Iona's Beach

[guppiecat]

The water sure is pretty.

Pretty damn cold, that is. I have been informed that it is so cold as to be unswimmable. I have always had my cameras with me, so I have not tested the claim personally.

Perhaps this summer when the temperature hovers in the 90’s.

Originally posted at stories.starmind.org.

Comments

[dreamshark]

People who live in Duluth do swim in Lake Superior, but they have been genetically engineered for webbed toes and antifreeze in their blood.

https://duluthmn.gov/parks/parks-listing/park-point/

[arkuat]

The water is very cold at this time of year, but at least it's too early for blackflies.

When I was swimming there (the lake, not that particular beach) in August years ago, I learned about blackfly season. When I wasn't in the water, I was getting into the car ASAP, and when I wasn't in the car, I was getting into and mostly under the water ASAP. And then we got locked out of the car and had to wait for a locksmith, and that's when I got my real education about the simuliid dipterans.

The beginning of blackfly season seems better defined than the end. Does it run right up to the first frost? I'm thinking maybe September for next time.

[sraun]

The best time to swim in Lake Superior is just after wind turns. Find a day when the wind has been blowing off the lake all day. In early evening, the wind will turn to blow off land onto the lake. Go swimming then.

All day the warm surface water has been piling up against the shore due to the wind. When the wind changes, the air temperature tends to drop 10-20 degrees. So you're going into warmer water from cooler air than was the case in the morning or afternoon.

Thus speaks the guy who grew up in Duluth and went swimming in Lake Superior on occasion.