Another lovely Autumn day. Mostly blue sky mixed with large billowy clouds.

It’s a little after 11:30 as I walk down the stairs from the parking lot to the beach. The water’s surface has a fair amount of texture but also looks relatively calm. The air is just on the cusp of mild and warm. I can feel that sun shining down on me and it feels good.

Surf has definitely come down today since my last swim on Tuesday. There are some small waves that break in front of me as I walk out into the water.

The water feels pretty pleasant. I lean forward and let my body sink below the surface in front of me. A surge of energy rushes from head to toe. Or was it toe to head. I can’t keep track of these details.

I’m swimming south. The water does feel just a little more brisk today but every now and then I swim through a patch that feels just a little warmer than the last.

I enjoy looking at the big clouds that fill the outside edges of the sky in what seems like every direction. The light reflects onto the ruffled surface of the ocean that shimmers like an electric charge.

As the swim progresses, there is more and more light, more and more blue and the sky looks just a little less menacing.

There is definitely more current moving north than south and it feels like the northbound leg of the swim moves pretty darn fast. By the time I turn around for the final southbound leg, there is more wind and it feels like it takes quite a while to make progress down the beach.

Eventually I am at my final destination and I head toward shore. I walk to the stairs and savor every step to the top.