Over One Month Without Salt Water

     I have not been in the water since early June.  That's crazy.  I'm not quitting, but my low back pain will not let up.  I just go to doctors, physical therapists, the out-patient surgery center, and take meds.  I was put out to pasture by my federal job due to my inability to stand for long without mucho pain and spasms.  I also had to bend and reach down in slow motion so I didn't have something slip out of whack.  I had to request to use a telephone headset because my neck is fused.  My work was hustle-bustle, run around like crazy, reach over two customer counters that I served, and bend over repeatedly to get products.  Then they raised my countertops so that I would not be able to sit down and stand up as needed to give my back a break.  Chairs were disallowed.  Silly, but that's what happens when you get old.  Too much for me anymore.
     I did two "requests for accommodation" for disability, which is required by law, but the government puts you through the mill and grinds you up with their paperwork requirements.  You can't win, or if you win your job duties will be changed to break you down.  This was my experience.  By the time I got a lawyer the disability retirement was welcome.
     But let me return to the ocean.  My last swim messed up my back for a week.  Since then I have experienced four separate trips to the out-patient surgery center for lumbar pain nerve blocks and also radio-frequency nerve ablation injections.  They have only helped decrease the pain by one-third, I'd say.  I want to go swim but I know that I'll suffer for it for a week afterward with the meds, ice packs, TENS unit, and pain.  Raw deal.
     Actually, just writing this is motivating me a bit to get my lazy butt to the beach.  I read a few swim blogs and I'm jealous of the swimmers.  Aghrrr...  We'll see.


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

Friday Afternoon Oceanside Pier Rough Water Swim

     I got in the water today early afternoon.  The area was crowded with folks enjoying the beautiful day, warm water, and positive energy (ha ha).  The water looked rough and I took a long time trying to figure out which direction to swim.  I was wrong. I went north to south (right to left) and the current was strong south to north.  The mile swim was more like a mile-and-a-half with the current in my face.  The chop was big or here--a solid two feet all the way. 
     The green water was probably 70 or more, but the lifeguard's chalkboard had 66.  No way.  It was actually too warm on the south side of the pier.  The swim was up and down with timing my breaths with the surging and splashing of the water.  Even bringing it in to finish and swim through the surf was difficult.  Crazy.  A surprising swim that challenged me.  It took me 47 minutes to touch sand.  That's ten minutes more than typical for me.  I'm going to bed early tonight and dream of green, gentle water.  Not really.  I loved the surprise rough water conditions.


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

Thursday Late Afternoon Pier Swim and Downtown Street Fair

     I took too many photos today because I was so happy with myself that I had charged my camera's battery, and I wanted to show off.  I really DO need a camera that takes pictures that people can see; my photos just give a general idea of what the scene is.
     A rigorous thirty-seven minute swim in choppy water was a victory of sorts for me today.  My pain doctor gave me four radio frequency nerve ablations on my right lumbar spine and they helped me A BUNCH.  I'm to get four more ablations in two weeks on the left lumbar side.  I have had three days without pain medicine: priceless.
     The water was warm and greenish.  It was stirred up and cloudy, with some strong surgy waves in the surf zone.  They're fun as long as they don't hurt you.  Surfline.com has the temp as 64-66 but I'd guess 67-70.  Lots of flags on the sand to warn of rips and dangerous conditions.  A good crowd, I'd say.
     Now, about that Thursday evening Downtown Oceanside Street Fair, what a mess.  How many multi-tattooed characters with their pit bulls can we cram into one block?  A low-class affair.  The city should step it up a notch or two in that endeavor.  Here's a suggestion, Oceanside:  How about restrooms?  Not just for the street fair area but at the beach and Pier area.  People have to go...and that's all I have to say about that (as Forrest Gump would finish).
   

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

Oceanside High School Graduation at the Pier

     Don't you hate it when you're tryin' to be looking like a big, macho, old guy (still hanging in there with the young dudes), and you hurt something (like a foot) and you really want to allow some free, outward expression of the pain, but that would ruin the picture of yourself in your mind.

     What the heck?  You hurt yourself and you want to scream and fall over is what I'm getting at.

     I did this neat swim just now and the tide was coming in and covering up some of the big boulders under the pier.  The water is three feet or so and you're really not supposed to walk under the pier next to the boulders when the waves are hitting you and some boulders and rocks are not visible.  I pretty much always
walk under the pier in such conditions.  So, the Lifeguards recognize me, and know that I just swam around, so none of them has ever talked to me about that.

     Back to the pain.  Wow.  I was half-way through under the pier and hit my left foot hard on a big rock and had to suck it up--because I'm walking right in front of the windows in the Guard Office.  I'll still do it next time anyway.

     The Pier was hectic with the Oceanside High School Graduation going on tonight at the Pier Amphitheater.  Interestingly, lots of security, and the security company was "wanding" everyone corralled through their wooden barriers.  I got away fast so no photos.

     The water was warm at 68, greenish-blue, and flat outside.  Just two series of 2-3 foot waves to get past.  My swim took 38 minutes because it seemed like the incoming tide mixed with the mild current to the north made me feel the swim outward.  Heading in was easier.  Just a beautiful, free swim at the Oceanside Pier.


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

Big Waves Coming In with Strong Rip Current to the North

The plan was to swim out past the breakers but no way today.  There is a big swell coming and the beginning of it is powerful.  Oceanside had a very strong rip current from the south to the north and the waves were breaking left in the same direction.  Waves were way too powerful to try to attempt to get out past them.  We relaxed and kicked out a bit but before the strong surf zone we stopped.  The current had quickly pulled us north (left to right) in a matter of fifteen minutes or so a few hundred yards.  The water was beautiful, warm, and relaxing.  Not many beachgoers in the water.  Too dangerous.

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