In Memory of Previous Memorial Days

Next Swim: Tuesday @  4:30 pm??

Last Swim: Memorial Day Monday @ Noon
Water Temp: 56 per macho-meter and itch-0-meter (is that possible?)
Air Temp: 75-78?  Really sunny and warm, with occasional clouds during the swim
Waves: almost flat at first, picking up to 8-10", pretty strong SE current
Clarity: Very good  2/10
Kru: Diablo, El Jefe y su esposa, Mrs TBD (that's her nickname, not a comment on their marital status), Itch, Synchro, Panini, Kahuna, Neo, Magic Mike, Eric, Cap'n, Linda the Lamprey, Lake Girl Courtney, Moondawg
Shore Support:  Charlie, 

Well, as so often happens, the first real days of summer are on Memorial Day weekend.  Just a few weeks ago, people were still very much in the "bitch about unseasonably cold weather" mode; flipping out over a little bit slushy snow earlier in May, bringing up traumatic memories of snowfall on May 10, 1990.  But now, all is right with the world, equilibrium has been restored to the universe and the weather is complying with everyone's expectations.

So, this was a first swim of the year day for some - first swim skin in fact for several - Cap'n, Panini, Neo, Linda the Lamprey, Moondawg. Panini also styling her new DIY haircut - done with scissors and razors, no electricity.

Synchro verbalized something I had been thinking while out on the water - today was like July 4th last year - the chop and current was such that it was steering some of us to swim further and further out.

Next swim time - 4:30ish Tuesday?  Forecast looks good - 74 and partly cloudy.

Socially Distant Shots of Killepitsch

Panini Sporting a Bold DIY Haircut

Tradition

Last Swim: Saturday May 23rd - high noon
Water Temp: 56
Air Temp: 60 & foggy
Water Clarity:  Mysteriously Murky...possibly due to the fog
Waves: Rippled with slight current from NE
Kru: Diablo, Itch, Mr. Anonymous, Linda the Lampre, Neo, Capt'n with Celebrity Guest pre-swim pep talk from Kahuna

Traditionally Memorial Day Weekend would mark the Klode Kru's first official swim for the season in Lake Michigan.  Complete with an official proclamation and wave of the hand by none other than The Patriarch himself!  Ahhh, I remember those days.  When swimming in the lake when the temp was below 60 was "F---ing STUPID!!" to quote one of The Patriarch's all time most popular remarks.

Wow, have we evolved since those times!  Now 60 has become the magical threshold whereby by you're shamed if you don't ditch your wetsuit.  Of course my all-time favorite counter argument quote to an attempted shaming was "...what, are you afraid I might be too warm in lake Michigan?  Is that even possible!??!"  Yes, that classic quote came from none other than The Patriarch as well.

Now we have the Badass Klode Kru club who has made swimming in the lake a year round activity.  So if a swim season never ends can it really have another beginning?

Which reminds me....before I forget....If it hasn't been mentioned in a previous blog entry, special kudos to Diablo, Itch, Mr. Anonymous and Brick (...I think that's what newcomer Erik goes by these days...) for swimming in the lake weekly over the winter!  AMAZING!!

Sticking with Tradition, though, I logged my first swim of the season year in the lake today.  Not quite the same without an Official Proclamation from The Patriarch....but the weekend is still young....and we are now in the Virtual Era, so anything is possible....right?

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?