August 19, 2015 was the last time that I got into the water. Way too long. Today I went in and swam a little bit in trunks at Oceanside Pier. My body needs replacement parts but after talking to my doctor and my daughter something kicked into action in my brain.
The water--it was quite cold in trunks and a latex swim cap. I got in quickly and my stroke felt good. I especially enjoyed the buoyancy of the water. I had forgotten how my back gets a temporary reprieve from pain when that salt water is pushing me up. Sweet. As for conditions, it was totally flat and the tide was low. Waves from zero to a foot, and two feet every five minutes. A good day for me to re-enter.
Hands and the face were quick to feel the freeze. I felt ready to swim farther but I didn't want to press my limits today. I'm feeling like now that I've broken my streak of inactivity for a year and five months, I'll swim again very soon. Oh, for excitement I stepped on the wing of a stingray--a small one--a foot, and it fluttered away without accidentally stinging me. Then within two minutes I saw two more small stingrays close in. The visibility was good at 3-4 feet.
"The first time you quit is the last time you try."
