I left the house at about 10:15 and it is a gorgeous clear day. We haven’t seen overcast since Friday - 3 days ago. Did mother nature finally get the memo that June (and its June gloom) has ended?

The air temp is in the upper 70’s but I’m seriously wondering about the water. Over the past few days, the nearby buoys in Camp Pendleton have been reporting low to mid 60’s and they just don’t seem to be trending upwards. This was also my experience in the water all last week. Every swim seemed to get just a little cooler. This morning those buoys are reading 61 and 62. Ever since Hillary, things have been warmer in the north but San Pedro was at 63 when I woke and is at 65 when I leave. Still there is no reason to panic. If you would have told me the water is 63 back in April, I would have squealed like a pre-teen girl in excitement. I’m looking out my window as I drive to the beach and there is no reason not to want to be in the water on this beautiful day.

I get to the parking lot and it is quite warm here. The water looks smooth and I head on down the stairs.

Now I’m on the beach and the water definitely feels cold as I get my feet wet but it’s not much, if any, different from yesterday. I get to my takeoff spot and start to head out. It’s chilly but totally fine. Waves are way down today. I hear a couple loud booms in the distance. Camp Pendleton must be firing munitions. Either that or it could just be the end of the world. I’m putting my bets on the munitions.

I ease myself forward and lean into my swim. The initial cold rush pulses inside the confines of my skin. I just remain open to the feelings and don’t let my mind cast judgement or dress these sensations with words. As usual, once I am past the surfline the water warms just a bit. One has to sort of imagine just where the line of surf might be today.

I’m heading north towards and into Salt Creek. Ok, there seems to be a lot more warm patches today than my last few swims. Also, there is this off sensation I notice as I lift my head to breath in and then turn to face below the water to exhale. When my head is resting sideways on the surface to breath, the water feels considerably warmer than when it is deeper (if only just a few inches) to exhale. As the swim proceeds it feels like the warm patches get larger and more frequent until I’m more aware of the infrequent cool patches. This warmth above the water is definitely having an affect on the top layer just below the surface.

This swim is exceeding expectations - not that they were particularly low to begin with. This day is just so pristinely luxurious. The water remains calm and smooth throughout the entire swim. The texture appears almost unreal at times.

I pass the point in front of the Ritz and see a small pack of surfers waiting for waves. I’m not very far west of them and I can feel the undulating pre-breaking waves pass under me. I don’t think I have ever swam so close to the lifeguard tower as I am right now. There’s just no swell to persuade me to be out any further.

When I get to the bathrooms just shy of the golf course. I have absolutely no desire to turn around and head back, but work beckons. Damn it.

Coming back I gaze on the lawn between the Salt Creek parking lot above and the beach below. The sun hits that large green grassy expanse. I can hear someone at the snack shop yelling out to me, “Hey you out there, come on by for a glass of wine and some fish tacos after your swim!” It sounds so close as if it is coming from inside my head. Oh…I guess that’s exactly where it is coming from.

Back at the point by the lifeguard tower again I look south to Dana Point (the actual point) in the distance. There is just a long beach stretching from here to there. The further my eyes rest, the fewer cares and troubles in life I detect. I cherish this last quarter mile and watch the houses on the bluff slide along my field of vision. I wish they would go slower but there is no current here to slow my pace.

Eventually I am swimming in knee deep water and I’m just gonna have to get upright and do the things one does when upright. The water looks completely transparent right here. It doesn’t seem to be giving me any help to get to those stairs. Then suddenly a small wave breaks right behind me and gives me a good solid push. Thanks. I think I needed that.

I’m looking at the buoy data again right now as I write this. Those same buoys that were at 61 and 62 are now at 67 and 69. San Pedro is 70. What a difference a day can make!