Waterproof Cameras

I don't have a waterproof camera, and today again, I forgot to bring my non-waterproof camera to the beach.  Surfline.com has the water temp at 54-56 degrees.  It didn't feel that cold.  I had a 38 minute swim with fins from Tyson St north and out & around the pier.  The current was mild and I was swimming into it.  The sea was mild but getting out through the surf took me 7 minutes with the fins.  Long time.  Wave after wave pushing me back, only 10 seconds or so interval.  Took a while to get out-strange.  Maybe I was lazy or tired getting going.
I watched some of the pictures and video of Rob at Rob Aquatics swimming and I realize that he swims with his upper back and shoulders higher in the water than I do.  He has his shoulders very high and reaches far forward with his arms.  I tried to do this today and it seemed to increase my speed.  I'll keep working on the technique.
Good swim after work.

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

Roller Coaster Swim in the Rain in Oceanside

Adrenaline rush swim after work today.  Friday the 13th, a crazy ocean with continuous 2-6 foot washing machine swells and chop, not one other person in the water.  I alone enjoyed the exciting water today.  Who cares about rain?  I'm wet already, right?  I swam hard with the fins and had a 30 minute up and down swim.  My pictures stink but better than nothing.  As usual they don't convey the size of the ocean.  My second swim of the week so my streak survives. 
I thought it wise to hide behind a dumpster as the lifeguard truck drove by me.  I would bet money that they would have advised me to stay the heck out of the water today.  Better to hide, wait till they passed, and make a quick entrance and swim out.  Mission accomplished.
The water was not freezing today-just cold.  Just a good time for this lone swimmer today. 

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

Oceanside Thursday Farmers Market

I thought that the Thursday night farmers market was a seasonal deal, but a guy at work just told me that it was going on tonight and year-round.  So there-something else which I have no interest in attending.  I prefer the solitude of my swims-like the swim that I had after work today.
I haven't been feeling so hot this week and mucho pain has kept me away from the beach all week.
My last swim was Saturday the 7th.  I really thought that the streak was gonna' be done this week.  We had some rain which gets the water dirty and we are expecting more rain.
This afternoon before work ended I just got the impulse to get myself in the water-I only have today, tomorrow, and Saturday to get 2 swims in.
I got my swim in today.  39 minutes. With fins.  The water was a little dirty and very rough out there for swimming.  I didn't bring a bathing suit with me so I swam in my long pants and underwear.  No shirt.  I wore my belt.  The water was cold today and the chop was 2-3 feet all the way.  Not a strong current, though, which was nice.  No camera either.

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

Special Event at the Pier Today, Saturday April 7, 2012

It was 83 degrees inland 7 miles from the beach, and 70 degrees at the beach at about 3 PM Saturday.  I didn't feel so hot and didn't want to swim, but 'the streak' must go on.  Because of the warm inland temperatures, the beach was crowded.  Quite a few people and kids were even getting into the water.  The water temperature was very spotty and variable-a cold area, then a nice, warm spot for 200 yards.  Quite a bit of warm spots today.  However, I think that this is not a good thing because the ocean was stagnant and dirty.  Waves small, no current, glassy motionless water outside. 
Lots of debris, kelp, bits of plant matter, dissolved specks of dirt throughout the swim in the water.  I didn't have much energy or enthusiasm today.  An uneventful swim around the pier.
It was more of a beach watchers day.  Young girls/ladies and young Marines and civilians strolling past one another giggling.  Then there was the type of beachgoer that I like to watch: the young family with a toddler holding on to a parent's hand and getting his/her tiny feet chilled in the water.  For the little ones it is pure joy-and the parents share it.  Good stuff.
I don't know what the amphitheater crowd and event was about.  I heard some mellow singing and some talking over a speaker, and there were bleachers set up on the sidewalk/street above the amphitheater.  There was also a big screen setup.  Will keep you posted on that-probably a concert or religious revival, or both.

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

Monday After Work Swim

No camera today; I wasn't expecting to swim.  But, I drove by the beach and it was beautiful.  More beachgoers because of Spring Break for some folks.  The water had settled down quite a bit but fins were still a good idea for me.  As it turned out, I would have survived without fins.  The current was mild to the south.  The water was cold and fresh.  There were big swells out there and the breaking waves were powerful-about 3 different lines of parallel breaks.  I got thrown around pretty good coming in-guess the fins were nice to have on, now that I think of it.  I remember kicking the fins to fight back to the surface a couple of times.
A good, rough swim overall. Took me 6 minutes to get out through the surf.  The swim around was mildly choppy but fun.

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