Two Swimmers in the Ocean at the Oceanside Pier

As I was swimming in on the south side of the pier, I was told that another swimmer was heading out on the south side and we passed each other.  I didn't notice him.  I like to swim farther south of the surfers.  Yesterday I hit a strong current head-on and I did not want a repeat today.  I checked in with the lifeguard and he recommended swimming from north to south, which I did.  He was correct.
The water conditions were drastically better than yesterday-flat water without chop, comfortable temperature, decent visibility, and small waves.
I felt good and did the swim in 33 minutes but it would have been a bit longer but a fishing boat was blocking me at the end of the pier.  The boat was big-probably 60 feet-and a harbor patrol/police boat was trying to get him to move farther out as I was rounding the pier.  I don't know what was up with the boat driver.
As I swam up onto the sand I was surprised to see my daughter and wife there with a sign that said "Happy Birthday Dad" and carrying those inflatable balloons.  It was a sweet surprise.  Can't believe I hit 54 years old.  Weird.

Rough Water Swim Oceanside Pier-Strong Current Tuesday

Well I forgot my camera but the appearance of the beach was the same as yesterday.  I swam out and the water had a good choppiness to it-one to two feet.  It was another slugfest with the water.  It's interesting when you lift your arm up and reach forward and the wave covers up your arm as you start your forward reach.  That was happening repeatedly yesterday.  When I got out to the end of the pier distance from the beach, and I was angling from about 150 yards south of the pier aiming for the end of the pier, I was at the same spot as I started out from the sand.  I was going against the current out there and it was pretty strong.  The current was running from north to south. 
I swam for about fifteen minutes to try to approach the end of the pier and it finally sunk in that I was not going anywhere.  I was thinking about turning around and heading in but kept going...and going.
Bit by bit I got a little closer to the pier and it was a good workout.  Even after I got around the end of the pier it was difficult swimming in.  Just a rough water swim all around on Tuesday.  Until you are in it you just cannot appreciate the power of the water.  Thankfully the surf zone was pretty calm and I didn't have to fight the surf.  Overall, it was a good training swim but I wish that I had gone the other direction (north to south). 

Rough OceanTraining Swim for Oceanside Labor Day Pier Swim

Wow.  I had myself a rough swim this afternoon.  I checked in with the nice lifeguard before starting my pier swim.  The water was warm and sloppy.  The chop was a good two feet all the way, and very washing-machine like.  It was more of a fight with the ocean rather than a swim-but exciting all the way.  43 minutes to do the swim.  Now that's what I call a rough water swim.

Pulled Over by the Oceanside Harbor Police Boat on my Oceanside Pier Swim

Lots of interesting occurrences on my pier swim today.  I went too early-at 2 PM.  So, there were too many people at the beach with lots of activity-fast cars, people getting cited for alcoholic beverages in their coolers on the sand, and a homeless looking lady who told me twice "to smile" as I walked by her.  First I walked down to the beach and took my photos and then returned to my car.  I then walked back to the beach to swim.
The water looked choppy, and it was.  I swam north to south to check it out and I was swimming into the chop, which slowed me down.  There is a lot of glare on the water from the sun so sometimes a swimmer is not visible, especially in the chop.
OK.  Here it is:  I got pulled over by a guy in the Harbor Police boat out near the pier.  He gave me a friendly safety briefing and advised that I check in with the lifeguard station before I swim.  He said the lifeguard could radio a head's up to boaters in the area to keep an eye out for me.  (And today I even was wearing a yellow swim cap.)
The water was 68 and the visibility I think was the best that I recall-a good fifteen feet.  The waves were small-no good for surfers at all.  My swim was nice and my Timex watch said 43 minutes.  But we have to subtract my police issue time and also before I hit the sand on the way in I saw a bunch of sand dollars on the sandy, clean bottom.  I had to hang out and dive down a few times to collect some to bring home.  It was a swim rather different from my typical boring swims and I was annoyed first, but it all was for the best. 

Saturday Oceanside Pier Swim Training Choppy Day

The waves were small and lacking power Saturday afternoon, but these pictures seem to belie that fact.  There was a body surfing contest earlier in the day but conditions weren't good.  I swam from south to the north and had a nice swim.  The water had a 1-2 foot chop to it, but it was warm and no strong currents.  I bought a watch and wore it to time myself.  I came up with 35 minutes for the swim.  I get in just south of Seagaze Drive (between the Pier and Tyson St) and get out near Surfrider Way.  I don't know how far that is but maybe about a mile.
Before I got in I was studying the water and I saw a big dolphin heading in toward the beach, but it stayed visible for about 1.5 to 2 seconds and what I saw was a fin on a big fish heading toward me.  Remember, I was standing on the sand.  The dolphin looked like a big shark because it was not doing the usual curved up and down movement of the typical dolphin parallel to the sand.  It really gave me the creeps.  I kept watching and then saw a few more glimpses of what were smaller dolphins clearly. 
So, I swam out there with a creepy feeling and then I hit a big chunk of kelp-like a big tree branch-which almost gave me a heart attack.  Then I swallowed a gulp of water and a side cramp started-and it stayed with me the entire swim. 
I didn't relax until I was headed in, tired, and had put the imaginary shark sighting out of my mind.  The cramp stayed with me for another half hour or so.