It looks like it could be a perfect morning. The sun is shining over clear skies, the ocean surface is smooth, the wind is forecasted to be light all morning long, high tide is going to be a moderate 5.4, and it’s 55 degrees when I get back from walking my dog. Ok, there is room for improvement in the temperature department. I’m sure our best people are working on that now.

I am out the door before 9:30. The water looks beautiful from the bluff as I drive down Palisades Road to Coast Highway. When I get to the Strand parking lot it is 57 degrees. Ok, see? We are getting there. The water looks perfect.

I contemplated an alternate route today. Maybe swim around the point to Dana Cove or around Monarch to Three Arch. The surf is so small and the water is clear. Either of these swims would be spectacular. However I decide not to because the water is just too cold to take advantage. I don’t like stopping much for pictures in the cold and both swims have long expanses with an inaccessible shore. I’m sure it would probably be fine but “probably” feels unwise.

Walking down the stairs, there is no trace of white water. The surf report says 1-2 feet. I can’t even hear breaking waves, which is a shame, but there are so many other great things popping out in the scenery here that I don’t really miss it. Things like that smooth blue water just out there and there and oh look it’s over there too!

I get to the beach and it is picture perfect. The water is super clear and as the small wakes rise before the shore, one can look right through them to the sandy bottom. There is a person fishing here just at the water’s edge. He has two poles - must be serious.

We are about a half hour shy of the 5.4 foot high tide and there is plenty of beach. I dip my feet in the water and I really don’t notice any change in temperature from the last several swims. Well here we are in February, the 60 degree water is coming. Just a couple more months.

I settle my stuff and backpack and head to the water. It is absolutely beautiful. The water is so clear that it almost looks invisible. It certainly does not feel invisible. As the small waves approach me, they look like liquid glass. I want to say molten but there is nothing molten here. Just as I am about to start swimming, a flock of Pelicans is heading my way. Oh yes. Perfect. And my camera isn’t wet yet so I don’t have to worry about water over the lense. I get a couple shots that seem perfectly timed but there is just no way to know for sure until I download them after the swim.

All I can do here with this camera on these swims is point and click. With the water and my goggles, I usually have no idea what I am getting and can hardly see the viewfinder. And when the water is cold - forget it. I’m just trying to survive out here. If I can walk away with a few good pictures, that’s just a gift. Fortunately it seems like the ocean is a generous gift giver on some days. The pictures are the least of its gifts. The real gift is how it makes you feel. You can give someone all the things in the world but what they will remember is how you made them feel.

When I can no longer see any more Penguins around me, I start to swim. Wait…did I just say Penguins? I meant Pelicans. Boy the water must be cold. Actually it really isn’t that bad in comparison to the last couple weeks. In fact, I will say that today is the most pleasant swim in weeks. Not that the other swims were bad but today was quite the gem. The ocean was particularly generous.

I’m swimming my usual route and heading south. The water is clear and both the water and air look golden. It’s like those old Golden Grahams cereal commercials. As the sun shines on the water, the surface looks dark - almost black - and the reflection of the sun is nothing short of electric. Some say they don’t believe in miracles but I think I am looking at one right now. There are a lot of people walking on the beach. Is everyone seeing this? I wonder if this will make the news.

Finally about a third of the way down the beach, I arrive at my happy, cozy, warm place. Really, I swear. I know you don’t believe me and I don’t blame you but I really am warm right now. There is something about water colder than 60 that does this to the body. Unfortunately it does not last forever. Most don’t swim in the cold water without a wetsuit for as long as I do. I think they get to this point, and then swim until it fades. I would encourage others to do the same. All those folks walking on the beach, which of course is also delightful, have no idea the experience that sits out here waiting for them if only they would get in the water.

I make it to the south end of the beach. Here comes more Pelicans. One is coming right for me. I’m just about to take a shot when a wake rises between us and hides the bird. Oh man really?! Oh well, there will be many more Pelicans in my future. I’m no prophet, but I just know this.

I head back north. It feels like there are warm spots in the water today. Ok, maybe not warm “per se,” but lets just call them periods of sweet relief. I’m delighted when I am half way up the beach and I really do feel great. I’m not struggling to continue. I’m gonna say the water is probably 57 degrees. But I don’t know. Is it the water, or everything around me here that is offering the relief. This day is just so beautiful. I look ahead and I can see the lifeguard tower below the Ritz and all the way out to the end of Monarch Bay. I mean I can usually see these things but today they are all lit up like it’s the holidays or some sort of special celebration.

I must have seen 3 or 4 lobster buoys along the way to the north end. That is way more than I have seen in a while. It feels like I am being followed by a sail boat out in the western distance. It seems like whenever I look in that direction, which is often, there it is.

Soon here I am at the northern end of the beach. That went pretty fast I must say. I turn around and stare at the asphalt road that is my final destination. The cold is catching up with me but at this point it really doesn’t matter. The end is in sight - literally. Overall, I feel damn good. Don’t let anyone tell you not to go in the water in February. You don’t know what you are missing.

As I head back to my finishing point. It just doesn’t feel like those bathrooms are moving but I can see the rocks and kelp beneath me pass right on by so I know I am making headway.

As I finish up and am just about to set my feet on the sandy bottom, the ocean has one more gift for me. I see a bulbous dark shape sitting on the water about 10 feet away. It’s a Seal. It drops down into the water and comes swimming for me. It swims right underneath me and I can see it’s dog-like eyes looking at me. The water is so clear here and I can see it perfectly. So awesome.