Lake Swim at Oak/Ohio St. (Page 6)

The lockers were just installed, first time I saw them was July 20th....many people were excited.  They are in the far south/west corner, where the sidewalk meets the beach past the bike racks.   

 I will be out there tonight

Good to know about the lockers...thanks for the tip!  I may try to get out there tonight myself since it's supposed to rain later this week.

I too have one of those and they are darn expensive! Can you return it?  Mine has come in handy a few times though including on a cruise.

You're doing the South Shore right?  I almost brought mine with me to work but didn't know about the lockers. If I don't make it there tonight I might try to go tomorrow after work if it's not raining.

I am indeed doing South Shore.  I'd love to meet some of you guys.  I'll shoot you a PM if I head to Ohio tomorrow.

Couple notes.........

Not sure if the weather is going to hold for a swim tonight, BUT thought I would report in with a few details.  The lockers are a huge hit and I waited about 15-20 minutes before I gave up hope on getting one for my stuff.   So swam with stuff under the locker and it worked out, all the stuff was there when I returned.

Second, I would like to point out, so it does not happen to you.  Two people were down there who put their keys for their locks in their wetsuits, forgot and unzip their wetsuits in the water AND WELL......bye bye key.  I can totally see myself doing this so passing on the info. 

Third of all, the water was really warm (for lake Michigan).  I am guessing high 60s or low 70s it felt great BUT.....the water was ridiculously dirty with a lot of debris and dead fishies......and stuff!  Swim as far out from the shore-wall as you are comfortable with to avoid the debris. 

But as we all know this report is old news and if the current changes, today can be a different story

Thanks for the report!  Maybe it'll be a little less crowded tonight...I understand Tuesday is a pretty busy night.

That all depends on the weather though....

I was there yesterday around 5p, and lots of lockers available! They are pretty spacious.

Also, does anyone know if the swim location for the Chicago Tri has the same current direction as this beach? Will we be mostly swimming with the current or against it?

For the sprint you go straight north.  For the Oly you go south and then back north.  
You can check current directions here: http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/glcfs.php?lake=m&ext=sfcur&... />It's basically the same general gist of Ohio St Beach... you swim along the wall and there are cement breakers a bit out.  The difference is the "tall ships" dock in the Chicago tri harbor and so last year you couldn't feel a current at all with the boats and all the swimmers.  

 

Very helpful! thanks!

Thanks for all the helpful comments about swimming out at these beaches! Complete my first OWS since last year's supersprint at Ohio St. this morning (out to the half mile buoy and back, WOOHOO!). One thing I noticed (other than learning that my sighting really really sucks) is that though I didn't feel much resistance going out when I was further away from the wall, on the way back in, closer to the wall I definitely felt a current giving me a helping push. Anyone know if this is normal for that area?

Just wondering because if it is I would want to push harder going out knowing I can get back in with a slow smooth stroke riding the current. Thanks!

I was there this morning at started at 6:30am.  My first OWS in 15 years.  What you are asking is hard to judge because it would be based on what direction the wind is blowing.  I lifeguarded at the city beaches for 7 years and it is different all the time.

My group of about 5 swam from Ohio to the Oak St. beach sand and back.

Note for anyone going:

The water is super clean.  Temp probably about 74/75. 

Meulen - 2011-07-31 1:25 PM Nice job out there Nexus. With your swim background you picked that up real quick! I need to do more of this. I can't go next Saturday but I'm in for the week after. We don't know for sure how far it is to Oak Street. We guessed it was 3/4 of a mile but I actually think it's closer to a mile. The current didn't seem to get any stronger by beach but it did seem a little choppier between the 1/2 mile byou and the beach. The way back had a good current. It felt smokin fast! I'm actually heading out there again in a few minutes. My wife wants to get in some OWS practice. So we are headed back down there. Nxus. Next time bring your running shoes. We did 12 miles of running after the swim.

Thanks.  It was great to get out in open water and just keep going instead of swim. flipturn, swim, repeat over and over :P  My plan was to bring shoes, but I ran out of the house so fast.  Next time I'm in for the run, but only 1/2 that distance or less!

matcrawf

Yeah I would say is somewhere around .75 or more.  Hard to say because it also depend where on the sand we end up. The current didn't seem to make a difference, but it was much deeper once you got passed those buoys/markers.

This past weekend was the Chicago Scene Boat party in the play pen (basically the boating area right passed the swim area).  That is probably why you saw all the bottles.

It is a blast of a boat party  :P  http://www.chicago-scene.com/cs-parties/boatparty.htm

I like that idea! Swim up, pretend to be completely exhausted, and tell them you need a beer to "replenish your carbs." Granted, a girl might also have an easier time getting invited on. 

Most boats are just nuts and they don't care who gets on....(assuming you are a girl in a bikini).

Anyone swimming again this Sat. morning at Ohio St?