I Got into the Water Today ! Been a long time

August 19, 2015 was the last time that I got into the water.  Way too long.  Today I went in and swam a little bit in trunks at Oceanside Pier.  My body needs replacement parts but after talking to my doctor and my daughter something kicked into action in my brain.

The water--it was quite cold in trunks and a latex swim cap.  I got in quickly and my stroke felt good.  I especially enjoyed the buoyancy of the water.  I had forgotten how my back gets a temporary reprieve from pain when that salt water is pushing me up.  Sweet.  As for conditions, it was totally flat and the tide was low.  Waves from zero to a foot, and two feet every five minutes.  A good day for me to re-enter.

Hands and the face were quick to feel the freeze.  I felt ready to swim farther but I didn't want to press my limits today.  I'm feeling like now that I've broken my streak of inactivity for a year and five months, I'll swim again very soon.  Oh, for excitement I stepped on the wing of a stingray--a small one--a foot, and it fluttered away without accidentally stinging me.  Then within two minutes I saw two more small stingrays close in.  The visibility was good at 3-4 feet.












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

Evening Swim Oceanside Pier

     I got in the water tonight at about 6:45 P.M.   It was rougher than yesterday's beautiful calm.  The waves were small-horizontally-so smaller waves were breaking all over the place.  Even out past the waves the water was sloppy.  I'd say the temp was 70 degrees.  I just saw about two feet of visibility because it was getting a bit dark.  No crowds.  Nice atmosphere. 
     I swam for about twenty minutes parallel to the sand and enjoyed it.

     I just remembered something else from last night's beach visit.  After the swim, with the water being clear for two feet, I looked for shells for 10-15 minutes.  While doing this I felt good and decided to test out my legs.  Very slowly I jogged a bit in the shallow water--for 50 yards or so.  Now this seems silly, but I have not been able to pick up my legs in a jogging mode for a few years.  Maybe this means my low back muscles are getting stronger.

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

I just returned from a gorgeous swim

     It is Tuesday evening.  I drove down to the beach at 6:45 P.M.   Bu the time I strolled into the water at the north side of the Pier, the sun was in the process of setting.  I was stressed out, because I should get some sort of part-time job, but nowadays one can't be just a pharmacist anymore, we have to be educational superheroes with all sorts of extra crap on our resumes.  Blah.  I'll keep looking for an old-school pharmacist who works a store and gets along with customers.

     I may do the registry thing and travel overnight to find what is comfortable for me. 

     My swim tonight was lovely.  The water was a warm 71, I'd say.  Not crowded at all.  People aren't flocking to the water after sundown.  There are surfers who do surf well after sunset; perhaps in another young life I could have been one of those.  I swam out in flat water, no chop, small waves, and a smooth swimming surface outside.

     I swam about 1/4 mile north, parallel to the sand, and turned around and came back.   I didn't have a watch on but I estimate at least 1/2 mile of a swim-a real swim-in about 20 minutes.  Oh, I'm not a fast swimmer.  Latest weight is 222 pounds on a chubby 5'10" frame.

     I'm a new man after a swim like that.  I hope to repeat it tomorrow. 


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

Crowds Saturday at the Oceanside Pier & Surrounding Beaches

     Just a quick dip at 7 PM to play in the water tonight.  The sun was low, making the beach water look gray-brown in hue.  2-3 foot waves, very sloppy.  Temp 78 air and approximately 69 water.
     I don't feel like writing much, mainly because there isn't much to talk about.
     It may just be better to wait until Monday evening to swim next time.  It does relax oneself, just taking advantage of that ocean buoyancy even for a short while.  Until next time.


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

Today Was a Good Beach Day

     Wow!  I decided to take my fins to the beach today to test them out on my low back.  I was expecting the washing machine choppy water and I wanted the fins for propulsion and for working on my strength.
     It turns out that the water was not as choppy and sloppy as prior days.  It wasn't smooth, but just less rough.  First off the water was a bit colder; I'd guess 66 degrees.  It was very refreshing for a change.  Visibility just a few feet.  Waves 2-4 feet.  Outside waves were crashing down straight down.  I, with my fins, just kicked out through the rough stuff on my back like I knew what I was doing.
     I'll pat myself on the back for getting farther out and pushing myself more today.  I almost felt like a person who belonged in the ocean.
     Now, for a general Oceanside beach update, I will report that Camp Pendleton has at least two fires going today, possibly a smaller third one.  From out in the water one gets a good view of Pendleton in the distance.  Because it is Thursday and there is a street fair in downtown Oceanside, everybody and his brother were driving there looking for a parking spot.  Too much! 
     The sand at 6:30 PM was near empty--just how I like it. 
     A bit of excitement walking back to my car--one of our homeless, schizophrenic wretches--a man of about 35-40, shirtless, ratty shorts, red/brown weather-beaten face, way out of our reality, was ambling down Surfrider calling out repeatedly in a screeching voice "I'm gonna die; I'm gonna die; I'm gonna die..."
     I'm being harsh in my description but I actually am terribly upset with our society that has pretty much eliminated our social service system for the mentally ill, the homeless, the addicts in need of rehabilitation, etc.  There are so many of these throw-away people now that we pretend we don't see them anymore.  I don't know. 


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