Nice Oceanside One Mile Pier Swim

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

I took the camera but I didn't give a rat's you-know-what for taking photos today.  I parked free (up to 4 hours free) 2 blocks back from the Pier today.  You can't beat that deal with a stick.  The water was lovely, inviting, and comforting.  Probably low sixties, but I got used to it fast: 2 minutes.

I'm wearing that white wide elastic back support every time I swim now and it is helping me so much.  I didn't get extra pain from yesterdays swim, and today's swim will probably just give me a little increased pain.  I wish I had thought of it sooner; my wife bought it for me at a garage sale about 4 months ago.  I have lost some weight and could use the next size down, I think.

So there was not one surfer at the Pier today because the waves were so small.  There was a decent shaped wave every now and then but the real surfers need the big excitement.  By the way, I recently saw that movie :Looking for Maverick's, or something like that, and it was very good.

It is time for the yearly Labor Day Pier Swim; I think I will swim it this year.  Although it pains me to pay $40 to do what I can do for nothing.

My mile Pier swim today was 37 minutes but my wind wasn't great.  I felt slow.  I felt that the water, although flat and calm, was pushing me side to side and slowing me down.  And I didn't have the extra juice to pick up the pace and finish strong.  Oh well.

I love the water.  By that I mean the ocean or the beach.  There is a flushing or cleansing that occurs out there alone that I haven't found anywhere else.  That may be a blog for another day.

End of Summer Swim South of the Pier Near Wisconsin St

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

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The swim yesterday was 35 minutes in 62-63 degree water.  The water was smooth and beautiful.  So relaxing and weightless.  I can't figure out my computer so the heck with it.  When grren is mixed in with the blue water, as yesterday, Oceanside has a tropical feel to it.

Pics from a day that I didn't swim

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

Brief Rough Swim South of Pier

I drove from the Harbor to the Pier, and then south to Wisconsin Street.  Parking is free there.  I found a beach access stairway at Ash Street between two houses that I didn't know existed.  The beach was rough all along and the Lifeguards were roving around taking care of business.  I noted a fire engine and two ambulances with lights on in the Harbor and Pier areas.  I hope everybody is ok.  The stabbings won't start 'til midnight.
The water was chilly for me.  I don't have my cold water tolerance back yet.  My swim was only twenty minutes but the water was very choppy and rough to swim in and catch a breath.  It was beautiful, refreshing, clean water.  Visibility about 8 feet.  Surfline has the water at 64 degrees, but it felt colder to me.  I just swam out through a rough surf zone: 2-3 foot waves with a strong surge of white water, coming one right after the other.  Then I swam south parallel to the beach for 6-7 minutes, and back.  Then a swim in to a beach with some strong water right up to the rocks.  Just the right thing for me in my quest for maintaining and possibly improving my condition.


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

Rough Beach Today

Wow. The surf was rough today!  Cool pictures.  The current was really moving left to right in these photos (south to north).  Water temp about 62-63. Air temp 73.  We don't see this kind of smashing waves often.  I swam out into the surf and it was a good challenge to get through it.  It took me about ten minutes to get through.  Then I tried to swim toward the pier into the current, but it was not to be.  I swam a bit and then swam in.  Even swimming in through the big surf was exciting.  An invigorating swim, and my body held up ok.


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