Pumping Sand in Oceanside

The south beaches in Oceanside lose sand inexorably so the city dredges the harbor channel and pumps sand south to the rocky beaches that lack it. It seems like an annual event. Thank you, City of Oceanside. Also, thanks to the City of Carlsbad; their beach is contiguous with ours. 

The big pipe is buried in the photos. The dredger is visible in the background.

The water looked brown when I arrived late yesterday afternoon. Two young surfer dudes were showering off and I asked them if it was dirty.

One answered at length, unusual for surfers, well, to me anyway. "No, I wouldn't say dirty; it's just the sand is all stirred up. I hope it helps the waves."

There you go. No visibility in the water and the water was c o l d.

The internet had it at 61 F. Now, in my dotage I'm wearing a thin wetsuit along with a neoprene hat, because I have succumbed to my wimpiness. I accept it. (Hell no, I don't. I loathe old age.) 

The young guys have thicker wetsuits and no hats, but they need the thicker neoprene as they have zero body fat. They really should wear a cap to protect their ears. Daily exposure to cold water causes the bone tissue in the external ear canal to grow, narrowing the canal. It's a protective device of the body. It will eventually cause the 'surfer's ear,' a narrow canal that collects a bit of moisture and may cause infections. Put a few drops of isopropyl alcohol in your ears after exposure to dry them out. Takes years to happen though, and when you're young you gotta look cool. I'm far beyond that. I don't mind at all that I have the potential to look like a tourist.

I know. There's too many photos.

I stopped at the doorstep to the bigger, rough waves in this swim. I'm firmly trapped in a rehab body again. Have to be safe. Living safely is overrated. Go crazy wild while you're able. Damn the torpedoes! If they hit you, then they hit you. 

Lazily, I kicked a bit back and forth, mostly just hanging out just inside the outside waves. That phrase may be my destination; I like it. "Just inside the outside."

Only 2-4 footers, but little interval between waves. Even a rough, surgy 2-footer can make you take it seriously. My brain got its necessary chill that raises me up from my mordant, sullen state. Often it is hard to overcome the inertia of my brain and get some momentum in my motion. I learned those two big words in physics class. That was useful; so much of my education was wasted. We jumped through hoops, didn't we?

I found myself dancing with the dog this morning, watching old music videos. Singing too. The singing is good for the wet lungs. We sure had a ton of great music in the 70s and 80s. 

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