I woke up this morning to sun at 5:45. I took a run to Doheny and left the house for the beach at about 9. There is a considerable South wind at the beech; so the surface is even bumpier than it was yesterday but all in all it is inviting. It’s a beautiful sunny day, the air is warm and the water temperature feels like a comfortable swimming pool. I get in and it does not take long at all to acclimate to the coolness in the water.

I begin to swim South and the water is fighting against me. I don’t get a clear view of the shore as I breathe in because water is constantly rolling over my head. I enjoy how this keeps me engaged in the moment. On the drive to the beach today I was feeling energy taxed and a sensation of heaviness pressing down on me. I was thinking how it will be good to get in the water and allow my mind to process this energy. However, this opposing current has other plans for my thoughts. Honestly, I think I like this plan more.

It feels like it is taking longer than usual to make progress. As I am swimming, I suddenly see the top half of a dolphin. I stop and look around and see two dolphins swimming side by side. They are not gliding but diving and occasionally coming up exposing their fin and the top of their body. They are close but I can’t see them when I look underwater. The visibility is quite poor today. They move past me and then in front of me and before long they are gone.

I’m close to my Southern turn around point. The water near the cliffs looks pretty active - crashing against the rocks. It’s quite picturesque. I turn around and notice a sharp change in the vibe. The current is now pushing me. This makes for a much smoother ride and I can feel the waves pushing and rolling over me. I arrive at the South end buoy and notice that the swim from the cliff was much faster than the earlier swim to the cliff was from here. I also notice that its initials are OCJG and not OCJL like I said it was yesterday. I also commented on how that was boring because it does not have a creative name like the other buoys. However I see there is a picture of a fish and a star on it so I will give it points for that.

I reach the Northern end of the swim in what feels like record time. I’m looking for Bob Marley which is the buoy I have been turning around at but I cannot see it. Then I see a green buoy that is almost invisible because it matches the color of the water today. This one is the “Green Monster.” I know I must be further from shore today because this buoy is planted a ways further out. I stop and take in the view before turning around and observe that I am moving North with the current. Not super fast but the distance between me and the green monster is growing.

Again I turn around and I just feel like I am swimming in place. It doesn’t feel like the bathrooms on shore are moving. Of course I eventually find myself well past the bathrooms. Just gotta keep swimming and eventually progress is made. I make my way to the shore and am met by my dad and his long time friend Denny and we enjoy a very pleasant walk on the beach together. No funicular trip to the parking lot today since it is broken down. We take the middle path up through the mega mansions.