Dark Blue Warm Void
Such a great swim today! Meetings from 7:30 to 10 and then left the house with a 62 degree air temperature and sunny skies. As I am heading down the stairs to the beach there is a light south breeze. Surfline still says it is 57-58 in the ocean but I will not be drawn in to this deceit. The water feels about the same as Wednesday on my feet. I make my way through the breaks and it is cold but not bad. Then I pass beyond the waves, the water clears and…wait a second…oh…this feels good. I mean its gotta be at least 60 right here. Its like this along the entire swim southward. The visibility is better than its been for a while too. I would not call it clear but there is no dark brown cloud and its just a lovely blue-green color. I can make out the ocean floor but not in any detail.
Turning around and heading north, the visibility and temperature is mostly the same but I encounter several patches of what look like underwater sand storms. Visibility nearly vanishes and I’m in this sandy brown swirling cloud. Even though I am well past the surf, in these localized spots the water is churning and there are even small breaks. It’s also noticeably colder. I fantasize that there is some kind of animal presence causing these waters to stir. Then as I continue to swim, I eventually see this dark blue void in the distance surrounded by shades of lighter blue and the cloud slowly evaporates and the water stills. AND the water warms and feels so good.
As I near Salt Creek I can see some good sets breaking pretty well past the point. My turnaround point is just short of this break but I have a nice view of the waves and I enjoy the feel of rising and falling as the edges of those waves pass through where I am.
Just as I begin my swim back to shore, my left lower leg cramps up. This happens every once in a while but it has been a while. It’s always in the last third of the swim and it always passes after a few minutes but it is very unpleasant. I eventually reach sand and the seaweed accumulation is pretty thick here.
The air is warm and delightful. No need to towel off and layer up today. Looking back at the water I can see those brown churning clouds at the outer edge beyond the surf.
