Evanston, July 31

Another nice day. We had expected some waves but there were only gentle 4 inch swells. But while I was fighting with my goggles, Jody discovered there were pronounced currents where we didn't expect them. After further exploration they seemed to be going in random directions and often in circles. So the maybe the waves were horizontal rather than vertical? But from a swimming standpoint they were not so noticeable because of their local nature. So it wasn't any harder to swim one direction than the other. When we started the sky was perfectly clear with water 74. But when we finished there was a dark cloud in the area which had been totally unpredicted. We drove through some areas of light rain going home but then this rogue cloud departed and the rest of the day was sunny again.

Evanston, July 30

Another beautiful day and nice swim. We were a bit rushed today as Jody had to get back and I needed to work on my open water swim speed. A bit cooler, 72, and the air was a bit chilly at at start. It felt a bit cold getting in but the same place felt very comfortable getting out.

Ohio Street, July 27, 3 PM

A rare weekday afternoon swim at Ohio Street. We took 5 of my visiting grandkids, and their parents, to Navy Pier and while we were there we stopped off for an hour of Ohio St beach. The two older ones are lifeguards and I tried to introduce them to some open water swimming, but there was no taking. They preferred to play with the younger ones in waist deep water. Surprisingly there were only two Park District lifeguards at the beach for several hundred people and I only saw one on the wall. But then, there were no too many of us swimming the wall at that hour. I did swim to the quarter mile buoy and back but then had to rejoin the family. I forgot to put on any cap, but that wasn't necessary for warmth as the surface water was around 80. There was colder water below but I rarely came in contact with it while swimming. An OK swim, but thats about it.

Ohio street July 25

What a difference! Jody and I decided to try Ohio Street today, mostly because that is the best place to check out water levels. The Lake really has risen several feet since last summer. In places the water, on a fairly calm day, is almost up to the path along the wall. We haven't seen this for several years. We forgot to check for activities, today was swim across america. We got there about an hour and a half before the start and had only a little extra trouble parking. We swam anyway as we would be done well before the race. The water was fine, a bit murky, calm except for the occasional boat wake, and 72. But between people arriving and setting up for the race, the usual early Saturday runners and the new, much needed, flyway construction, the area was mobbed with people. There was even a mob in the water, some warming up for the race and some, like us, just there for a swim. One nice thing was huge orange floats, belonging to big shoulders, marking the small distance buoys permanently there. We swam, of course, to the half mile marker and back.

Evanston July 23

Yesterday was so great Jody and I do again today. Same perfect conditions. At the wall we could see the Chicago skyline marred only by the glare off of Trumps tower. Will that guy never leave us in peace anywhere? Otherwise we had the Lake all to ouselves. It was probably the most Beautiful spot on the most beautiful morning ever in Chicago. Not to waste any of it Jody and I sculled the whole half mile back enjoying the experience.

Evanston, July 22, 2015

The forecast was so promising that we had to go for a weekday swim. We being Joe, Jody and me. It was everything promised and more, flat, clear 71 degree water and bright sunshine. Even 4 friendly Portuguese water dogs to greet us when we returned to the beach. It doesn't get any better than this.

Evanston July 4 2015

Right on schedule our first swim is the fourth of July. We normally start out at Ohio St which can be expected to be warmer, but with the Greatfull Dead in town for their final final concert we chose to avoid the loop. The surprise was that Evanston was a warm 66.4 and flat. So Joe and I had a great first swim. No swim next week due to the new date for my 1500.