Rough Water Swim Around the Pier-and I was going to rest instead

I really needed a day off from the beach but I had to drive by and check out the water.  I could see whitecaps from where I work and it was rough and sloppy.  The beautiful visibility was gone.  Only a handful of surfers. No visibility. The wind was blowing the surface water southeast.
I swam against a moderate current and two-foot chop to get around the pier.  It was one of those days when you wonder when/if you are going to get around it.  It took me 46 minutes-and that was with a really low tide.

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

Swimming for Shells and I Wish I had this Car

I was hoping that the visibility would be great again because I wanted to dive for sand dollars and shells.  It wasn't.  It was 10-12 feet visibility but stirred up somewhat.  Still, I collected a bunch of good sand dollars.  I was in for about 25 minutes and got cold enough.  I wanted to show off my wheels, so I took some photos of it in the parking lot.  Pretty cool, eh?     NOT!
I just saw this silly car with the frame on the ground and had to take a picture.  Crazy.
Must be some hydraulics to lift it up and make one feel extra macho or something. 

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

Best Visibility in Oceanside in My Memory

I went to check out the water-not sure if I would swim-as usual.  The tide was low, very small waves, hardly any surfers, and a totally flat & glassy ocean.  Outstanding.  I saw a dolphin heading south before I got in the water.  Grey skies, sun setting soon-I got into my oversized, baggy, stupid-looking bathing suit, and got in.  An older gentleman, walking his dog, asked me, "Are you going in?"  "Someone has to," I replied.  He nodded in satisfaction and went on his way.  The water was cold but so clean and calm and beautiful.  I estimate the visibility was up to fifteen to twenty feet.
I had a nice swim in the flat water, and did the pier in 31 minutes.  Because of the low tide, my time was shorter.  I saw a bunch of sand dollars on the bottom but didn't stop to collect them today.  Too cold.
What a fantastic ocean at the Pier today.  Glad I had it all to myself.

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

Harbor Beach to Pier Swim-Low Tide

I tried to catch a photo of a couple of dolphins but I just got blurry photos.  The water was a bit warmer today. Tide was low and visibility excellent for us at 15 feet.  I swam from the Harbor Beach to around the Pier and in.  Took me about an hour and ten minutes.  It got rough near the pier-it usually does that near the pier.  Otherwise it was flat and nice for swimming.  Kelp floating around a lot-that's a pain because it can scare the heck out of you sometimes.
It was a nice swim. Fairly demanding, and then a run back to the Harbor parking lot.  Nice Sunday in Oceanside.

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