Exceeding Expectations

Today was definitely a day that exceeded expectations. I left on the late side - a little after 11:30. Skies were partly cloudy and it was a little cooler today - in the mid 60s.

It was one of those days where I was really overthinking the decision of whether or not to swim. I was not planning on swimming today and I wanted more time to get some work done but looking at the forecast, today looked a lot more inviting than any of the next several days when the mornings are expected to be breezy and cooler. Even though by the looks of things out my window, it looked a little dreary, it seemed a shame to waste the opportunity.

I head to my car and I’m feeling a little cold and not completely enthused about getting colder and wet but I also know that this is what my head does and if the last few hundred swims are any indication of how things are likely going to go today, I’ll be happy I did this. Boy was I right.

As I pass through the basin around San Juan Creek, things are sunny and warm. At least it was warm in my car that had been sitting in the sun with the windows closed. However I can see clouds to the north and it looks like Strands may be more grey than golden.

When I get to the parking lot, it is definitely not the summer wonderland it was yesterday but it is not all dreary and gloom either. It is definitely starting to look like Fall. Something about the light that I cannot fully place.

I get out of the car and I am on the coolish side but all in all I am fairly comfortable. I’m heading down the stairs, I’m hungry and ready to be done so I can go home and eat.

There is a couple making their way down the stairs. The woman looks sickly and appears to be struggling as her partner is helping her come down step by step. This makes me a little nervous because I wonder if they are up for the trip back up.

The beach comes into view and it looks to be medium tide. Also, that WNW swell is definitely showing itself. It’s not huge but there are some nice waves in the water and the surface is clean. There are more surfers here than I normally see this time on a week day.

The water feels about the same as it has over the last week on my feet - colder but not a biting cold.

I start to head out into the water and soon I dive in and start swimming. At first the water feels cold and I try to relax my body as I exhale and release the tension I hold to resist the cold. I keep swimming out and soon the water warms. In fact, the water feels pretty darn nice. There are lots of warm and cold patches all throughout the swim but lots and lots of warm and I would say predominately warm. Overall it is a cozier swim than I have had in over a week.

All the way up and down the beach I can feel the swell roll underneath me and I watch them break not too far inshore from where I am swimming. I enjoy observing their steep angles approach me and then feeling the sensation of rising and falling over the other side.

The water is probably about as clear as it was yesterday. It is interesting to me how the quality of the water can change from day to day. There are a lot more variables than clarity or visibility. The intensity of the light based on season, time of day and cloud cover all contribute their own factor that is multiplied into the final experience of the water that I really can’t articulate. There is a certain purity to today’s water. It feels so clean (which doesn’t mean that it really is) and has a wonderful blue hue. There are also clouds of sand swirling about that look like these well defined dust devils. The cloudier, sandier water feels colder than the clearer and more vibrant water. This being the case, I feel like I can literally see the warmth in the water and I can chase down the warmer spots by swimming toward that richer color.

As I swim north from the south end of the beach, I look up every now and then and the water is smooth with just a tiny amount of texture that catches the light and reflects the scattered and wispy clouds above. It looks like there is a small amount of electricity in the surface. I can also see the surf breaking at the predominant spots along the shore.

When I get close to the northern end nearest to Salt Creek, I can see the larger sets breaking far out and parallel to my current position. It feels so great to be out here.

I end the swim just as a set of waves is coming through and I enjoy watching them curl and crash in front of me. I emerge from the water close to the ramp and make my way back up to the parking lot. The day is definitely taking on a early Fall afternoon vibe. Most likely because it is an early Fall afternoon. It’s pretty great.

When I get to the very last step at the bench by the defunct funicular, that couple I was nervous about on the way down is sitting there recovering from their climb. The woman definitely looks winded but I can tell she is happy and exhilarated. Yeah, I know that feeling.