Harbor Beach Oceanside CA Dec23

Late afternoon, just before sunset. Almost the same conditions as yesterday. Chilly, rough, just a brief dip with some kicking with the fins. Trying to strengthen the low back. (Mission Impossible.)

The man sitting watching the sunset has the right idea. 

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

Harbor Beach Sunset 22 Dec

Quite rough before sunset at the beach today. 

But fun!

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

A Beach for the Three of Us Today

I'm getting back in the routine again. It's a good feeling to have gotten my freeze on and then follow-up with hot coffee.

Low tide. Two surfers and I had the water to ourselves. Two foot waves, little shape. Surfline has 57 as the water temp but my finely tuned hypothalamus has it a bit warmer--say 59. 

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

I GOT WET TODAY...GREAT EXPERIENCE AT THE HARBOR IN OCEANSIDE, CA

Friday, December 20, 2024

The body felt okay today. About 3 p.m. I hit the Harbor Beach for a 15 minute healthy embrace of cool salt water. Fins...I did some easy kicking on my back--my idea is to strengthen it and maybe improve the area.

The water was a comfortable 62 degrees. I have given up on my full suit, the 2mm suit. I'm too fat or it shrunk. I think both.

My wife bought me a 2mm jacket a few years back. I wore that and a swim suit. Oh, now I wear my beautiful yellow neoprene hood. It really makes a difference tolerating cold.

I'll add a few photos.

There were about 8 surfers this afternoon. The waves were slow, 2 feet, 10-15 second intervals. A low tide. One surfer was getting decent left hand rides from the south rock jetty and heading to north. 

Walking in one foot of water I did see a stingray idling by about 5 feet from me. They don't bother you.

Neck is good. Thanks, Dr. Moazzaz.

Lumbar surgery in my future if I can build up the courage to face the 1 week post-op torture pain, then followed by 2-3 months of painful healing and rehab. I don't know...

Our water here is great for an average person like myself. Gentle enough to relax in. I read the interrnet news comments and so many people slam California. I hope they stay away. We live a good life here a ten minute drive to the water.

Pain meds afterward along with muscle relaxant, but that's pretty typical for my condition.

Advice to young, wild adults: Don't rodeo. The real pain comes in your 50's.

I am not embarrassed by my photos. I figured the less-than-good looking guy that I am may prompt others to think about trying to re-join life's activities.

Merry Christmas.

And as always:

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

A Second Brief Splash & Kick at the Harbor Late This Afternoon

I felt good today. Did my little neck surgery isometric exercises; stretched the hamstrings & low back a skosh. I thought I'd add this selfie taken after the chilly swim.

I have one eye that doesn't follow nerve commands, the right one. The right corner of my mouth/lips don't either. Bell's Palsy, permanent version. Oh well, this wrinkly face isn't entering any beauty contests.

The 60-degree water was at an extreme low tide and just turning about as I got in. Beautiful, crisp water that does a brain good. My wetsuit, a 2 mm, is too small. Do those things shrink or am I getting fatter?

It's so tight on my chest that I had difficulty breathing. I'm giving up on it. I hate trying to buy a new wetsuit. They're all made for skinny humans, really skinny.

At home tonight my low back is hurting from kicking with fins. Rehab is a slow process when one is old. 

I love cold salt water! 

Making progress, folks.

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

Oceanside Harbor

Just before sunset on the 24th of November, I interrupted my pity party with a drive to the beach at Oceanside Harbor. This is a mellow beach, rock jetties on both sides. A nice beach for rehab.

I'm in bad shape with 3 spinal fusion surgeries behind me and in need of a second lumbar fusion, so just getting there and gently kicking with fins for 15 minutes in the 60 degree, calm water was refreshing for my 67 year-old beat up body. As my motto reads way below the post, I still do have hope. My long-term goal is still to swim the Oceanside Pier again with no gear, just goggles and swim cap. 

A few photos below:

I probably should have shut this old swim blog down a few years ago because I rarely even get wet anymore. But,,a glimmer of past hope and my deep love of the cold swim at the beaches persists. There is just some special quality that cold, ocean water transfers into my brain. 

A couple of days before Thanksgiving. Very low tide, few people, and a few surfers, as waves were 1-2 feet. I'm thankful for our home, these beautiful beaches, California easy living, a new grandson...our first...two kids now grown and prospering--both Oceanside homeowners. 

The distant pier photo shows the burned down building at the end of the pier. 

Don't get old, people. When we get these disk and spinal injuries as young adults, we may be fortunate and get thirty years of pain free life before we fall apart. BUT, when age comes, it brings arthritis, dried-out discs, vertebral disintegration, facet joint craziness, compressed nerves that introduce one to a new level of pain and disability. 

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

I GOT WET YESTERDAY

        On an impulse, I drove to the Pier, parked in disabled spots right on the sand--damn near. The late afternoon. 

Just 10 minutes but an eternity since I was loose enough to put on a wet suit, fins, and a neoprene hood.

Water about 67, clean enough. Surf conditions poor. Waves 3 feet but no angle on them to be ridden. Only a few surfers. 

    Mentally, it's quite difficult to get myself in the water. Maybe I can change. Bye.

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