I left the house a little after 12:15. The marine layer took a little bit longer to burn off today but it's beautiful now.

I drive to the beach and stop at the Arco station across from Doheny to fill up on gas. The parking lot is filling up but miraculously my favorite spot - the best spot - is empty.

I head down the stairs and there are plenty others going to the same place as I am. The sound of the surf is much quieter now than it was early yesterday morning dampened by the voices around me.

I'm a little surprised to see the yellow flag at the lifeguard station. Again the surf report calls for small surf but a set rolls in that's not exactly big but not small either. The posted water temperature is 72 and as soon as I touch the water it feels like a bath.

There is a lot going on here with kids and families and smash ball and body surfers and the sun is bright. I can be easily over stimulated but this is all good.

I find a place to enter the water between the crowds and some larger than usual shore break is rolling in but I pass through it quickly and start to head north. The water surface is pretty active but not totally blown out. It's definitely pushing me up the beach as I head north.

Oh my this water is warm - perhaps the warmest swim of the summer. I'm trying to remember how Hawaii felt when I was there a couple years ago and I don't think it was much warmer than this.

As I pass the point and into Salt Creek, I hear music. It sounds like people singing. It must be coming from the Ritz.

The light is so bright and the sky so blue. The edges of the wakes in front of me sparkle and I can see a few boats floating along the crooked horizon. The one furthest north is a sail boat at full mast.

I'm trying to go at an easy pace. I'm not super sure how far I'm going to go today. I'm already hungry and it's late in the day and I don't want to be too long but I don't feel at all ready to turn around yet - not even close.

I go all the way to the beach club which is a pretty good long swim for me. When I turn around, the tone of the swim changes. I'm swimming into the current and I put a little more energy into my stroke. However it is easier to breathe as I face away from the oncoming wakes.

I make slow and steady progress back to the point. I'm closer to the shore the entire way back. I'm hoping to cross paths with one of those Cormorants I saw on the way out. Their fast and fluttery wings carrying them north, low to the water and inshore.

I stop every few minutes and take in the view. Every stop I am noticably closer to my destination. I keep my gaze on the ridge line above the beach. The houses turn into the large lawn which turns into the Ritz Carlton and then I'm crossing the point.

These final 15 or 20 minutes slip by fast. The water is so warm. I'm getting close to the swimmers and try to correct course.

It's time to swim to shore. I'm ready but not ready. It's so great out here but I look forward to eating. I pass some people playing in the surf and they ask if I just came from Catalina. I roll with the joke and say yeah Avalon was so much fun. They ask if I'm heading back tonight and I tell them I am as soon as I grab some dinner.