulled in to the parking lot to find Synchro, Hank and Patriarch sitting by the flagpole - Patriarch and Hank have post swim hair but otherwise look dry.  They report that they have been in the water, it's nice and the official temp is 54.  Clock strikes 6 and the second shift wanders down to get started. 

Can't believe the crystal clear water - not just out on the beach, but further out as well.   Quagga mussels are back on the job.  We head north to birches and back.  Sun sets shortly after we make it ashore.  

Heading back up the hill I spot them once again - the two Unidentified Wading Objects.  They seem to be standing in about the same spot as last week, waist depth again.  Synchro seems them, too - I knew I wasn't hallucinating when I saw them last week!

UWO sighting followed immediately by a warm sirocco type breeze blowing down the grassy bluff - a welcome warm breeze after a mid 50's swim. 

Another best swim of the season!

Who'll Stop the Rain?

Next Swims:
Sunday @ Noon
Mon - Thu @ 6ish am and 6 pm, Friday @ 6ish am and 5:30 pm

Last Swim: 
Saturday 9/21 @ Noon
Water Temp:  54 per itch-o-meter
Waves: 4-6" swells at very regular intervals
Clarity:  Decent, 2/3 out of 10, could see bottom
Kru:  Mr. Bubble, Patriarch, Forger, Scooby, Itch, Laguna, Handyman Hank, Magic Mike, Diablo, Cool Hand Luke (near shore support)
Shore Support:  Northshore Nancy (NNN<60), Laguna's family

So, upon arrival, there was much optimism, based on reported conditions from yesterday - 65!  Somehow the early arrivals have developed a non-empirical consensus that today's temp at Klode is 59 (Atwater buoy?)  Northshore Nancy is busy putting on her suit and swim cap. 

Itch approaches the water carrying the itch-o-meter of truth, and he reports out a different number - 54!  Itch uses his hand signals to convey this measurement, and a debate ensues about how to correctly interpret these hand signals.  Several people contend that the hand signals meant 59, confirming their earlier consensus and heartfelt hope.  Itch attempting to educate the wishful thinkers,  "This is what 59 looks like, this is what 54 looks like and this is what 44 looks like".  Northshore Nancy ends the debate by wading in, before she's finished putting on her wetsuit, and declaring - "This is NOT 59!".  She starts taking off her wetsuit - 54 is a triple N; a "Northshore Nancy No". 

While I'm out swimming, thought going through my head is that thunderstorms are predicted to start at 1:30.  What if the thunderstorm arrives earlier?  What if I'm not out of the water yet?  Who'll Stop the Rain?  Someone with superhuman powers must have read my mind.  Shortly after we all make it back, small drops have started to fall infrequently.  The frequency increases a little bit during the bike ride back, but it's still just a light drizzle, not an all out rain. 

While we're making our toast, I announce that the Equinox is on Monday - this news is not well received - "It's not Monday!"  Ah, but once again, the moving finger, having writ, moves on.  No matter what, the sun will come out tomorrow

The sun'll come out tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on'til tomorrow
Come what may

Tomorrow tomorrow
I love ya
Tomorrow

You're always a day a way

Sunup!

Next swims: Friday 5:30 pm, Sat and Sun 12:00

Last swim: Friday morning 5:45-6:00am
Water temp: 55, according to my toes
Water clarity: clear in the cove, a little murkier outside
Waves: flat
Kru: Drangonfly Riffraff, Pool Noodle, Ala, Magic Mike

After yesterday morning's sunrise swim in which Laguna and I were greeted coming out of the water by photographer snapping glam shots of a young woman in barely a bikini, I expected a quieter day at the beach. Instead, when I swam back in from birches, I was greeted between the rock piles by Dragonfly swimming out and Pool Noodle and Ala strapping into their neoprene on the sand. So a decent Kru has repopulated the beach for the morning swims.

The water temp seems relatively stable of late. Weather patterns have kept conditions calm. It is hard to argue with the sun rising out of the same water you're swimming in. Here's to riding this Indian summer wave as late into the season as possible!

Sundown

Next Swims:
Thursday  @ 5:45 am with Magic Mike and 6 pm
Friday @ 5:30 pm, 
Saturday/Sunday @ Noon

Last Swim:
Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 6 pm
Water Temp:  Itch-o-meter 60.6, Atwater 58.5
Waves:  Strong and steady, 1-3 feet, irregular intervals
Clarity:  gunky close to the beach, 6/10 further out
Kru:   Itch, Patriarch, AA (artist previously know as Aaron), Itch,  Diablo, Liz, Mr. Anonymous, Mr. Bubble
Off Shore Support:  Moondaug, AA's son August


Pretty choppy conditions tonight.  I know I was going slower than usual - got ashore after sundown -last one out.  Much obliged for leaving me a shot of Pitsch, Itch. 

AA confessed to me that he's been to Klode 8 out of past 10 days, and that he's addicted.  I didn't have the heart to tell him - there is no treatment for this addiction.  But that's because no one who is addicted wants to be cured - no one is willing to even participate in a research study. 

The Fog Comes on Little Cat Feet

Next Swims:
Tuesday thru Thursday - 6am & 6pm, 
Friday 6 am and 5:30 pm
(is anybody still coming at 6 am?)

Last Swim:
Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 6 pm
Water Temp:  Patriarch-o-meter 59
Waves:  Smooth surface, small gentle rocking swells, maybe 6"
Clarity:  Very clear near the beach, 5/10 further out
Kru:  Staggered shifts:  Linda the Lamprey, Handyman Hank, Itch, Double AA (artist previously know as Aaron), Patriarch, Synchro, Itch, We'Taco, Diablo, Cammie with a C (second timer)
Off Shore Support:  Moondaug the Sailor Man

Another lovely evening swim.  Light fog slowly rolling in, light pink clouds illuminated by the setting sun, seeing Moondaug the Sailor Man on his contraption, sailing north of Klode, backlit by the diffuse sun on the fog.  All images too beautiful to capture on a recording device, but too beautiful to forget.  

No funny stories from last night, although I did experience a USO sighting - Unidentified Swimming Objects.  Actually, they weren't objects, they were people (aliens?).  Spotted them while heading back up the hill - looked like two guys, in wetsuits, in waist deep water in between the two southern most rock piles.  They weren't actually swimming when I sighted them either, but I didn't recognize them, so that makes them unidentified.  Maybe they were actually UWOs - Unidentified Wading Objects.  Nonetheless, very mysterious.  

Synchro brought the Pitsch and put me in charge of bringing it back tomorrow.  

Reid not Fred - your wetsuit shorts are still calling out for you - 
GIVE ME BACK MY MAN!

Rock Me Gently

Next Swims:
Tuesday thru Thursday - 6am & 6pm, Friday 6 am and 5:30 pm

Last Swim:
Monday, Sept. 13, at 6 pm
Water Temp:  Itch-o-meter 60, agreed with toe-mometer of 60, warmer past the rocks
Waves:  Smooth surface, small gentle rocking swells
Clarity:  Brownish green, but pretty clear, lots of debris floating around
Kru:  Staggered shifts:  Drangonfly, Itch, Aaron, Super Hera, Diablo
Shore Support:  Panini and her neighbor, also a random mom-and-kid

The sky was blue and the sun golden as I cursed traffic en route to the beach Monday night, arriving finally around 5:45 p.m. thinking I was the only Kru member to show (totally spacing meetup time was  6 p.m. not 5:30.).  Fog softened shore and horizon contours to the north. What the heck, I waded in to "ice my legs" as the marathoners do.  "How's the water?" piped the ginger-headed 8-ish year old.  "Cold," was my equally witty reply.  "I think it's about 60," I added, to invite further conversation.  There being none, I slid in to enjoy an exceedingly gentle, rocking swell, distinctly more pleasant beyond the rocks.  

Arriving back at shore, I found Itch chatting with the mom and kid like old friends.  "Have fun swimming!" the kid yelped (I tell you, he had the one-liners!) as Itch's orange cap faded into the fog which now engulfed the scene. 

Next up was Aaron, carrying a motorcycle helmet, then Super Hera, "a bright spot of color" with her green caftan, as Harini observed.  Aaron and Super Hera set out into the grey and Diablo appeared.  "Someone's calling me," Harini held up her phone.  "It's your neighbor!" quipped Diablo.  "It IS my neighbor.  My other neighbor.  I'm like the Daniel Tiger of adults!" Harini declared.  As Aaron and Super Hera disappeared to the north, Itch reappeared.  Diablo swam off South so he could more easily keep the shoreline in sight through the pea soup.  Itch and I walked together up the bluff, speculating on who had set stones in the shape of a heart on Diablo's towel.

Performance Challenge

Next Swims:
   Sunday September 15th @ 11am for Packers fans
   Sunday September 15th @ Noon for everyone else

Last Swim:
   Saturday September 14th @ noon
      Water Temp:  57 Patriarch-o-meter / 55 itch-o-meter / 54 macho-meter
      Waves: none with occasional swell < 1 ft
      Clarity: Cloudy turquoise blue
      Kru: The Patriarch, Itch, Linda the Lampre, Moondawg, Handyman Hank, Mr. Bubbles, Super Hera, Fred the Bookworm, Aaron, Capt'n with shore support from Mr. & Mrs. Anonymous and an unknown dog.

The official Klode Kru swim was in the books.  A round of Pitch and a rousing toast to another exceptional swim was had by all Kru members in attendance.  ...but before we departed this fine day there was one more highly anticipated performance to be had.  With great anticipation the Kru remained assembled on the beach.  "Do you think he can do it" one Kru mate whispered.  Most looked on in pure wonderment at the spectacle that was unfolding in front of their eyes.  Clad in his competition ready speedo Moondawg worked at a feverish pace.  But could he really do it?  Perhaps a few helpful tips from Handyman Hank would do the trick.  ....no luck.  Determined to help get the job done, Itch pitched in a helpful hand.  Progress could be seen...but alas, no luck...yet.  Determined to get the job done Moondawg vowed to make one last attempt.  Sadly, after considerable efforts along the shoreline and even with the helpful hands of Itch, no luck.  Despite his valiant efforts, Moondawg's sail would just not rise.

Always the optimist Super Hera offered a few words of support...."I've read on that website...you know, the one I've been telling you about that predicts the earth will cool for the next 20 years due to the lack of solar flares....that some guys find it challenging to perform while others are watching.  Perhaps if we walk away Moondawg might be able to hoist that mighty sail of his?"  (editors note: after a 45 min skin swim in 54 degree water and a round of pitch some quotes may not be completely accurate.)

So begrudgingly we departed wishing Moondawg the best of luck with hoisting the sail of his new sailboard.