June without the Gloom
It’s the first day of June and I’d say we are off to a great start. There was certainly plenty of grey in May and here is to hoping there won’t be too much gloom in June. It was cloudy early in the morning but things burnt off pretty quickly. My last morning meeting began at 8:30 and I could see the cloud bank recede as the meeting advanced. I left the house at 10 and it was warm and mostly blue. I could still see a little cloud cover over North Dana Point and Laguna Beach, but the Dana Strand was nice and sunny.
The water surface looked pretty smooth from the parking lot and when I got to the beach, things were looking pretty darn idyllic. You look out around you and find yourself thinking, “I want to go to there.” Then you happily realize, you are there! Monday’s crowd is long gone, the waves on the water are a lovely translucent hue. Certainly some descent waves, or as the surf report likes to say, “a few corners to be tracked down,” but its not big and rough like Monday. Then there is the matter of the water temperature. I think they call this Summer. It is so nice! So…so…so nice. You get in and you don’t even feel a hint of cold. It’s certainly not a sauna but my body is in a very agreeable state of temperate equilibrium. Sure I can go on about the beauty of cold water and I mean it, but let’s face it, on a beautiful February day, this is what I actually yearn for. In the cold and even in very moderate cold, there is always this inner tension or effort. Your body is working to compensate and keep warm. Today - no work - it’s all good.
The entire swim is just so enjoyable. There is no where else I want to be right now. I just let myself melt into this body of water and let my thoughts float on its gentle surface. Going north, I breath on the seaside (left) as I always do. It’s all blue…just blue. Water meets sky and that becomes my entire world.
About 10 minutes from my northernmost point I see an inflatable dingy just a few feet away. I pause to see what they are up to and notice there are dolphins right here. Someone yells out to me, “it’s OK. Just dolphins here!” Yes it is ok…very ok. I see their fins glide by and the sun reflect off of their shiny grey skin. After the pod passes, I yell back, “so awesome!” And they respond with an enthusiastic “yeah!” As I think of all of my dolphin encounters, it occurs to me that all but a couple have been right here in this area - between the Salt Creek point bathrooms and about halfway to the ramp up to Niguel Shores.
I end the swim and I am filled with a sort of glow. The sun feels great and I fish in the rocks for my shirt and camera - no pack necessary today. I see a lizard sunning itself on the way up the stairs. Not an uncommon sight but I think that lizard has it pretty good.
