Good Swim Good Time Bubbles

Last swim: 5pm

Next swim: 8am and 12 pm tomorrow

Water temp:67

Air temp: Mid 60s

Swell: Nice one footers with significant wind chop

Clarity: Some clear some cloudy spots

Crew: Itch, Rosy, Mr. Bubbles, Chris, Synchro, Moondaug, Stickler, 2 tri lasses that started as we were finishing

A very enjoyable swim was had by all, best swim of the season.  Except that no one had Killepitsch to toast afterwards. Hopefully this situation of a lack of fresh provisions does not last long. 

So, a Lewbowski-ite walks up to us after swim, in the parking lot, and declares that he doesn't mean to offend, but simply must say that he has bathed with Mr. Bubbles. Preposterous I think at first. Bubbles comments that he's seen his fair share of psychotics. But then I wonder how did he know Mr. Bubbles name? As I side eye Bubbles I observe he is wearing a Mr. Bubbles shirt. Ahh, that explains it- or does it? What could this mans motivation possibly be I wonder? So I get home and I Google Mr. Bubbles, and I find a multitude of people that make the same claim, and apparently find it quite enjoyable, and very affordable.

Well, I'm not one to judge, but apparently a good time can be had with Mr. Bubbles and its much cheaper than the going rate for swimming with Patriarch ($100).  

Addendum; Mr. Bubbles is certainly no misogynist.

Luna Laguna Saves the Swim!

Next Swims: 6a.m. and 5 p.m.  Monday - Friday 

Saturday - Sunday - 8 a.m. [probable, may vary], some of us swim at 7am, and NOON FOR SURE. 

Last Swim: 6 a.m. Thursday, (also 6am Wednesday) (and 5pm swims happening as well)

 Water Temp: 63 

 Air Temp: WTF, 55??

 Waves: 3-4 footers according to the forecast.weather.gov 

 Clarity: none

Kru: Showgirl, Luna Laguna 

So Wednesday morning, Dragonfly, Lydia the Tattoo'd Lady, and I braved the gunky shoreline and swam north in the waves to the birches.  Let the record show that Dragonfly initially declared herself to be shore support, but succumbed to peer presser and FOMO, and swam right along with us.

Afterwards, we were all pleased that we had braved the conditions and swam.

Wednesday night there was some texting, and general agreement that the forecast for Thursday morning was rough water.

But.... that morning had been rough and we swam anyway.  So I went to the beach, and could hear the surf at the parking lot.

I was convincing myself to swim solo when Luna Laguna arrived to save the swim!  So off we went into the waves, which were big, but not much bigger than Tuesday.  No breakers.  Definitely warmer when you got out of the murky/muddy water and into the blue/green.

Afterwards, again, we were pleased that we had braved the conditions and swam.

6@6@Flat Rock

Next Swims: 6a.m. and 5 p.m.  Monday - Friday 

Saturday - Sunday - 8 a.m. [probable, may vary] and NOON FOR SURE. 

Last Swim: 6 a.m. - July 5th from Big Bay 

 Water Temp: 63 

 Air Temp: Upper 80's, sun-in-haze, breezy 

 Waves: amazingly flat 

 Clarity: Crystal 

Kru: Showgirl, Rick from Boston, Lydia the Tatooed Lady, Luna Laguna, Dragonfly, Adam (without beer.) 

Met up with Showgirl on Bartlett Ave., proceeded to the Lake path where Lydia headed toward us, ID'd at some distance by her pink crocs. 

 At bottom met with Rick, waiting on the wall. A few moments later, "Sunny" Luna and Adam strolled up. 

Rick confided that he had already been nicknamed Captain Zero, "but I like Rick from Boston better" which led to a discussion of nicknames and getting one by doing or saying something stupid - "that's why I haven't said anything yet," Adam noted wisely. 

I was almost last in, still partly asleep or more truthfully, just reluctant. Adam was last, adjusting ear plugs. 

I don't HAVE to swim to Flat Rock again, I said to myself, getting cold around 600 yards. I was just there yesterday, I reasoned. And yet soon in similar with only 150 more yards to Flat Rock, Rick and Luna already up. I watched as Showgirl and Lydia arrived and climbed up. Then my turn - made it! We stood grandly in a row, warmed (more than yesterday, thankfully) by a hot breeze. 

 "Why is this so weird?" I asked. 

"It's just so wrong," replied Lydia, on my right.

 

We even turned and looked out toward Klode. Rick observed he didn't feel like swimming further.

Luna was the first to head back, crouching to get a really flat dive. Lydia and I followed in sync. 

My return trip was even more of a struggle than yesterday's. I was very conscious that the water was 3 degrees colder. Fortunately there were some warm patches and I kept reminding myself of the warm air and hot sun overhead. But a couple of times I felt weak, and resorted to a spot of backstroke, which helped a little.

Just before the exit point, swam over a huge school of fingerlings - maybe 4 to 6 inches long? Fish size estimates are like wave heights. Divide by 2. 

Back on shore, Lydia commented that she had turned a couple hundred yards after leaving Flat Rock and seen Adam standing on it. So we all achieved it, which was satisfying. 

 Adam arrived shortly, looking cold. He was going home to a small child and a baby, this was probably the easiest part of his day. 

We bade farewell to Rick for another year. He invited us to come swim in Boston.

Do we owe our independence to the Pirates of the Carribean?

 Next Swims:

   6am Monday July 5th - Big Bay

   Noon Monday July 5th - Klode

Last Swim:

   Noon Kru - July 4th from Big Bay

   Water Temp: 65

   Air Temp:  Upper 80's and Sunshine

   Waves: rippled surface with slight current from south

   Clarity: Crystal Clear

   Kru:  Diablo, Itch, Kahuna, Moon Dawg Gumdrop, Spider Girl, Wet Taco, Nina, Laguna, Luna Laguna, Lil' Laguna and Capt'n

If you're a fan of small stones and not sand on your beach then Big Bay is for you!  Not sure where all the sand went....it used to be there....but it's not there any more.  Contrary to the beach though....once your toes hit the water the sand is just a few ginger steps out.  Rest easy though...besides the stoney beach at Big Bay the water is still wet and as enjoyable to swim in as Klode!

Being my first swim from Big Bay in 2021 I did find it quite interesting that it appears 99% of the small stones are on the beach now and not in the water where they traditionally greet you....perhaps they all decided to come out and enjoy the perfect weather we're having for the 4th this year?  If you enjoy the familiarity that typically accompanies traditional venues the bigger toe stubber rocks can still be found on the south side of the pier....I would assume they were likely too lazy to join the smaller rocks sunning themselves on the shore.

On the topic of interesting historical facts regarding Independence Day...did you know the Pirates of the Caribbean played a role in our nations quest for independence?  If historical facts about Pirates interest you check out Netflix's "The Lost Pirate Kingdom"...I've actually learned a few fun facts about Pirates I was not aware of!

The Lost Pirate Kingdom trailer

Big Bay: The Place to Stay

 Next Swims:

Mon - Fri 6 am and 5pm
Saturday: 8am and Noon

MONDAY 6 a.m. only: Big Bay

Last Swim: 8 am Sunday, also noon but I was not there 
Water Temp: 66
Air Temp: warm & sunny
Clarity: great with the current (i.e. north) less great but ok going south
Waves: Flat
Kru: Handyman Hank, Magic Mike, Showgirl, Nanook, Lt MJ, Rachel, Mr. Bubble, Brick, new guy Mark(?),  Kim

Shore Support:  Squeeze o'Showgirl  

MJ and Mark (? sorry) were in wetsuits, the rest of us skinning

We had such a transcendant experience at Big Bay we decided to go back Monday morning.  Based on experience from previous years, We figured Klode would be pretty trashed from the 4th celebration.  

Big Bay was all about the rocks.  A beach composed of rocks and blocks of granite, relatively sand-free and feeling very clean with that hidden gem vibe.  Many cute dogs afrolic, despite a very large and stern sign prohibiting them.

A layer of haze on the horizon made the far-off fishing boats seem to be floating in the air.

We swam north in the cold (although 66) flat water - Rachel, MJ and Mr. Bubble going all the way to Love Rock, a Klode landmark.  Most of the rest of us congregated on Flat Rock.

I was swimming along, taking in all the new landmarks - a 400-yard wall, followed by a pastel-colored (i.e. grafiti'ed) block, a rock wall, a greensward, a staircase and a manicured lawn, and other items to numerous to name or remember.  I knew I was getting cold (was it colder near shore with so many new barriers people built last year?) but wanted to go long....past 500 yards...past 600 and then it's only 200 more to 800 which is 1,600 round trip and then you might as well go a mile.  I was approaching 900 where I was absolutely going to turn around when I saw what appeared to be two men standing...they didn't seem to be on paddleboards....maybe some kind of water bicycles?  I got closer, there were 3 people standing like gods upon the water.  What was it?  Too close now, I had to go the full 1,000.  And there was Flat Rock.  Mark (he did share his name, but I didn't think I would be blogging - please correct me in the comments), Magic Mike, Nanook, all standing in a row, just standing in about knee deep water, facing north.

It was irresistible.  I clambered up between Nanook & Mike.  And nearly slipped right off again.  "It's smoother over here" Mike said and gallantly offered his hand, which I was not too proud to take.  And with firmer footing, just like that, I became one of them.

Showgirl was next to arrive.  "I love you guys so much," she said, climbing up to stand beside Nanook.

Alas, I was first to leave as the breeze hit and I started to shiver.  I did the flattest racing dive of my life and the water was even colder!  After about 200 strokes I turned and floated, they were still standing upright, "like bitchen lamposts" to quote the original Gidget (the book, not the movie.)

After that, it was mostly about survival.  Lots of self-talk to encourage myself as I churned, against the current now.  That water flowing past your skin just sucks away any joules you might have generated....yet you can't slow down, 'cos then you'll never get there....

Finally arriving back at the beach, I staggered out onto shore. I wasn't the only one foundering in the ankle-deep rocks.

"You are no longer magic, you are just another human on this Earth," observed Magic Mike.

We learned that he was the first to arrive at Flat Rock.  "I thought if I stood there long enough, others would join me."

Brick handed out cookies that appeared to be homemade - generously sized and not entirely uniform, I mean that as a compliment.  He also poured Pitsch for a few of us "morning derelicts."

"All that's missing is Kahuna with his big flag," Showgirl noted.  We speculated that he would be at the noon swim. 

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What a Difference a Day Makes!

Next Swims:
Mon - Fri 6 am and 5pm
Saturday: Klode, 8am and Noon
SUNDAY: Big Bay, 8am and noon

Last Swim: 8 am Saturday 
Water Temp: 63, reportedly measured by Showgirl
Air Temp: 67 on arrival and warming
Clarity: better, maybe 7-8/10
Waves: Nope
Kru: Multiple shifts

1st Shift - Dragonfly and Showgirl

Swing Shift  Rick from Boston, Linda the Lamprey and her BF Adam from Cleveland, 

2nd Shift - Magic Mike, Lt MJ, Rachel, Handyman Hank, Northshore Nancy, Mr. Bubble

Shore Support:  Rick from Boston's mom

"What a difference a day makes!" Sure, that's cliché, but to quote Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles;

"Oh, it's twue.  It's twue.  It's twue.  It's twue!"

Yesterday was Iwisconsibly Dangerous, today it was lovely and calm, and warm! or at least warmer.

Klode parking lot almost full at 7:50 due to a yoga class in progress.

Met up with Rick from Boston's mom on the way down - she said she was coming to check it out.  She declined the suggestion that the best way to check it out was to get in the water - "Nope" - just as most normal people would say.  

Linda introduced her BF, Adam from Cleveland.  Adam was all suited up, wearing big fins and carrying a boogie board, which was secured to his ankle.  He walked backwards into the water - I guess because of the big fins.  

Everyone headed north.  Long swims for MJ, Rachel and Mr. B - they got to White House, I got to staircase.  Handyman waiting for us when we returned.  MJ and Rachel said several times they didn't want to turn back, exactly how I felt as well.  

Repeat of Showgirl' Public Service Announcement:

Sunday Swimming:  Klode beach will basically be closed all day due to the 4th of July fireworks, and Atwater will close up shop in early afternoon, so I'm putting our Sunday swims at the infinitesimally small Big Bay.  Each of you will be allocated a 3" square piece of beach for your gear.  Use it wisely.

Swimming Irresponsibly

Next Swims:

Mon - Fri 6 am and 5pm

Saturday: Klode, 8am and noon

SUNDAY: Big Bay, 8am and noon

Last Swim: 6am Friday (and Thursday too)

Water Temp: 59 inside the rockpiles, but warmer outside

Air Temp: 50's, for crying out loud, thanks Wisconsin
Clarity: no clarity at all
Waves: yes, there were LARGE, DANGEROUS WAVES!  Okay, not really that large or dangerous

Kru: Lydia the Tattooed Lady,  Showgirl, Dragonfly, Luna Laguna

Yep, despite numerous warnings of Dire Consequences, we swam this morning.

All survived the ordeal.

In fact, it wasn't really THAT much of an ordeal.  

It was wavy, and there were breakers over the sandbar, so we went out farther to avoid them.

TTL and Dragonfly donned wetsuits and swam further.  LL and I swam skin (I wore my gloves and booties).  I went to the birches.  Pre-swim, Dragonfly made some remark about keeping her swimming in check due to the conditions, as opposed to TTL's wild, unfettered swimming.  In the end, she zoomed off into the waves.

The water temp outside the rockpiles was definitely warmer, though not exactly "warm."  I was hit by the shivers later.

It was kind of one of those swims where you look down from the crest of the wave as the water heads to the beach.

Sunday Swimming:  Klode beach will basically be closed all day due to the 4th of July fireworks, and Atwater will close up shop in early afternoon, so I'm putting our Sunday swims at the infinitesimally small Big Bay.  Each of you will be allocated a 3" square piece of beach for your gear.  Use it wisely.