Relaxing Swim Today--Just Kicking With Fins

The water was at an extremely low tide when I got there and took these photos.  Very low tide!  I looked for shells and eased into the water with wet suit on.  59 degree water but I felt wimpy in it today.  Nobody in on my side of the pier--right side of these pictures as you look at them.  I relaxed and kicked back and forth with the fins.  The waves were small--1-2 feet, and grew to 2-3 feet as I was in.  Just a half-hour of water therapy.  I did step on something slimy and slippery that moved when I stepped on it, so a tiny bit of excitement there.  Then after I got out seven guys were doing gymnastics and capouera on the sand.  They were happy!  The end.

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

Strong Surge Today

Again it has been a while since I got wet.  Yesterday and today I felt better so I got my lazy butt down to fabulous Oceanside, CA.  There was one surfer north side and one surfer south side.  Nothing good to ride; the waves were big but closing out horizontal to the sand mostly into a big, white, surging, foamy hunk of loveliness.  The surging foam was pulling to the south moderately.  I wore the wet suit and warm hood and just kicked it out around past the breakers.  The water felt nice after ten minutes; just kicking on my back with fins relaxing and easing up and down with the rise and fall of the swell is sweet.  I stayed in maybe twenty-five minutes and got out because I didn't want to overdo it on my back.  A nice day for me.  Then when I was cleaning my junk out of my car when I got home I stuck my finger on a safety pin while reaching into a car crevice to get my wedding ring.  In my cursing and shaking my hand my ring disappeared.  I looked around everywhere imaginable but I can't find it.  I may have to invest another hundred dollars again for a replacement ring.  If I do that will be my third hundred dollar wedding ring.  And, oh yea, "The first time you quit is the last time you try." 

Friday Kicking with Fins

I was going to swim as I did the last few days, i.e., not for long and without wet suit.  Well, I forgot my goggles and my watch, so I donned the wet suit and fins, and my very warm neoprene hat, and went for a kick.  I went out just past the small waves, lay on my back, and kicked away up the beach and back.  It was nice.  My wind is getting better and my low back felt like it was getting some good exercise. 
Before I got in, I chatted with a couple down from Michigan for the winter.  The wife was walking slowly like me, plus a cane, and we talked about the water here a bit and there (Lake Michigan) for a bit.  I asked her about being gimped up--I suppose I should have use some better terminology--but she didn't seem bothered by it.  Well, she told me she had problems with her discs (lumbar) and so we were off to the races with disc talk.  "Do you get those spasms where you sit up," she queried me.  "Oh, yeah, I get those about fifty time a day."  "I get them when I'm lying down in bed," she says, and I tell her, "I get them when I'm sitting down."  Oh, ha ha ha...blah blah blah.  We're at that stage of life now.  Great (not).  End of story.
"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

I feel like I'm getting used to the cold water again-a little so far

A handful of surfers today looking at some small waves.  Good visibility--about 8 feet in spots.  Water temp the same at 58 or so degrees.  I just swam out and did an arc back in for a swim of 15 minutes.  I didn't get used to the water until about 12 minutes, I'd guess.  But the brain is improving for now--and the old body too.  A beautiful day at the beach for a $2.00 close parking spot right on the sand.

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

Good Blogs About Swimming. Real Swimming,not my candy-ass dipping my toes in the water

From Ireland, and including great photos of people and the country is www.loneswimmer.com

From the US, the blog http://marathonswimmers.org/blog/      farther, colder. rougher--that says a lot

From Monterey Bay, CA, www.kelpkrawlers.org        swim year-round up north

From Central CA, Avila Beach Swim Club, www.swimavila.blogspot.com

Good, motivating reading.


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