As Far as Forever

Well the week’s weather forecast has put out a “last call” for swimming. Rain is likely to start tomorrow with a flood watch in effect on Wednesday and Thursday. Looking out the window today, you’d never guess this could happen. Skies are clear and it is a beautiful day with a calm breeze. If it wasn’t so freaking cold, you would think it is a lovely Summer day.

I’m leaving a little after 11:00 hoping that the later hour will warm the water a little. I check the buoys before I leave and the temps have not budged since 5 AM this morning. None of these buoys are closer than 20 miles from the Strand. I’m sure the water has warmed right up here in Dana Point. Boy it really is an exquisite day today. Rain tomorrow? It just feels like it will never ever rain again the way things are now - as if nature has entered into a new covenant with humankind - from this point forward fair weather will be the norm.

When I get to the parking lot, the ocean looks like a beautiful blue blanket settled on top of the golden sand below and stretched out as far as forever. The air temperature still has not even hit 60, but in the direct sun it feels like 65. However there is a soft breeze that lowers that number every few seconds. Lets just get ourselves under that blue blanket as soon as possible. Blue blanket - who am I kidding? I can’t help but remember that water yesterday and think how cold things are about to get. Part of me wants to turn around and head back up the stairs. I try to remind myself how good that cold water made me feel and I’m not falling for that trick. Still, lets go ahead and at least get wet and try this out. I’m pretty sure today will be another short swim.

When I get to the beach the water still feels quite cold on my feet. There are two youngsters (late teens/early 20’s) running into the water and running out squealing about how cold it is. The tide is low and getting lower. It’s probably about 1.5 right now. I settle my pack on the rocks not too far from where the group of teenagers have congregated. I walk to the water and keep walking.

The water is so cold and also very clear right here in the shallows. I see a small Leopard Shark race across the floor just inches from my feet. Those things are so cool. Small waves break close to shore and set waves start to break further out and die out before getting too close to the sand.

I dive beneath the set waves which really are not much larger than the smaller inshore waves. I head south and the cold water shock begins its course of fatigue through my legs but not quite as intense as last week. I feel the energy of the cold bouncing around my upper body as if it is struggling to exit the confines of my skin. I’m not in pain or under any kind of distress. I just let the water do what it does.

The shore glows bright and I enjoy staring at it on every breath. The water is clearer in some spots than others. It seems to have an overall yellowish stain to it today like a red tide. Some spots are effervescent and cloudy and others reveal a hint of the ocean floor. The clearer spots seem warmer than the effervescent patches. It’s really not until half way down the beach near the middle stairs that I start to feel “comfortable.”

When I get to the south end, the waves are breaking further out and I need to steer to the right. They are medium sized and there are a couple surfers here for them. At the very end of the beach, I’m surprised to see the waves breaking right where I am and I notice that I can actually touch my feet to the bottom here. I’m about 20 feet west of the big rock. I don’t think I have ever seen it so shallow here and that would explain the breaking waves. Weird - the tide is low but not that low. Maybe the sand has shifted. That’s likely. The waves are not huge and I actually enjoy this novelty.

I turn around and head back. I wonder just how much I have in me for this cold. My hands have already lost dexterity but I feel pretty good. I try to completely relax my body (as much as I can and keep a brisk swim) and mind so that I can physically feel myself get lost in the cold (in a good way). I feel like this cold has something to teach me. What is it trying to say? I know that it holds a truth beyond the illusions of my loquacious thoughts. I want to understand what it is saying. Maybe if I just keep swimming I will get the message.

I feel like I am being pushed even though there does not seem to be much of a current. I feel good. I’m halfway back up the beach and you know? I think I can get in a full swim today. I’ll just stay here in the water and keep moving my arms and legs and see where I end up. I’m not far from shore and conditions are calm, if my body starts to shut down, I can just stop and exit into the sunshine.

Well here I am in front of the bathrooms. Things are intense here but doable. I don’t have any doubts or regrets. I’m sort of elated that I am doing this. I gave myself full permission to end early and yet here I am exceeding my expectations of myself and the water. This day is so perfect.