Laboring off the plank

Next Swims:
   Sunday September 1st @ Noon
   Monday (Labor Day) @ Noon

Last Swim:
   Saturday August 31st @ Noon
      Water Temp: 58 (Itch-o-meter), 58 (Ducky-Dawg), 55.8 (Macho-meter)
      Waves:  1-2ft chop from south
      Clarity: murky near shore / Caribbean blue  50 yards offshore
      Kru: The Patriarch, Diablo, Kahuna, Moondawg, Itch, Linda the Lampre, Forger, Panini, Dragonfly, Mr. Anonymous, Mr. Bubbles, Wet Taco, Not-The-Patriarch (Other Greg), Not-Mr-Bubbles (other Mitch), Liz, Steve, Phil, Capt'n

The Klode Kru Kiddie-pool (a.k.a. the shallow but swimmable area on the beach side of the rock piles) today was thick with silt, choppy and cold.  The onslaught of waves crashing into the rock piles probably didn't help those struggling with the "do or do not...but at least this isn't a tri" conundrum. Not the most enticing plank to walk for the Kru mates. 

Just offshore though the Caribbean blue waters under a warm sunshine filled sky teased us with the promise of the warm waters we enjoyed not long ago.  Helping matters was a buoy report of water temps in the low 60s.  Certainly, the warm water must be out there...some place...right???  So undeterred by a daunting plank walk the entire Kru took the plunge today.  While some debated whether the Caribbean blue water offshore was any warmer than the Klode Kiddie Pool all agreed that today's swim was worth the voyage.  The east winds bode well for the return of the warm water...surely tomorrow's swim will be even more delightful than today's!

The New Normal

Last Swim:  Friday August 30th, @ 5:30 pm
Next Swims:  Sat/Sun @ Noon, maybe Monday, too

Water Temp:  54 per Itch-o-meter,  51.6 per macho-meter
Waves:  4 inch ripples coming in slowly, strong enough to push you around though
Clarity:  kinda clear, maybe 3-4/10. 
Kru:  Itch, Mr. Anonymous, Synchro, Handyman Hank, Mr. Bubble, the Other Mitch, Capt'n, 
Shore Support:  We'Taco, Liz, Patriarch, Mrs. She-who-must-not-be named, Kahuna plus big dog/little dog

Great turnout tonight.  Unusual to see almost as many people on shore support as swimming 😀

We march down the hill to the beach.  Seeing several serious looks upon arrival.  Is it going to be cold again tonight?  How cold?  Should I stay or should I go? 

"So, Itch, what's the temperature?"  Different people here different things - "64?", "44?" no, it's 54!

When we reassemble after our swims, another surprise awaits us - Itch has brought Margaritas instead of Killepitsch.  Everyone agrees these are really good Margaritas.

The Kru proceeds to obey Newton's Third Law: 
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. 
For every swimmer who goes in the water, there is an equal number who will come back out.
For every person who walked down the hill, there will be an equal number who walk back up.

Inverted Reality

Last Swim:  Thursday August 29th, @ 6am
Next Swims:  Thursday August 29 @ 6pm, Friday 8/30 @ 6am & 5:30pm

6am Conditions:
   Water Temp:  64 (Buoy) / 46.6 (macho-meter)
   Waves:  glass
   Clarity:  Crystal Clear
   Kru:  Ziggy, Snap, Joshing Around, Mr. Anonymous, Ala Mode, Capt'n

Despite recent blog reports that the Klode water temp had plummeted, the following indicators this morning pointed to an exceptional morning for a swim:

• Buoy reporting a water temp of 64  (pictured below)
• a brilliant sunrise over a glass like lake surface (pictured below)
• a hearty morning Kru eager to walk the plank to paradise (pictured below)
• a pod of nearly naked mermaids greeting us atop of the north rock pile  (not pictured)

Sadly our perceptions of a paradise swim this morning were shocking dispelled upon our first attempt to walk the plank.  Instead of water temps nearing 64 the macho-meter this morning struggled to stay above 46.  

Believe in the buoy!  The warm water is definitely close by and will surely arrive soon, right?

Side debate....is a mermaid sighting early in the morning a good thing or a sign of impending doom?

Those who don't read history are bound to repeat it

Next swim: Thursday 6 am, 6pm?

Last swim: Wedmesday 6 pm
Water temp: 53
Water conditions: crystal clear
Waves: perfectly flat
Kru: Itch, Linda the Lamprey, Super Hera, Mr. Bubble (sorta)
Shore Support:  Patriarch, Erin, Synchro

God, I just had to swim tonight!  I needed the stress relief so I fought traffic to get to Klode by 6:01.  Rest of the Kru already heading down to the beach or arrived on the beach.  

Got to the beach and did not see the beaming smiles I'm used to seeing.  More like looks of concern.  Itch just getting the itch-o-meter out of the water - 53!  Synchro definitely did not look undecided - no way, not even a second thought.  Same with Patriarch.  Itch and Ms Lamprey of course proceeding without hesitation. Neither one wearing a wet suit.  

Mr. Bubble starts out full of bravado - sticks his feet in - "It's not that bad!  I'm in".  Puts on his Roka shorts and dives straight in, following Ms. Lamprey's example.  Gets out to the rocks and thinks - "This is cold.  It hurts.  I'm done".  What a wimp!  About face, and back to shore.  

Super Hera arrives a little late and goes about getting in her wet suit, looking very determined.  Wades in to about waist deep, goes in to a warrior type pose and contemplates her next move with a very serious look on her face.  She holds this pose for 3 or 4 minutes and then takes the plunge.  Itch and Ms Lamprey make it back first - "Looks like you're sunburned!"  Super Hera comes a bit later, after making it out to mudslide.  

So, the moral of the story is - those who don't read the blog from the 6 am swim are bound to repeat their experience.  Those who don't check the Atwater buoy temp before getting to the beach may be in for a big surprise.  Those who quit bringing along their full wetsuit because the water has been consistently warm for the past three weeks may wind up embarrassing themselves.  

A Gift

Next swim: Wednesday, 6pm; Thursday 6 am, 6pm

Last swim: Tuesday 6 pm
Water temp: 68
Water conditions: murky but blue
Waves: wind rippled breeze on the very surface
Kru: early shift, Handyman Hank.  Later shift, Patriarch, Dragonfly with husband Jim as shore support, still later shift, Sir James

As we strolled down from the bluff, we were greeted by such serenity that I knew photographic evidence would be required:

The Lake was absolutely flat, a gift, with an occasional strong breeze ruffling just the surface of the water.  To quote Magic Mike, if only people knew what we know.  While about a foot of surface was 68, below was a different story.  I could feel my forearms getting cold as I stroked along.

Patriarch and I arrived on the beach to find a compact pile of stuff in the Kru spot.  Written in the sand, one word: 

Naturally we deduced that the stuff belonged to Mr. Anonymous....but it turned out to be Handyman Hank.  Apparently the line in the sand was drawn earlier in the day.  As we left, the hungry waves began creeping up toward the letters.  Once again, the future is unwritten.

The calm after the storm(ing)

Next swim: Tuesday, 6pm; Wednesday 6 am, 6pm

Last swim: Tuesday 6am
Water temp: 68
Water conditions: very murky
Waves: low rollers
Kru: Forger, Pool Noodle, Showgirl, Ala, Magic Mike

After five days of pretty tumultuous waters testing our ability to swim straight and achieve distance, including two vain attempts on my part to get in yesterday, this morning broke calm and clear. The lake offered one of those relatively rare opportunities to glide peacefully across a smooth surface, watch the sun rise, and wonder why in the hell there aren't dozens of people swimming along side you. If only the whole world knew what we know.

Love Rollercoaster

Next swims: 
Monday - Thursday 6 am and 6pm, 
Friday 6am, 5:30pm, Saturday/Sunday Noon

Last swim: Sunday 8/25 @ Noon
Water temp: 68 per itch-o-meter, 69 per sirjames-o-meter
Water quality: dirty and stirred up, lots of twigs and other plant trash
Waves: 3-4 footers, coming in frequently, maybe 5 - 15 seconds apart
Kru: Patriarch, Capt’n, Ziggy, Kahuna, Itch, Snap and Josh, Diablo,  Alamode (new nickname for Ala), Erin, Tattoo Lady, Linda the Lamprey, Mr. Bubble, The Other Mitch,  Liz (not Stickler and Vice Versa),  2-Ply, Panini, Mr Anonymous, Sir James (doing overtime)
Shore Support:  Kahuna's pooch 


Oh yeah baby, it was a Rollercoaster of Love out there today.  Good size waves coming one after another.  Dirty water but still nice and warm.  

A lot of folks out for long swims today, so those of us who came back earlier had a chance to hang around and chat.  

Had been seeing blog entries saying that Mitch was at swims I didn't attend.  Finally got to meet my Doppelganger, The Other Mitch.  Had a conversation I've never had before; "Hi, are you Mitch?", "Yes", "So am I".  We both agreed it's pretty rare to have more than one Mitch in any group.  

My non-Lake Michigan swimmer friends have already started sending me National Weather Service Beach Advisory warnings for Monday.  

Has anyone seen or know anything about Reid?  I have a pair of Blue Seventy lava pants that we're pretty sure belong to him.  Haven't seen him in a couple of weeks.