Prepare yourself for possibly the biggest ice cream headache you've ever experienced. Also, make sure you stay close to shore if you're able to go out. The cold water sometimes has an effect on equilibrium and hypothermia definitely affects clear thinking, so if you do go out, you'll want to be able to get out quickly if your having any problems. It's not your typical open water type swim. A 30 min. swim in Superior in October is impossible without a full wetsuit. If you've got a neoprene hood, gloves, and boots, that will only help.
On a related note, if you want to read about attempts by Jim Dryer to cross the big lake over the past couple of years, go to his website at
www.swimjimswim.org . Granted, you're not planning on going more than 30 min., but it's some interesting reading.
-Dan