A Fuzzy Point

As I get up I notice fog outside my window at home. However, the beach looks clear enough on the web cams.

I leave at about 7 and I can barely make out the upper elevations of the city of Dana Point.

From the parking lot at the Strand, Salt Creek point is looking very fuzzy but I can see well out toward the horizon far beyond where I will be swimming.

I head down the stairs and run into a couple other swimmers. One, I believe his name is Kevin(?), sneaks in a great pose as I am taking my initial pics of the shore. I’m sure he’ll be famous once I enter the Guinness book of world records for the most pictures taken of the beach here. I can’t be far off now.

The surf is down yet another notch today and it is becoming questionable whether “surf” is the appropriate word to use.

I make my way out into the water. Without the surf I have to just start swimming in this flat water. It’s nice when the waves force me to dive in and get wet and a bit more difficult to motivate myself to take that first plunge in calm water.

I use my exhale to take in the initial cold but almost immediately after that first breath, I’m no longer cold. God bless July and its warmer water!

I just relax into this swim which proves very easy to do. I try to focus just on what is around me right now.

Everything is so grey here right now. The low clouds gently settle on the homes here on the bluff - is “home” the right word to use for these castles? At times I feel like I lose the horizon line and the water and air become a single grey canvas covering my entire field of vision.

I’m thinking of the spiritual tensions I have had over the last couple swims. I feel like yesterday reached a sort of resolution. I don’t really have any particularly heavy thoughts and I just enjoy this world where I find myself right now.

A couple times I see some pelicans flying low and close. They pass too quickly for me to even attempt to get a good shot of them. Sometimes I think I should come out when I have extra time and just sit and wait with my camera ready. In not too much time I’m sure I’d have an opportunity for a great shot. Definitely want to do that while the water is warm.

I do miss the Green Monster buoy that I had been using as my northern terminus. I have noticed a new buoy, a bright red one, that is way way out. It’s honestly just too far to make the trip.

Well it won’t be long now before the jr. guard crowd gets to the beach. I finish the swim and head back to the stairs and sure enough, here they come.

I enjoy listening to their banter. There are all different ages and personalities.

When I get back to my car I hear a mom saying goodbye to her daughter and telling her that she loves her and asking her to be safe. They hug and the young girl (14?) says “I love you too.” So adorable.