Fire Up (or Cool Down?) For a New Season

Spring has sprung, and this old man's fancy turns to desire for the cool embrace of our Lady of the Lake. Cross country ski season is done, so I'm back in the pool, where I ran into Cap'n, who I haven't seen in months. He was standing in the shower, wearing some strange contraption around his waist, which I suspect was a chastity belt, though he denied it. We agreed that the pool is great, but we can't wait until we can get in the lake again.

Spring is the season of new beginnings, so we zero out the Killipitsch swim counters and set new goals. It will be difficult to beat last season's record number of swims (162), but try we must.

In the spirit of the season I forgive all sins and therefore the swim names of Tyrant, Hook, Diablo and Dewdrop, revert to Patriarch, Cap'n, Gabriel, and Gumdrop.

Before we begin though, we need to settle the issue of what counts as a "swim". Our old rule was that it had to be at least 400 meters to count. But that wouldn't count all those short fast cold water swims undertaken by Cap'n, Gabriel, and Gumdrop (not me, I think it's nuts to spend all that time getting ready, driving to the beach, freezing near to death, and then drive home, all to swim for thirty seconds, but I guess boys will be boys).

Maybe we need a new category to count these extremely cold, extremely short swims. Perhaps we could call them Cold Cox swims in honor of our heroine Lynne Cox, famous cold water swimmer and author of "Swimming to Antarctica" and other books and articles.

Sophomoric humor aside, it shouldn't be long before we're in the drink again, although I swear I'm not swimming until it's at least 55, I don't care what you guys call me.

Plans Set for New Year's Day skin swim

Date: January 1, 2010
Location: Bradford Beach
Meeting Time: 11:40am
Meeting Location: east side of Bradford Beach House
Swim Time: Noon

The Goal: Complete a 25m Lake Michigan polar skin swim at noon on New Years Day

The Plan:

• Mark off 25m along the shore with bright orange cones.
• The mass of people on the beach typically congregate south of the Bradford Beach house so we should find ample space just north of the beach house to mark off our 25m course.
• We will setup a base camp for our towels and gear at the south end of the 25m course.
• When the cannon goes off at noon we will plunge into the water at the north end of our 25m swim lane and swim south towards base camp.
• Rumor has it that there may be warm water for soaking cold feet and perhaps a little Killepitsch available to warm up your insides! :)

Parking: Parking can be a nightmare. If you're not adverse to walking I have found it easiest to park at the Lake Park Bistro parking lot and to hike down to the beach. (...there are trails that provide a short cut to the beach.) Travel distance is approximately 1/2-3/4 mile. I plan to arrive at the Bistro Parking lot 11:20am.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on the beach!
~Capt'n

Dewdrop a no-show at noon / 35.6 degrees

Date / Time: Noon Saturday December 19, 2009
Beach: Klode
Water Temp: 35.6
Air Temp: 28
Waves: 1ft / slight chop from east
Clarity: seaweeds washing ashore on southeast beach
Crew: Diablo, Hook
Up Next: Klode Noon Sunday December 20, 2009

Date / Time: 11am Sunday Decmeber 13, 2009
Beach: Klode
Water Temp: 37.6
Air Temp: 30
Waves: None
Clarity: crystal clear
Crew: Dewdrop, Diablo with Special Guests Dewdrop Jr. & Hook

Date / Time: 10am Sunday December 6, 2009
Beach: Klode
Water Temp: 41.2
Air Temp: 28
Waves: None
Clarity: crystal clear
Crew: Dewdrop, Diablo, Hook with Special Guest The Patriarch
Notes: Polar Bear swim! Check out the video on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/dewdrop3963

Swimmin' in December

Beach: Klode
Water Temp: 41
Air Temp: 29
Waves: none
Clarity: crystal
Crew: Dewdrop, Diablo, Hook
Next Swim: Klode Sunday 10AM

Golly geepers...who'd a ever thunk we'd ever be able to log a December swim? ....much less a swim with an air temp below the freezing mark??? Totally UN-be-lievable!!!

With the assistance of a cloudless sky and a little shelter from the breeze by Klode's bluff it actually wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Diablo even swam without socks and gloves...as well as continued his tradition of biking to and from Klode. Dewdrop chose to wear socks and gloves today...but its becoming apparent that Dewdrop is considerably faster in colder water than warm. (...or is it that better swimmers swim slower in colder water as Diablo theorized following the swim?)

For me, it was the same routine...two pairs of socks and no gloves. ...before you pass judgment on my apparent wimpy feet though, its important to note that my feet do spend more time in the lake as I invest several minutes in the water prior to the swim taking the water temp. ...not that anyone's got an ego here or anything. :)

Our swim this afternoon took us from Klode's south east beach up to the north beach down spout and back with a brief pause at the turn around point to debate who's crazier us or The Patriarch. (...we still unanimously agree that The Patriarch has totally lost his marbles...I mean, come on, really..."Gumbo"?)

It's likely that we'll return Sunday morning for our next December dip. Perhaps around 10 or 10:30. Interested? Please comment. :)

11/29 Swim Report - 45.3

Beach: Klode
Water Temp: 45.3
Air Temp: 42
Waves: slight chop from north
Crew: Dewdrop, Diablo, Hook
Next Swim: TBD (probably Friday)

The clouds were just starting to thin out when we arrived at Klode Sunday. The cold morning showers had moved out but the sun had yet to break through. The damp / cool air conditions and westerly breeze had all the makings for a bone chilling day but with the shelter of the Klode bluff and the excitement of swimming the conditions had little impact on our determination to log a swim.

We knew this day would arrive at some point but for some reason we all were a little surprised by Sunday's water temp of 45.3....nearly a whole degree colder than our record. It was still business as usual though. Diablo still walked the plank minus socks and gloves as did Dewdrop. The slight chop required a little extra effort for us to make it up past the north beach sewer pipe but I'd contend that the distraction of the waves helped to take our minds off of the water temp. ...of notable interest, though, Dewdrop swam remarkably faster in the 45 degree water than he has in the past. ...Diablo and I are still pondering theories as to why...

Due to work schedules this week we will have to wait until later in the week to log our next swim. Stay tuned...we will hopefully be back in action Friday or Saturday.

Wetsuit swim 101 / Strip & Dip 2

Beach: Klode
Water Temp: 46.2
Air Temp: 48 & Sunny
Clarity: clear
Waves: none
Crew: Dewdrop, Diablo & Hook with special guest Dewdrop Jr.
Next Swim: Klode noon Sunday

We were blessed once again today with an abundant supply of sunshine. While the air temp registered only 48, the sun made it feel a whole lot warmer. The water temp, though, was a different story. Today's reading of 46.2 tied our record coldest swim temp.

...always looking to one up our records we joked briefly about following up our swim with our second ever Strip & Dip. Now I know there's a difference between joking and reality but for some reason our crew appears to be cognitively challenged on that front.

...along the lines of 'one uping our records'...despite the record cold water temp: Diablo still swam without socks unlike the last time when he wore socks; Dewdrop swam without a neoprene cap and ditched his socks and gloves; Hook...umm, didn't change a thing...well actually I did, I wore a second pair of socks.

This afternoon's swim took us up to the garage and back. Diablo and I ventured quite a ways from shore while Dewdrop followed a route that was closer to shore. Unphased by the water temp we followed up our swim adventure with a hearty Strip & Dip. The goal was to swim at least 25 meters before returning to shore....which of course we all succeeded in doing.

...on a different but perhaps related topic....Crazy??? It's funny, but when ever that question was raised in the past the immediate reply from The Patriarch or Diablo has been, "Crazy? No not me...the Captn's the crazy one!" Hmmm...perhaps we should play a little game of: "YOU MAKE THE CALL!" Here are the facts:

• Diablo - bikes to and from Klode in his sandals, swims with a neoprene cap but does not wear socks or gloves.
• Dewdrop - swam at 46.2 without a neoprene cap and no socks or gloves.
• Hook - talks constantly about setting new records and that if we keep swimming someday were bound to find a mermaid or three. :)~
• The Patriarch - claims to be currently eating gumbo while dining outside in 70 degree air temps.

So there you have it. Now it's time for YOU to make the call. Just comment with your vote...or come on out Sunday and let us know in person what you think. :)

Wetsuit Swim 100

Beach: Klode
Water Temp: 47
Air Temp: 42
Water Clarity: clear
Waves: gentle 1-2 footers
Crew: Dewdrop, Diablo, Hook
Next Swims: Klode Saturday & Sunday Noon


It was an absolutely beautiful day to log our 100th wetsuit swim of the season. The skies were sunny which made the temp feel a lot warmer than 42...especially with our wetsuits on. I'm not quite sure what's more amazing to me...the fact that we just logged our 100th wetsuit swim of the year or that it's November 27th and we're still swimming in the lake. It feels like just yesterday we were shooting to log our 100th swim in the lake for the season.


Speaking of amazing...before I forget...Diablo is still logging his swims without the assistance of socks or gloves...and too boot he bikes to and from Klode. Perhaps there's more to his 'Diablo' nickname than just a name? :)


Today's swim was similar to yesterday's minus the unexpected pummelling by waves. We journeyed up to the garage and back....pausing at both points to enjoy the conditions and celebrate our new milestone.

Plan is to return to Klode Saturday and Sunday at noon to log our next adventures. Perhaps we'll see a new face or two one of these times?