That’s the worst that could happen to the lake!!! At the very end of summer, no matter what the weather is, the Lake is consistently warm, often warmer than the air, and I could already feel it in the second half of August.
And then, just when I created one extra extended weekend with one extra day off, there were three days of winds and starting-and-stopping rains, and by Monday evening, the lake water was ice cold! I knew nothing about it and plunged in Tuesday morning. I boldly walked into the water, and suddenly felt something not right! It felt like mid-May, and I couldn’t stay in the water for more than 30 seconds.
When I walked back home down the alley, a car slowed down beside me, and a dad with the kid in the back seat asked me: Excuse me, I am just wondering, is the water the same frigid cold as yesterday evening? I replied that I was not there last evening, but the water is frigid indeed. He said: OK, at least I am not crazy! I couldn’t believe it – it’s not right! I agreed, but unfortunately, nothing could be done.
The next morning, the situation was the same. I asked Grandfather Google what the matter was, and he replied that the winds pushed the warm water away from the beaches, and the cold water from the depth of the lake had risen. That was understandable, but excruciating, since the days are already getting shorter, and I couldn’t believe it was possible, even with the current heat wave, to warm up this vast body of water for a second time within one season.
Still, I kept coming. On Thursday, it was not only cold, but also the unimaginable number of horseflies didn’t let me even dry myself! There were so many, latching at my legs, my sandals, and my towel, that I had to run from the beach, all wet, pulling on my beach tarp on the way.
Today, I resolved to give it one more attempt. And the miracle happened! There was a moderate wind in the direction of the shore, and nice waves were coming. First, when I stepped into the water, I immediately felt it wasn’t as cold as it had been for the past several days, though it was still cold. Then, when I walked deeper and turned my face to the waves, I suddenly felt the movement of the warmer water!!! It was coming back, not on the surface, but beneath it!
Miigwech aapiji, Michigami! Chi-miigwechwi, Gisis!
Hettie's Reflections 