Kayak Oceanside CA

So I have not been in the water for several days because I have been jogging during lunchtime at work, which leaves no energy left to swim after work. Saturday I took the kayak out to the boat basin/harbor on base and paddled out to the big buoy off the beach about 3/4 mile.

I had a little adventure. I don't know how to kayak and I don't think that I'm going to be getting into kayaking. I didn't feel like I could get into a rhythm at all. My kayak has a 400 pound capacity; I'm 245 currently and the kayak felt wobbly and unstable. I was ok in the protected water of the harbor and channel but as I got into the breakwater and then the ocean, I felt more and more uncomfortable.

The waves were 1-3 feet in the ocean and I had to be careful to face into the waves. There were several big sea lions lounging on the big buoy and a couple jumping on and off swimming around. They appeared to be taking turns resting on the buoy and nudging each other off. They were barking a lot loudly and it gave me the creeps. I had wanted to get closer but was too scared to because I thought that I'd flip the kayak.

On the way back in I got tired, my neck hurt, and I probably looked like an idiot. The harbor police boat slowly shadowed me in (they kept about 200 yards away) for safety, I suppose. Anyway, I got into the channel and then flipped the kayak and into the water I went. Very embarrassing with the harbor boat watching me. Thankfully they just watched. I flipped over four times trying to get back into the kayak and on my way. I was wearing a life jacket and could easily have swum in, but it frightened me nonetheless.

I had a flashback to when I was a little kid and almost drowned in a sunfish sailboat in rough water.

I'm comfortable swimming IN the water but not in a boat ON the water.

Here are some pictures of the kayak and the Pendleton harbor.

Monday Rough Water Oceanside

I checked the beach on base first but it looked rough and ominous. I passed and went over to the pier. The bottom three pictures are taken today on base about 4:20 PM.










So, too rough to swim (freestyle) at the pier so I decided to lie on my back and kick around the pier with my fins. Give the arms a rest. I used them to hug myself to keep warm. The water really was rough and angry; it didn't want me out there. Out past the pier there were 4 to 6 foot big swells but all chopped up. It was a good workout for kicking. I got the current correct this time; it was mild running north to south. I had to go home and take a hot bath to warm up. Only one surfer in the water and a trio of people for a bit playing in the waves.

Mothers' Day Swim Harbor to Pier (Almost)

I went in at the Harbor beach today and swam out a couple of hundred yards. It was warm-about 63 degrees. The water was clean but rough and choppy. I swam south and had a hard time. The current was running north and I was running (or swimming, rather) south. The chop was strong but I swam and swam and didn't seem to go anywhere. About an hour later I was shot and hadn't reached the pier yet. I was dizzy and decided to head in. Anyway, the pictures of the Harbor area and the beach came out nice.

I forgot to mention the big, dead jellyfish washed up on the beach that I saw. One of those purplish umbrella things with the tentacles hanging down. I wouldn't want to swim into that globby mess out there. Yuck. Wish I has a picture.

Saturday Pier

This afternoon late I went for a swim around the pier with my fins on. The water was warm and relaxing. Beachgoers were in the water with bathing suits on and about a dozen surfers were out
south of the pier. Lots of other people just enjoying the sand.