Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Next Swims: REDACTED
Last Swim: Allegedly Fri, May 15, 4-6pm
Water Temp: Allegedly 51 per itch-0-meter
Air Temp: 66, sunny and calm on first arrival. 
Waves: perfectly calm and flat
Clarity: 3/10
Alleged Kru: Person1, Person2, Person3, Person4, Person5
Unmasked:  Person1=Magic Mike, Person2=Eric NNY, Person3=Diablo, Person4=Itch,Person5=Mr. Bubble

Random couple hanging out before the fog rolls in.

It was a lovely day at the beach today.  The barrier blocking the ramp is gone, but both parking lots are closed off, so lots of cars on the street.  Lots of teenagers' bikes piled up by the rack.  But there was plenty of space so people could spread out and it wasn't crowded.  Of course, not every group of teenage friends were taking advantage of all the space, but overall everyone is relaxed, enjoying themselves and being mindful of others.

Person5 gets down to the beach and notices a couple of backpacks, one with a familiar looking hat.  Could it be?  Sure enough, by the time Person5 gets his suit on, there was Person1 gliding through the water.  Person1 confirms that those backpacks belong to Persons2-4 and that they're out swimming just beyond the rocks.  Person5 immediately calls out to Person1 "Person4 is here?  What does the Itch-o-Meter say?"  Person2 is coming ashore, and Person1 points out that Person3-4 are swimming slower than their usual warp speed because they're bringing something in.  Something that kinda looks like an inflatable lifesize doll?

Person5 makes it out to Person3 and sees that he does indeed have something inflatable - buncha birthday balloons or somethin'.  Persons3-4 head in and Person5 heads out to the birches.  Person4 is kind enough to leave a shot of Pitsch for Person5.  Person5 makes it back to find Person2 waiting for him, to let know Person4 has left behind the shot of Pitsch.  Skol!  Person5 makes the shot of Pitsch disappear.

Person2 departs and shortly thereafter, the weather flips - fog rolls in, wind kicks up to 20 mp, air temp drops to low 50s.  Person5 decides the wiser course is to walk uphill in his wetsuit, instead of trying to get changed at the beach.  Amazing how quickly the beach and park cleared out when the weather flipped so suddenly.

All details above aside, Person1 - Person5 are scofflaws.
Going to the beach is legal now, but not swimming!
Person1 - Person5 are compulsively in pursuit of illegal smiles
They don't cost very much, and they'll last a long while
and won't you please tell the man, we didn't kill anyone.  
No we're just tryin' to have us some fun.

RIP John Prine 

The Lady of The Lake Beckons

Location:  An undisclosed but familiar swim location
Air Temp: 75 & sunny
Water Temp:  52 (Itch-o-meter) / 48.2 (Mach-o-meter)
Waves:  Rippled Surface with current from north
Clarity:  Cloudy Nearshore - Caribbean Blue Offshore
Kru: Diablo, Itch, Erik with shore support from Ziggy, Capt'n

Ahoy my curious Kru mates!  If yer readin' this blog yer likely as curious as I bout the current swim conditions. (see above)  If yer wonderin' bout yer fellow Kru mates, the Hearty Bad Ass Winter Kru has been swimmin' the high seas WEEKLY all winter long.  (Itch, Diablo, Mr. Anonymous and Erik) Yes, indeed it's true!  I even witnessed their 45 minute swim today.  ...and they be exitin' the water with nair a shiver in their bones.  Now that's Bad Ass!

I soon plan to be joinin' them as well.

Lookin' forward to seeing you all!
~Capt'n

Does the opening of the parks mean we can swim?

Thinking of hitting the water tomorrow. If for no other reason than to test my ability to make it in. May 1st seems as good a day as any to start the season. Anybody venturing in? Does the governor's new order opening parks mean the beaches are accessible again? I hope so. Any suggestions for times to get in? 12:00? 2:00? 4:00? 6:00? Any other days this weekend? Comment with your intentions... Here's a picture from the summer, just to whet the appetite.

Emergency! Everybody to get from beach!

Next Swim:  In the Year 2525, if man is still alive
Last Swim:  Sighting today, sometime before 6 pm
Water Temperature:  No fever present
Waves:  Flat
Clarity:  Sweet
Kru:  Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Shore Support:  North Shore Health Department

Northshore Nancy asked for the North Shore Health Department's notice to be posted here.  As of 6 pm today, Safer at Home means "the public beaches ain't your home!" Read all about it

This may be a loose association...ever since I heard about this, I've been having flashbacks to the movie The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming.  Those of you who've seen the movie probably understand what I mean.

Northshore Nancy also alleged that there were Kru members at Klode sometime before the order went into effect at 6 pm today.  I wish I had been one of them, or at least there as shore support.

Meanwhile, in the great state of Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp has at long last issued a "Shelter at Home" order, which became effective at 5 pm today.  But get this, Governor Kemp's order mandates that public beaches remain open, even if the local authorities had previously ordered the beaches closed.  His press secretary explained his "reasoning" as:

Because Governor Kemp’s executive order allows for exercise outside, with social distancing of at least 6 feet, the beaches are viable options for Georgians.  Read all about it

So, I'm very glad I moved back to Milwaukee from Atlanta.  For that matter, I"m glad my family moved from New York to Milwaukee when I was a kid.  

Looking forward to more sunny days

Ma, Ma, Ma, My Corona

During the off season, with little else to do, someone research the issue of whether frigid lake water kills the Coronavirus.  Seems like it would but, where's the data?  I could see how the Coronavirus might be perfectly happy in tropical temperature water, but wilt in the face of hardy Lake Michigan temperatures.  Maybe we will actually be rooting for lower water temperatures this summer?  Keep Calm and Go Swim?

An Addition to Your Reading List

There's a great article about cold water swimming in the January 27th "The New Yorker" magazine titled "Going for the Cold" by Rebecca Mead.

The same article is on the web as "The Subversive Joy of Cold Water Swimming". You might need to be a subscriber to view it, but I'm sure you're all "The New Yorker"  subscribers, right?

Happy Kru Year! An Epic Polar Plunge

Next Swims: contact Diablo, Itch, & Anonymous via comments in the blog, or check back in May

Last Swim: Wednesday, 01/01/20, high noon

Water Temp: COLD

Air Temp: 34 with wind out of the south

Waves: a tiny chop

Clarity: Itch says it's never clear in the winter, and he would know.

Swimming Kru: Mr. Anonymous, Itch, Diablo, Eric, Amelia

Plunging Kru: Panini, Drangonfly, Forger, Moondwg, other randos

Shore Support: Hank, NSN, Showgirl, Squeeze o'Showgirl, We'taco, Squeeze o'We'taco, and welcome Daniel, Squeeze o' Amelia, extra bonus rogue Weiner Dog Mutt and his owner.

This was our most amazing polar plunge yet.  NINE badasses got in the water, and four of those did significant swims of 20-30 minutes. Incredible.

It was sunny and lovely as a surprisingly large crowd gathered in the parking lot. Some of us clearly had no intention of getting in the water, others came prepared.

A large cooler was hauled down to the beach.  (this is forshadowing)

We graciously shared our beach with other groups who came, jumped in, and departed, all while we continued to socialize and enjoy ourselves, just like any ordinary day at Klode.

A new level of preparedness has emerged:  several swimmers brought bag chairs so that they could sit in comfort while changing into their swim outfits. Swimmers previously known for their extreme minimalism (I'm looking at you, Diablo) have embraced this new trend of bringing actual furniture to the beach. History will judge.

The laundry basket is also an interesting new beach accessory.

Those who actually planned to swim, sat in their chairs, carefully applied layers of neoprene, and ultimately made their way into the water.  They swam south.

Those who plunged were less organized.  They ran in, submerged, and ran out.

Ursain swims

Remember that cooler I mentioned earlier?  In a feat of epic benevolence (a feat for feet!), Moondawg brought a cooler of hot water to share with everyone.  It was a tiny bathtub for freezing swimmers to warm their hands and feet.

Panini shared her amazing homemade macarons. Itch shared hot cocoa.  Eric shared marshmallowy treats. Perhaps most importantly, Itch also shared the Killepitsch.

And, if you've read this far, I will reward you with this photo of swimmerly love:

I've got more pics-- add a comment or text me if you want them.