Rough, Open-Water Swim Oceanside, CA

I didn't bring the camera because I just got my car cleaned out today, so I didn't have any junk in there, including cameras.
Friday night--about 5 PM to 6:30 PM.  I just had a great 70 minute rough swim out there.  The water really is warm:great for beachgoers, but I could use more cold.  I will look up the temp now on surfline.com
64-66 degrees. Probably the high side of that.  The surf zone was rough.  It took me about 3-4 minutes to swim through the continuous 3 foot waves.  I have found out through experience that I swim more effectively and quicker through rough surf if I swim with short arm strokes with a quicker cadence. 
There was a strong enough current running south that I decided to swim against it.  I swam north into the current about fifty yards past the surf zone where there was a big, irregular, nasty chop to go along with the oncoming current.  All I needed was to be cold and I would have been really happy.
I swam to the first rock jetty and turned around.  I reached the jetty at 40 minutes. I swam 30 minutes back to where I started-about 100 yards north of the pier.  I still felt good.  I had good wind, no fear, and deecent swimming technique for me, I think.
A really nice swim workout for me.  I had not felt up to getting in the water all week-4 days without salt water-so it was a welcome treat.

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

Sunday Swim Oceanside Pier

Late Sunday afternoon the sky was totally clouded over, but the air temp was pleasant and the water too warm in some spots.  The water was a bit choppy, which made swimming out a bit difficult. However, then on the way in I was trying to catch the small waves and get a push from them. There was a strong wind onshore and a mild current to the south.  I had a 34 minute swim, which is quicker than usual for me.  Lots of people enjoying the water.

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

Placid Pier Swim Sat Evening

There was a variety of things happening at the Pier late this afternoon and early evening.  Some kids were doing some crazy dancing.  The surfers had decent waves to ride.  The water was clean, warm, and beautiful, so many folks were having fun in the water.  I had a 40 minute swim and felt good. 
That golf cart in picture number six ticked me off--they always have--because as I was walking up that ramp, the driver beeped this loud horn twice, right near me, and just about gave me a heart attack.
Also newsworthy is that my goggles leak in my left eye so I'll have to break down and get a new pair. 

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

Friday Evening Pier Swim. Lots of 'Race Across America' Cyclists & Vans

Nice afternoon at the beach under a partly cloudy sky.  Beautiful water with small waves.  Warm water.  I swam out and was surprised that the small chop was a pain swimming through.  I didn't have energy and air today.  Just not a great swim.  It hit off the end of the pier at 20 minutes and got in at 39 minutes.  Farther out the water was clean and clear for Oceanside.  It was an OK swim but I was just off today.


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

Buy Jammers from SwimOutlet.com

Really pretty ocean today.  Clean, warm water, flat, waves 2-4 feet with good shape for the surfers.  Great weather and not many beachgoers at all.  The Race Across America cyclists are still around some; I think they have been leaving in stages day by day.
I was extremely stressed and agitated from work today so I got this plan in my mind that I would swim straight out to sea for 30 minutes, turn around, and return to shore.  It was beautiful swimming out, just relaxing and beautiful.  However, it starts to get creepy after a while out there alone.  I was probably a little over a half-mile out and my watch read 19 minutes.  I decided to wimp out and turn around.  Eleven more minutes and I would have been so dang far out that the fear would have gotten its seeds growing in my imagination.  At 19 minutes the ocean was turning this deep, gorgeous, clear blue color; I think it was getting deep.
So, I turned around and swam in to about 100 yards from shore.  I still had lots of energy to burn so I swam back and forth until I had hit 55 minutes for the swim.
I feel very good now.  Relaxed.  And I even remembered the camera.  I'm getting braver showing off my chubby body in my jammers swim suit.


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