Loyola Beach, July 4

Generally 4th of July is the official start to the swim season and an obligatory lake swim, preferably at Ohio street. But possible storms were forcast for this morning. Ken and I had an elaborate plan with options A,B,C depending on the weather, with both having the option to bug out. But this morning dawned beautiful with the last storm moving out of the area about 5AM so I was wanted in. Apparently Ken did not. So I decided rather than the hassle of Ohio Street, I would go to Loyola Beach, otherwise known as Touhy avenue beach or Leone Beach. This is a good beach for solo swimming as you swim parallel to the sandy beach and can get out at any point, also there are always a fair number of people walking dogs etc. if you need to get someone's attention in an emergency, and usually other swimmers. There is also a nice parking lot right by the beach so you can leave your stuff locked up. The problem is that if you come too early, and on Sunday and holidays anytime is too early, the locals use all the parking. By 8:30 the guards are out so you have to leave the water and are only able to wade waist deep directly in front of them. Today I was lucky, there were two spaces available in the lot at 7AM.

I had a nice swim, down to Pratt pier and back. The water was flat with a few ripples and a very comfortable 67, even though that was also the air temperature. The water was still cloudy and after some sun, so was the sky. All things considered, not a bad 4th of July swim.