Pumping Sand in Oceanside

The south beaches in Oceanside lose sand inexorably so the city dredges the harbor channel and pumps sand south to the rocky beaches that lack it. It seems like an annual event. Thank you, City of Oceanside. Also, thanks to the City of Carlsbad; their beach is contiguous with ours. 

The big pipe is buried in the photos. The dredger is visible in the background.

The water looked brown when I arrived late yesterday afternoon. Two young surfer dudes were showering off and I asked them if it was dirty.

One answered at length, unusual for surfers, well, to me anyway. "No, I wouldn't say dirty; it's just the sand is all stirred up. I hope it helps the waves."

There you go. No visibility in the water and the water was c o l d.

The internet had it at 61 F. Now, in my dotage I'm wearing a thin wetsuit along with a neoprene hat, because I have succumbed to my wimpiness. I accept it. (Hell no, I don't. I loathe old age.) 

The young guys have thicker wetsuits and no hats, but they need the thicker neoprene as they have zero body fat. They really should wear a cap to protect their ears. Daily exposure to cold water causes the bone tissue in the external ear canal to grow, narrowing the canal. It's a protective device of the body. It will eventually cause the 'surfer's ear,' a narrow canal that collects a bit of moisture and may cause infections. Put a few drops of isopropyl alcohol in your ears after exposure to dry them out. Takes years to happen though, and when you're young you gotta look cool. I'm far beyond that. I don't mind at all that I have the potential to look like a tourist.

I know. There's too many photos.

I stopped at the doorstep to the bigger, rough waves in this swim. I'm firmly trapped in a rehab body again. Have to be safe. Living safely is overrated. Go crazy wild while you're able. Damn the torpedoes! If they hit you, then they hit you. 

Lazily, I kicked a bit back and forth, mostly just hanging out just inside the outside waves. That phrase may be my destination; I like it. "Just inside the outside."

Only 2-4 footers, but little interval between waves. Even a rough, surgy 2-footer can make you take it seriously. My brain got its necessary chill that raises me up from my mordant, sullen state. Often it is hard to overcome the inertia of my brain and get some momentum in my motion. I learned those two big words in physics class. That was useful; so much of my education was wasted. We jumped through hoops, didn't we?

I found myself dancing with the dog this morning, watching old music videos. Singing too. The singing is good for the wet lungs. We sure had a ton of great music in the 70s and 80s. 

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

Crowded Harbor Beach Oceanside, CA 5:30 p.m. Sunday

Sunday late afternoon. It must be Spring Break or just our beautiful weather.

Really a perfect day for enjoying sand, friends, and the beach. Two-foot waves, 2-foot visibility, flat water, long interval between sets and waves. 56 F, felt chilly. 

Beginner and intermediate surfers had mild, slow waves for practice. No aggressive surfers noted by this senior citizen.

Nice to see regular people partaking in the slow surf without the hot shots.

I may be done for my swimming career. Gotta see a doctor and dig up records of previous chest x-rays and MRIs over the years. "Bilateral atelectasis with significantly elevated right hemi-diaphragm," whatever that is...

Caused by what? When?

Been coughing for 6 months.

I'll include 2 photos of the pleasant scene yesterday. I got in and kicked out to the surfers--not far at all--and was short of breath, so I just watched the young folks and then returned home. Blah...What do I do about my motto below?

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

Friday 5 pm Harbor

Yesterday late afternoon I got in the water for a short stint. 

Cloudy, few beachgoers, no water visibility, few surfers, and strong waves rushing in every ten seconds, straight on, with lousy surf conditions. 

The water was quite rough and angry, with the outer waves pounding this man, who wanted to kick out through the 4-5 footers and achieve comfort past the breakers. No such thing occurred. 

In front of the big waves, one surging after another, consistently, I had to use my safety discretion and ease back in toward the safety of sand. 

I broke out my old, trusty swimmer's lifejacket yesterday, wore it, but didn't need to use it.

I somehow developed this no-wind-in-my-lungs condition, I don't know why, but it's unpleasant and limits my physical output. I think it's a forever condition.

Despite rough waves and a lack of air, I enjoyed the brisk water; it was worth the trip.

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

Oceanside Harbor Beach Surf Contest High School

I have been dry for a few weeks due to general malaise and ongoing, boring pain. Yesterday, Monday morning, I was up early and felt okay. Lots of coffee.

To my surprise, many people were frolicking at my beach. I typically expect my beach to be sparingly populated with an ample supply of parking spaces. Uh, oh, a big sign read "State Championship High School Surfing."

Also, I think it may be the start of Spring Break, as the adjacent beaches were populated with families.

We are so fortunate here; I'll repeat it again & again. Even if I did have to walk 100 yards or 200 to get my feet wet. 

The water was notably warmer Monday with the usual 2-foot visibility. The ocean was calm, flat, lovely with waves of moderate shape...about 3-4 feet. Good enough for a decent surf contest but not great.

I walked to the south side of the south rock jetty as the north side was populated with surf families and fun. 

I have had to come to accept that my vigorous swim activity days are gone. As years pile up, I add maladies to my list of body malfunctions. My recent addition is a diaphragm problem which really decreases the volume of air that I can take in when I breathe. Under exercise stress, the air intake causes shortness of breath and chest tightness. It's termed 'Significant hemi-diaphragm elevation right side.'

My swims now will be more like mild dips in the water with a bit  of kicking with the fins. The big waves are off limits now due to a senior citizen's safety and discretion.

That's the way it was yesterday. I enjoyed it anyway. Thanks. 

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

Oceanside Harbor Beach Friday

I mostly like to be surprised at the water conditions before I drive to the beach. Today at 1 p.m. I was somewhat surprised that the conditions at the Harbor were inhospitable to human recreation.

A strong wind blew in steadily from the west, so much so that one guy surfed the wind quite adeptly.

I was the sole entrant into the water during my brief stay. No surfable waves whatsoever. The photos show a very low tide; however, hiding past that all hell was breaking loose. In 6-8 feet of water surged 3-5 foot waves crashing straight on in, parallel to the shoreline.

My objective was to kick around a bit to work the back muscles. Once the water was over my head, I experienced looming 4-5 footers dumping on me and actually creating anxiety in my mind. Anxiety in rough surf is certainly an adrenaline rush per se but I'm not young anymore.

 

I'm cautious and decided to kick back in and call it a day. Easier said than done. The underpull of the water was strong, even with my webbed feet touching the sand on the bottom.

 

This afternoon I had the momentary thought that if I had been wearing my life jacket, I just might have had my hand on the CO2 cartridge pull. Really.

I need more wind in my lungs. Rehabbing is a long road, but I LOVE cold salt water! I love it. Did I say I love to be cold in salt water...

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