Friday, December 30, 2011

Anybody Up for a New Year's Day Oceanside Pier Swim?

New Year's Day, 12 noon, I'm thinking a swim around the pier would be fun.  E-mail me if interested at chris134711@aol.com

Whether you are wet sut wearing or not, wearing fins or not, fast or slow, anybody is welcome.  I'm slow and usually swim north to south in a wide arc around the pier in about 30 minutes.  I have a kayak and we could get a safety kayaker.

Thanks,
Brendan

"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Monday, December 26, 2011

The Ocean was Glass Today



















Mid-afternoon at the pier was gorgeous...again!   Aren't we spoiled.  Surfline has the water temp as 57-59 degrees but it didn't feel that cold to me.  I just trunked it, but this Body Glove neoprene cap is amazing at keeping a swimmer warm-well, not warm, but stable.
31 minutes total swim. 14 out and the rest in-giving the surfers a wide berth so as not to interfere with them.  The waves were very small: 1-2 foot but surfable. About thirty surfers were taking advantage of the beautiful day after Christmas.
Water visibility was good-about 10 feet.  On the swim out I saw a crab-orange, about 5 inches long.  You never see a crab around here.
The tide was extremely low and the current had switched direction since yesterday.  The fishing lines were stretching northward today.
The current didn't affect the swim at all.  A great swim and a great beach day for the families out there!

"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas Day Oceanside Pier Swim

















I took a 1 PM swim at the pier before Christmas dinner.  There's a picture of a yellow Body Glove super beanie and Aqua Sphere Kaiman goggles that I used.  They are both excellent.  Warm head and great visibility and water seal with the goggles.
The water had a moderate current moving south, as can be seen by the pull of the pier fishing lines in a few of my pictures.  Water temp 57-58 degrees.  That hood is great for keeping the body heat in.
I wore fins and went north to south, doing a relaxed backstroke the entire way.  It was nice-about 26 minutes.
No clouds in the sky, a small chop in the water, and overall great conditions with a very low tide.
A nice, mellow small crowd down there strolling around.

"The first time you quit is the last time you try."