Rough Saturday Swim Around the Pier

So the air temp was 68 today and the water temp is 58-60 degrees.  The sky was half overcast and the water was quite rough and disagreeable: just like me.  Maybe that's why I crave it.  There was a mild southerly current and pounding 2-4 foot waves.  Pounding, white water waves.  I wasn't sure whether I could get out through the surf zone.
The chop was 2 foot, washing machine, and an incoming tide.  It took me 6 minutes to get through the surf.  Then, swimming out continued to be challenging.  Definitely no water craft to get in my way today.
Total swim time 32 minutes, which was a good workout pulling with the arms.  Very few surfers and no visibility.  I have photos but have to figure out how to get them posted.  A disc popped back into place in my low back and I've had lots of pain relief.


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

Swimming in the Rain Friday

Well, I took pictures today but I can't figure out how to post them.  My message says Google Drive and Picasa Files have to be purchased.  Who knows?  The air temp was 68 degrees Friday afternoon and it was raining lightly at the Pier when I went in.  Water temp was 59-61.  The waves were biggest on the south side of the pier with some pounding 4-5 feet sets.  Lots of rough white water near there.  Other waves 2-3 feet but still pounding.  Visibility maybe 3 feet.  No current.  Choppy water with medium gentle swells far out--like 4-5 foot swells, but friendly ones.  Just float up and down with them.  A nice day to swim.  I like this overcast sky with water conditions that many people would think were inhospitable for a swimmer/surfer.  Nice hour at the beach.  You know, that is all the time that I spend at the beach when I go; I'm not a guy who will relax and catch a suntan on the sand for a few hours.  I'm in the water, around, and then gone. 


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

Dip Me in Cold Water and I Come Out Happy

Well, I had my camera and took photos Thursday.  However, since I am an idiot I could not get the pictures on the blog.  I got some message like "Picasa space used up, buy more."  There was also a message like "Add another Google drive."  Oh, man.  I ended up losing the pictures.  Now I don't know what to do with the blog if I can't use pictures on it.
My Thursday swim was choppy and cloudy.  Air temp 68 and water temp 59.  I whooped and hollered getting in but I got used to the water quickly after that.  There was a 1-2 foot gentle swell coming in near the end of the pier and out past it.  It took me 28 minutes to get around the pier.  2-4 foot waves on the south side; 2 foot waves on the north side.
It drizzled a bit and the visibility was nothing in the water.  I enjoyed a solo swim with a little bit of action to the water.  Not too much pain after either.


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

Wednesday Swim

I forgot my camera yesterday (Wednesday) when I went to the Pier to swim.  The waves had picked up to the 3 foot range and the water was 58-59 degrees.  It was calm water past the breakers and a nice swim.  I stayed chilly in my upper body for a good ten minutes; the swim was 30 minutes.  Lots of surfers on the south side when I was coming in; I had to dodge them to get in and not mess up their rides.  I got dumped hard once coming through the surf zone, but that's fun as long as you don't lose any goggles or swim caps. 


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

Families Taking Christmas Card Photos at the Oceanside Pier Today

I'm glad that I went to the Pier this afternoon before the new, earlier sunset times.  The water temp was 58-60 and comfortable.  The visibility was a bit better at 6-7 feet.  We had some small waves, one to three feet, with a few dozen surfers stretched out.  There was a small to moderate number of folks walking the Pier and the Beach, and enjoying some family time.  This is the time of year that families take their Christmas card photos (organized families) at the beach, and before sunset is a popular time for some families. 
I had a thirty-minute peaceful swim in flat, pretty water.  I took a big arc around the pier and went a good hundred yards past the pier.  No boats or jet skies to cause me concern today.  Instead of my latex swim cap, I'm wearing the warmer silicon swim cap now. 
Afterwards, I saw two big dolphins close in that appeared to be feeding on small fish.  I tried to get photos but my camera couldn't pick them up.  They are always a good omen to me. 

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