Different beach today. It’s 10:15 and skies are sunny. Just as I am heading for my car I remember that I wanted to go to the San Clemente pier for my swim today. I’ve been wanting to go and with the downgraded water quality report at The Strand, today seems like a good day to do it. So I head back to the house and grab my watch so I am sure I turn around at the right time. I have a hard time remembering the distinguishing landmarks along the bluff between the pier and North Beach.

I get to the parking lot and need to pay the meter. This is one advantage that the Strand has over just about all of the local beaches around here - parking is free. It’s not going to break my bank account but it is nice to park free especially considering how often I go.

I walk to the shore. Now here is an advantage of the pier. It’s a much shorter walk to get to the water here. As I cross the railroad tracks, there are some workers that look to be installing or testing out an alerting system here at the track crossing. Most crossings use a bell-type of sound, but here the sound actually sounds just like a train horn. If “horn” is the right word? Seems pretty clever.

There is less signage about the surfing/no swimming zone today than there was in July the last time I was here but to be safe I walk to the lifeguard headquarters which is where the boundary is. I don’t want to activate the loud speaker telling me to get out of the water again this time.

It’s a longer walk to and past the surf than at the Strand. I’m at thigh to waist high water for what feels like several steps. Not too long though and not as long as it took to get past the sandbar at the Strand this Winter and Spring.

I start swimming and the water feels pretty great. Oh the crystal clean water of San Clemente! I must say I see no brown water here which is a nice perk!

I head north towards North Beach. I just kind of let myself settle into a groove and swim swim swim. There is nothing negative I can say about where I am right now. It is all good.

I wonder how far I will get. I try to put a little extra effort into my stroke because I’d love to make it to North Beach. I know my chances are a bit slim. I don’t have extra time today so I am going to have to turn around wherever I am at 30 minutes - 35 max.

I get to 22 minutes and it looks difficult to call. At 27 minutes it just doesn’t look like it is going to happen. 30 minutes come and I decide to give myself another 5. Nope. I can’t make it but I get pretty close. Next time.

I turn around and hug the edge of the very small surf the entire way back. I’m probably about 100 feet from the rocky embankment that rests beneath the railroad tracks. I stare at the cliff and let myself get lost in its craggy crevices and ivy and sage shrubbery. The sun is shining bright now on the large patches of brown in between what green exists on the surface. At its base is the dark wood boardwalk. It feels like summer. Well the Fall equinox hasn’t happened yet.

A train passes heading north. They have finally opened up this route again after fixing the landslide and erosion issues left from the Winter storms. I wonder how long that will hold.

Eventually the cliffs cut inland and the beach widens. It won’t be much longer now until I am done. I see the lifeguard headquarters not too far away. It looks like it has taken me faster to get back even though I don’t feel like I have put in as much effort. I could definitely see a visible soutbound current and could feel its push too.

Not a ton of people on the beach - probably because school is back in session. Well too bad for them! It is such a lovely day here.

I head to the showers at the Del Mar end of the pier. Have to say its water is warmer than the showers at the Strand. Finally I walk to the car. They have a good vibe going here. I may be back soon.