Special Event at the Pier Today, Saturday April 7, 2012

It was 83 degrees inland 7 miles from the beach, and 70 degrees at the beach at about 3 PM Saturday.  I didn't feel so hot and didn't want to swim, but 'the streak' must go on.  Because of the warm inland temperatures, the beach was crowded.  Quite a few people and kids were even getting into the water.  The water temperature was very spotty and variable-a cold area, then a nice, warm spot for 200 yards.  Quite a bit of warm spots today.  However, I think that this is not a good thing because the ocean was stagnant and dirty.  Waves small, no current, glassy motionless water outside. 
Lots of debris, kelp, bits of plant matter, dissolved specks of dirt throughout the swim in the water.  I didn't have much energy or enthusiasm today.  An uneventful swim around the pier.
It was more of a beach watchers day.  Young girls/ladies and young Marines and civilians strolling past one another giggling.  Then there was the type of beachgoer that I like to watch: the young family with a toddler holding on to a parent's hand and getting his/her tiny feet chilled in the water.  For the little ones it is pure joy-and the parents share it.  Good stuff.
I don't know what the amphitheater crowd and event was about.  I heard some mellow singing and some talking over a speaker, and there were bleachers set up on the sidewalk/street above the amphitheater.  There was also a big screen setup.  Will keep you posted on that-probably a concert or religious revival, or both.

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

Monday After Work Swim

No camera today; I wasn't expecting to swim.  But, I drove by the beach and it was beautiful.  More beachgoers because of Spring Break for some folks.  The water had settled down quite a bit but fins were still a good idea for me.  As it turned out, I would have survived without fins.  The current was mild to the south.  The water was cold and fresh.  There were big swells out there and the breaking waves were powerful-about 3 different lines of parallel breaks.  I got thrown around pretty good coming in-guess the fins were nice to have on, now that I think of it.  I remember kicking the fins to fight back to the surface a couple of times.
A good, rough swim overall. Took me 6 minutes to get out through the surf.  The swim around was mildly choppy but fun.

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

Too Rough For Me

North County Times Article Link

Nope. Take a look at these photos, which don't give you a true idea of the roughness of this surf tonight - Sunday - at 6 PM.  I went down because I was itching for some adrenaline and hung out watching the ocean for a while-but I just couldn't pull the trigger.
Tonight's conditions would either have been suicide or extra work for the lifeguards.  It definitely would have been a safety vest swim, because swimming would not have been feasible-just kicking along with fins.  There were about 10 surfers braving the sloppy, giant, rough waves. 
No swim for me tonight.

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