It is Sand and Not Sewage
I left the house at about 10:30 this morning and I’d say it is the nicest morning (if you like sunshine) that we have had in well over a week. It was mostly overcast earlier but it has cleared up nicely and it’s about 57 degrees outside which also so happens to be the posted high for the water temperature as well.
Driving over San Juan Creek I can see the brown in the water stretching from the shore and outwards several hundred feet. There was a sewage spill that dumped 7000 gallons on Wednesday evening. Doheny’s water access has been closed since. I’m hoping this does not affect Strands. I saw surfers in the water on the web cam which probably means nothing other than it has not been closed.
When I get to the parking lot it looks so nice and peaceful. On the way down the stairs I am trying not to focus on my thoughts which are focused on the unpleasantness of the cold water. I don’t have much luck with this endeavor. It’s funny, the fantasy that runs in my head is me jumping in the water and then writhing in some kind of torturous agony as if I am being instantly frozen. That has never happened and it is pretty much impossible barring some kind of sci-fi weather disaster movie event.
When I get to the beach, it’s pretty much as rocky as it has been the last several weeks.
As I get my pack situated and remove my shirt, I’m looking forward to getting in the water because then the reality of that situation will reconcile itself with my crazy thoughts and I can actually enjoy the swim.
I start to walk out and after stepping down off the initial gravel ledge I am surprised when it quickly rises back up to ankle depth and the bottom is sandy. I am able to walk out quite a ways without negotiating any large boulders but I can see several on either side of me. I look back to shore to take note of my position so I can retrace my way back along this same line.
The surf is pretty small stuff today. I swim out and ease to the left. As I settle into the swim I am taking in the loveliness of the situation. The water is relatively calm, the sun is shining and it is Friday which always casts an extra dose of goodness on the day. I am very glad to be here.
The water is cold for sure but no colder than it has been and maybe a touch warmer?? The water is super cloudy but I assure myself it is sand and not sewage. It IS sand and NOT sewage! Maybe a little runoff from this week’s rains but what harm could that possibly lead to? I hear you can buy small bottles of runoff in the vitamin aisle at Trader Joe’s now. It’s way cheaper than the Whole Foods runoff and it’s basically the same stuff with different branding.
Similar to Monday’s swim I can feel the current pushing me south yet the water really is not that tumultuous.
As I head back north and am approaching my starting point, I still feel really good and know I can continue to Salt Creek for a full swim. It’s damn cold but I have full mobility of all fingers (always a plus). This winter I have stopped looking for warmth in the cold. I can actually remember the swim when I started to do that. Instead of seeing the cold as something I want to be rid of, I just see it for what it is. It’s hard and it adds difficulty to the swim - just like interval or hill training in running but it is counterproductive to fight. It’s just a reality of the swim and the benefit outweighs the difficulty.
So on this final stretch I am relaxing into the cold and trying not to think about when it will be done or when it will feel the way I want it to feel. I mean spring is literally 3 days away. Certainly I can wait 3 days for the 70 degree water that is sure to come on Monday. When I get home and check the afternoon update on the surf report, the water temp high moves up to 58. You see? That’s what I’m talking about!
