Shooting the Curl

Next Swims:  Thursday and Friday Sept 1st & 2nd 6AM

I can't make a 6PM swim tonight (Wed).  If interested in swimming tonight leave a comment so others know they will not be alone.

A note about conditions:  3 foot waves this morning, with even bigger waves in the forecast for the next couple days.  Also, there are pockets of very cold (low 50s?) and very warm (mid 60s?).

Last Swims:  Wednesday Aug 31st 6AM
Water:  57 (on the beach, but pockets of warmer offshore), murky with 1-3 foot waves
Crew: Capt'n, Kahuna, Diablo, Nivens McTwist, Mr. Anonymous, Patriarch

Tue Aug 30th 6PM
Water: 60 clear with small rollers
Crew: Itch, Lorraine, Hank, Wet Taco, Patriarch

Tue Aug 30th 6AM
Water 63 calm and clear
Crew: Showgirl, Kahuna, Mr. Anonymous, Diablo, Nivens McTwist, Forger

Regarding Big Shoulders here is the list I have of Kru participants:  Itch, Mr. Anonymous, Gumdrop, 2-Ply, No-Ply, Jack Frost, Molly (Jack's friend), Kahuna, and Patriarch.  Let me know if there are others.  The next question is:  who is interested in car pooling?  I know some of you have friends and relatives in the Chicago area and will be driving down Friday evening.  But my plan is to drive down very early (5AM or earlier) Saturday morning.  I could take three others comfortably.  Is anyone else interested in riding or driving?

Today's waves gave us the opportunity to shoot the curl.

Lightening Bolt on the Beach

Next swims: Tue Aug 30th 6AM, Tue Aug 30th 6PM, Wed Aug 31th 6AM

Last Swims:  Mon Aug 29th 6PM
Water: 68, clear and calm
Crew: Capt'n, Itch, Lorraine, Nanook, 2-Ply, Wet Taco, Gumdrop, Brian, Liz, Patriarch

Mon Aug 29th 6AM
Water: 59 clear and calm
Crew: Showgirl, Super Hera, Forger, Kahuna, Diablo, Patriarch

After a few cold days last week, the warm water has returned and the swimming is fantastic.  I hope it lasts a few more days, as we have yet to do a Big Bay swim and this weekend would be perfect.

Here a list of people doing Big Shoulders.  Are there others?  Please let me know especially if you would like to car pool down there on race day.  Itch, Mr. Anonymous, Gumdrop, 2-Ply, No-Ply, Jack Frost, Molly (Jack's friend), and me.

For some strange reason it appears that the Atwater Buoy temperatures are at a new web link.  I've added it to the "Lake Michigan Web Pages" box on the right side of this blog.  I added it as "New" Atwater buoy temps and also kept the old link for now.

Finally, is there a person on Earth who does not know who Usain Bolt is?  Yes, our very own Showgirl, believe it or not.  She did not understand why her son and friends were doing this: (demonstration by Forger):

 Yes, David, your mom is a total dork.

Swimming and Biergartens

Next Swim:  Monday Aug 29th 6AM
Monday August 29th 6PM
Tuesday August 30th 6AM

Last Swims:  Sun Aug 28th 11AM
Water:  60, Calm and Clear
Crew: Drangonfly, Crash, Handyman Hank, Diablo, Capt'n, Liz, Itch, Nivens McTwist, Kahuna, Forger, Lorraine, 2-Ply, Wet Taco, Patriarch, El Jefe, Hot Stuff, Bruce, Tom, Jake, Scott & wife, Dusty, Sarah, Chris, and a couple of triathletes whose name I didn't get.

Sat Aug 27th noon
Water: 53 and murky with 2-3 foot waves
Crew: Itch, 2-Ply, Kahuna, Diablo, Handyman Hank, Panini, Patriarch

Fri Aug 26th 6PM
Water: 55 calm and clear
Crew: Lorraine, Kahuna, Mitch, Capt'n, Patriarch

Ah those lazy hazy crazy days of summer.  Days of swimming and pretzels and biergartens.  A near perfect day on the beach with a crew of over 25.  The water was warm enough (barely) for me to keep my wetsuit in my backpack.  The cold water of the last week was just the lake's gentle reminder that the season is short and we need to swim while we can.

 

Change of Fortune

Next Swims:
   Saturday August 27th - Noon
   Sunday August 28th - 11am (Estabrook Beer Garden 1pm)

Last Swims:
   Thursday August 25th - 6pm
      Water Temp: 56
      Clarity: Clear
      Crew: Itch

   Friday August 26th - 6am
      Water Temp: Baltic  (47)
      Clarity: Clear
      Waves: Calm
      Crew: Diablo, Gumdrop, Itch, Panini, The Patriarch, Capt'n

Unlike my arrivals on Monday and Wednesday morning's to an empty parking lot devoid of cars, bikes....or any sign of life for that matter....this morning I was greeted by a parking lot full of cars, bikes and scantily clad women enthusiastically jumping up and down.  (Clearly there were celebrating my arrival, no?)

Unfortunately this was the extent of my change of fortune.  Once again the water temperature failed to reach the plus side of 50 for our 6am swim.  I am told by Itch though that the water temp was 56 last night.  The buoys indicate warmer water just offshore so perhaps today's easterly winds will change our trend of cooler water temps?

Following Sunday's 11am swim all are welcome to join us and TriWisconsin at the Estabrook Beer Garden.

Secret Messages???

Next Swims:  Thurs- Fri, Aug 25-26, 6AM
If you are interested in 6PM swims please post so others know they will not be swimming alone.

Last Swim:  Wednesday Aug 24th - 6am
Temp: 72 (air) / 48 (water)
Waves: One foot rollers
Clarity: Excellent
Crew: Diablo, Hot Stuff, Crisscross, Capt'n


What the what???  Where is everybody?  Was there a secret text message about "swim skip morning" that I didn't receive?

Where's The Enthusiasm?

Next Swims:  Wed - Fri, Aug 24-26, 6AM
If you are interested in 6PM swims please post so others know they will not be swimming alone.

Last Swim:  Tuesday Aug 23rd
Water Temp: I measured 61near shore, but pockets of much warmer and much cooler
Waves: One foot rollers
Clarity: Excellent
Crew: Mr. Anonymous, Kahuna, Niven's McTwist, Patriarch

Ahh, these are perfect conditions for a wetsuit, I thought as I swam along without one, the lake slapping me in the face as I hit the cold pockets.  Aww quit yer blubbering ya wuss.  A couple a months ago you'd be delighted at 60 degree water, you've gone lazy and soft.  Toughen up buttercup.  Still it's been a while since I shivered as much.

Anyhow, here is something that has nothing to do with swimming, but I can't resist.  So the last few days we're in San Francisco visiting our son, and one day we decide to take the trolley down to the Ferry Building.  The F-Line Trolleys (Market/Embarcadero) are even more fun than the cable cars in my opinion. To catch one we took a bus from Noe Valley to Castro Station (aka Harvey Milk Plaza).  The Castro is the gayest place on earth with more rainbow flags per square inch than anywhere on the planet.  But I digress.  When we get to Castro there is a huge and boisterous crowd in the plaza, so we go over to see what is happening.  Here is what we saw:

 The plaque at the bottom reads:  The Emperor has no balls.  Only in San Francisco I thought, but apparently these have been popping up all over.  I couldn't help but laugh even though I think it's throughly disgusting at the same time.

What's wrong with this picture???

Next Swims: 
   Tuesday - Friday (8/23-8/26) @ 6am
   (M-F 6PM, though check back in the comments)

Last Swim:  Monday August 22nd, 6am
   Water Temp:  Decent!  (64+)
   Waves:  Calm
   Clarity: Crystal Clear
   Crew:  Diablo(?), Capt'n

This Picture was taken a few minutes after 6am this morning.  One car in the parking lot and no bikes....what the what???  ...did I miss a memo?  :( 

...did I just dream that I swam this morning?  Was Diablo really there?  ...or did I just imagine that he swam along side of me, stroke for stroke, all the way to Deadwood and back?