Swim Before the Rain Arrives

There's supposed to be some rain coming tonight so I got my swim in after work today (Wednesday).  I don't want to take a chance that the rain may be heavy and the water might be dirty for a few days.  The sky was cloudy with blue spots and even sunshine breaking through before my swim.  By the time I was out the sky had changed with dark cluds blowing in from the west.  The waves were small initially, 1-2 feet, with a flat ocean.  I wore my fins because I wanted to take it easy.  I did a 30 minute swim and enjoyed it.  It was face-hurting cold getting in, but it warmed up farther out.  In one of my pictures you may be able to see a car on the pier.  Somebody must not have known that you don't drive your car on the pier.  (Real tough to figure that out).  The cops were sorting that out a while later after the car made it's way back in. 
Some rain drops fell on the drive home so I guess I had the right idea.  I am covered for the streak for the week.
There was one other guy swimming around a bit on the south side who I saw after I exited the water.  I have seen this guy before.  He swims a little, and just lazes and floats around in the freezing water near the surfers and just out past them.  He's got his own program going. Good for him.  I need to be moving to keep the body working in the cold water.  Surfline.com has the temp today as 58-60. 


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

VA Health Care, Oceanside, CA Clinic

You ever wonder why I come up with weird  titles for my posts?  Well, I realized that I get more hits to my blog because the title of the blog post is part of what shows up out there on the web.  If a person types in "VA Oceanside," my blog may show up.
Today, I had a day off to go to the beautiful, new VA, out-patient clinic in Oceanside, CA.  The VA has improved so much that I prefer it to my private doctor/HMO.
Surfline.com has the water temp at 58-60.  I'd agree.  58 at the cold spots and 60 at the warm spots.
A 28 minute swim around the pier without fins today.  Sloppy water, a one-foot chop the entire swim.  Clouds overhead, sun blocked out, grayish water at the surface.  Current mild to the south.  Under the surface the water appeared greenish-blue, with visibility about 7 feet.
I felt like I was so slow today with the washing machine water.  The chop made it difficult to breathe.
Afterward, I collected seashells for a while.  A nice day off.


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

Beach Condos, Oceanside, CA

Pictures 10, 11, 12, and 13 show the tops of the condos on "The Strand" that are just across the street from the water at the Pier.  I parked at the meter on Pacific Street, which overlooks these condos.  And there are two of these for sale right now for $750K, and $430/month HOA fees.  I just looked at the listings: 2 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, right on the water, beautiful, swimming pool and jacuzzis, locked premises, and more.  Would I like to live there?  You guess.
As much as I love this beach area, if I did have the extra money, I don't know that I'd be happy living there.  But, if you want to be in the action and people watch, or live there part-time and use it as a vacation rental, this may be for you.
If you go up The Strand north about half a mile, there is a gigantic condo complex where you can buy an older 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo that sits farther away from the sand and has a limited water view for about $400K with $495/month HOA fees.  It's a smaller condo, not nearly as fancy, in what the general population would feel is a less popular part of the beach. 
Why am I writing about beach real estate?  Who knows.  Just thought someone might be curious about the price of a condo here.
Picture number five shows 4 teens doing some swim/run/water skills testing for the Oceanside Lifeguards this afternoon.  Good for them.  We are fortunate to have excellent lifeguards here. 
The water was cold, not frigid. Surfline.com has it at 57-59.  That seems accurate.  I swam out for a pier swim north to south.  Gray-blue, flat, rippled water with no noticeable current.  No sea life seen.  I was kinda' looking forward to seeing something today after the whales here 2 days ago.
Small waves, 1-3 feet with good shape on the south side.  About 2 dozen surfers enjoying it.  Lots of beachgoers and even a number of people in the water-I'd guess 3 dozen hardy souls in the water playing.  It was a very nice beach day.
I took a picture of the empty Oceanside Amphitheater under the pier.  They hold the Oceanside High School Graduation there annually.  That's pretty neat.
No events today, which was nice-a mellow atmosphere. 

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

Oh, No. North County Times Bad News Article Link. More Stuff Crowded into the Pier Area.

NorthCounty Times Pier Article

How about we just put some bathrooms, lockers, and showers under the pier?


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