Dang, I missed the whales swim by the pier Thursday

North County Times Whales Seen Near Pier

I did my swim yesterdat at about 4:45 PM and was exactly where these whales would have been if our swim times had coincided.  I don't know whether I would have been scared to death or totally excited-like when you see dolphins.


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

I Swim Alone (Because I Can't Keep Up With Real Swimmers) ??

There may be a smidgen of truth to this.  Nah.  I'd just swim behind the faster swimmers anyway.  I need my personal space.  I swam Tyson Street out and around the pier in flat water today.  39 minutes, no fins.  Got tired.  The waves were small: 1-3 feet but the south side had 2 dozen surfers enjoying beautifully-shaped smallish waves.  Yesterday with my fins when the water was rougher, it took me 7 minutes to get out past the surf zone.  Today without fins I didn't watch my wristwatch, but it was only a few minutes.
It's just too doggone beautiful here for just me to know about the great open water swimming here in Oceanside.  It's weird.  I love the winter months more than the summer months.  It actually wasn't that cold today-maybe 60 degrees.  surfline.com says 55-58 degrees.  At least 58.
Maybe if I wasn't too fat to fit into a triathlon wet suit, I'd never have begun this cold water swimming?
And that ticks me off-why can't a guy 5'10" and 235 pounds buy a triathlon wet suit?  I've looked-and they don't exist.  Oh, well...
Who needs it.
I have my 2 swims in for the week already.
Forgot the camera again. Sorry.

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

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."