Choppy Swim Again

     I don't remember the beach being so choppy for so many days.  I swam for about twenty minutes on the south side of the Pier this afternoon, earlier than usual for me.  The water was warm, about 70, with visibility up to six feet, I'd say.  A few surfers, but nothing to surf:  1-2 foot waves with lousy shape.
     The Lifeguards again had everybody crammed in a much smaller area than last year.  There's gotta be a new boss.  I swam out, then south along the beach, and back in to the sand.  I was tired halfway through and stopped to rest several times.  But I'm ready for some smooth water out here.  I need to make some progress.
     Oh, I just remembered.  I was bothered by the scuzzy young adult blocking the underpass walkway to the beach with the "Kick me in the balls for $20" sign.  But the large-bellied Latino man who was picking his bathing suit liner out of his butt in the outdoor shower was too much.
    

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

Monday August 10th, Surfrider Beach

     It was not crowded Monday at 6 PM for my dip in the ocean so I was happy.  There was an unmarked police car working its way through the alley streets and side streets in the Surfrider area today.  Good.  Various homeless types, druggies, and ne'erdowells were about doing their furtive thing.
     Water.  First, because the sand was near empty, I just enjoyed looking at it.  I like when the sun is moving downward to its resting place for the night.  It still had a good hour to go but it's a neat time of afternoon.  Same warm water, sloppy chop, and mild rip south to north.
     I got into the blue sudsy stuff and headed out--no big waves--and floated a bit.  Not to brag, but I'm a pretty good floater.  I swam southward in the chop for a hundred yards.  Then in half-way and out again for a brief swim.  I think I'm doing the right thing--just short distances and building back up over time.  I'm planning on a lot of time. 


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

August 7th, Surfrider Short Swim

     I got in at Surfrider Beach at 6 PM and it was still crowded.  Things have changed.  I used to have it alone to myself in the late afternoon and evening.  Well, it WAS Friday evening so it's understandable.
     Sloppy water.  Warm, mild northward rip current as is oftentimes the case there.  No big waves to fight through to get out tonight.  Past the waves I swam a couple of hundred yards.  I can't think of anything notable about this quick trip.  There was a good chop outside so I wasn't able to navigate it.  No stamina yet but the back was good in the water. 
    
"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Beach Swimming Oceanside CA South Side of Pier

      I hit the south side of the Pier today for a swim.  Today is a great day in Oceanside.  78 air temp at the beach.  The lifeguard's tower board said the water temp was 66, but I'd put it at 68.  Below 4 feet it was colder-maybe 64 degrees.
     The swim area was very crowded.  I don't like that.  And for some reasons the Lifeguards are staking out large sections of sand with orange cones for vehicles--really ridiculous large areas.  I don't know what's up with that, maybe a new boss. 
     There was one surfer in water with 2 to 4 foot waves and lousy shape.  I swam out past the breakers but it took me a heck of a while to cover 150 yards.  The water is very choppy today.  I wanted to do a swim but I couldn't make much progress.  I went south for a hundred yards or so and headed in.  Chop, chop, chop.
     Nevertheless, the water was clean, 5 foot visibility, warm, and enjoyable.


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

Swim the Beach in Rough Water Oceanside

     I went to my home beach, which for the time being, is Surfrider Street in Oceanside, CA.  It's become a bit more interesting recently, it seems.  The homeless people who hang at the mouth of Surfrider have become a bit vocal, but I think it is just a manifestation of untreated schizophrenia, not intentional hostility.
     The Oceanside Police Dept. keep an active presence at that area of the beach with a couple of cops patrolling the sand in a little golf-cart on steroids kind of vehicle.  Maybe a Binford XT-2000.
     I think there is an unofficial toilet somewhere around that circle turnaround because it smells somewhat foul.  But not to worry, the City thinks they may get a restroom built there soon.
     The bright side is that we do have hookers available in the Pappy's vicinity for servicing locals and tourists visiting our area.  The two I saw today were scary, but who knows...some guys may like that kind of chick.  Also crack or meth must be selling there due to the few homeless that have fallen victim to the drugs.  Those folks have a particular skinny, desperate, disheveled look to them that can't be missed.  They are now on the sand in numbers of one or two--that must be the reason for the police presence.
     Water.  Salt water.  That's what I wanted to describe.  We had a hot, muggy, and cloudy day today.  The air temp was 83 at the beach and the water was about 73.  Very hot water.  I wanted to try to swim out past the waves and see what I could do but the last large waves were coming at an interval of ten seconds.  I tried to get through...I tried again..I tried about ten times.  Finally I actually swam through the outer wave, which was 3-4 feet today. 
     No sooner am I through and taking a rest than a lifeguard on a jet ski comes by me to check me out.  I'll say it again:  We have GREAT lifeguards in Oceanside.
     There was a good chop to the water, at least a foot, and I tried swimming out in it for a little bit.  I was too winded so I turned around and headed in.  With all the water movement it took me a bit to swim back in to standing room.  It was a good workout nonetheless, and my back held up great.  I continue to make progress in rehabbing my back. 


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