What's Up With The Sharks in San Diego Lately?

I haven't been in the water for about four days because my neck and back need some rest time.  However, I saw that there was a third shark sighting in La Jolla and also a shark sighting in Pismo Beach, in the Central Coast.  Here are links:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/08/31/1737297/great-white-shark-sighting-reported.html

http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-shark-spotted-shark-sighting-shutsdown-la-jolla-beaches-20110831,0,6326780.story

I drove by the beach at the harbor in Oceanside, CA after work today (Thursday) and there were some big, powerful waves hitting the beach one after another.  Closed out waves, nothing for a surfer to ride.  It was not a place for a swimmer either.  I also drove by the Oceanside Pier and it wasn't as rough, but the beach was still too rough for swimming. 

Sunday Low Tide Swim Hot Water Oceanside California Pier Shark Report

I didn't take any pictures Sunday because I was not refreshed or invigorated by my mile training swim.  I don't know what was going on with the water but it was like swimming in a warm, stagnant lake.
The water was flat but silty and sort of muddy.  Waves about 2 feet. This was low tide, so maybe that had something to do with it.  I felt so slow in the swim-41 minutes-but it felt like an hour and a half. 
But when does the ocean get too hot for a refreshing swim?  Sunday.



Shark-sighting-at-mission-beach-most-likely-a-great-white

Glassy Water Saturday Afternoon

My last picture shows the larger waves on the south side of the pier.  There were good waves 3-4 feet on the south side and swimming in was beautiful.  There was a gentle, flat, but very noticeable swell of a good three feet that I saw from the outside past the breakers looking in.  I love the way that the ocean on such a day moves with one wavelike motion up and down before the wave forms and breaks. 
When I went in on the north side-about two hundred yards north of the pier, the inside mild rip current was flowing gently north like a river.  Just past the small waves-about 2 feet-I hit a great glassy ocean surface like a swimming pool, only bigger and mine alone.  I had a 37 minute swim with no current, nothing bothering me, no jet skies, no boats, etcetera.  Just my side glimpses of a partly-cloudy sky and the sun as I swam along.  Theere was a big crowd on the pier and I was all that there was to see for them-one slow swimmer not in a hurry to go anywhere.  Afterward, I jogged back along the beach to where I began.  A nice swim.

Flat, Calm Water at Oceanside Pier Friday Evening Shark Sighting

Small waves Friday-one to three feet-not powerful.  Warm water-about 67.  Lousy visibility. No chop!  That's so nice when the water is flat-makes you feel like you know how to swim and you're actually moving forward.  I went north to south and there was no current-maybe a slight north to south movement out past the pier-like yesterday.
No boats or speeding jet skiers to fret about.  I was having a peaceful, solo swim and when I turned to start in past the pier I saw two young guys swimming around the pier in the opposite direction.  I was out past them and hollered to one guy who was obviously comfortable in the water.  His buddy behind him was beating the water to death and making slow progress.
The lead guy appeared to be side-stroking and watching his buddy intently, who was freestyling behind him.  They were too close to the pier pilings.  My take on it was that the lead guy was helping his buddy do the swim with support and the comfort that one feels when being with a swim buddy.  The other swimmer didn't even see me, even when the lead guy and I both said "Hi" back and forth. 
My swim in was nice.  I take a very wide path around the pier to stay away from the pier itself and surfers near it. 
There was one interesting aspect to Friday's swim, though.  On Thursday there was a great white shark sighting south of us at Mission Beach.  That thought, of course, flittered in and out of my consciousness off and on throughout the swim; but the pure, relaxing comfort of the water helped to brush the concern away.  Even so, it was good to have the swim completed uneventfully.  A really nice swim!  34 minutes.  I hooked myself up to my TENS unit afterward and blasted the neck pain for hours.  It's worth it though!

Shark-sighting-closes-mission-beach-in-san-diego

Beach Quieting Down with Summer Coming to an End. TENS Unit Daily Now

I swam north to south this evening.  There was a mild current flowing southward at the end of the pier so I chose the correct direction. Slightly choppy water, poor visibility, small waves, water temp about 67 degrees.  My time was 37 minutes-no fins.  The Labor Day Swim is not far away now.  I feel well prepared.
My neck has taken a beating and I am wearing my TENS unit each day for pain relief.  I really should not be swimming this much because it exacerbates my neck and back pain, but it helps in other respects.  The TENS unit, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator, runs a low electrical charge through sticky pads that are applied to painful body areas.  Mine are on my neck muscles now.  I highly recommend TENS units if you have pain issues.
Parking is ample now close to the water as the summer nears its end.  I like the coming of colder water and fewer persons at the beach.  We'll see how long I can hold out with trunks and no wet suit.  That's a mind game with me.  I got some pictures today.