I haven’t made it out for a swim since last Sunday. I had intended to swim Wednesday and Thursday but life happened; so I’m excited to get in the water today.

Weather has been a bit on the gloomy side all week. It feels like the May grey has arrived early. We have had a thick marine layer every morning and it just barely burns off in the afternoon. Today things are looking promising. At 9:00 I can see patches of blue in the sky and the web cams make it look like the sun is trying to break through at the beach as well.

I’m out the door at about 10:20. Things are looking pretty sunny. Doheny looks very nice but as I progress along PCH and approach the northern outlet of Del Prado, things look a little on the cloudier side around the bend.

When I get to the parking lot it feels like it is 75% sunny. There is lingering low lying cloud cover hovering about but I’m hoping it is working to burn itself off.

The water looks pretty textured. We are expecting 8 knot winds from the west to start up. Not terribly strong but not gentle either.

Getting out of the car I feel the coolness of the breeze but also the warmth of the sun. Overall it feels pretty darn comfortable.

The water looks blue and somewhat clear from the stairs.

I’m anticipating that the water temperature will be pretty close to what it was Sunday. The last buoy reading from Red Beach was 60 which was what it was on Sunday. All week it has been hovering between 60 and 62. Surfline updated the local water temperature from 57 to 59 earlier this week. It’s all good. From what I recall, Sunday was not bad at all.

Oh and I just now checked and Surfline just posted 60. Friends, we have arrived. Spring is now in session.

Once I get a view of the shore, it is clear that the sand has been filling in. It has not risen much at all near the rocks at the bottom of the bluff but in the shallows there are no exposed rocks near my entry point. There is still a lot of sand off shore making it a good walk to the surf.

I start heading out into the water. There is a decent SSW swell that came in late week but Strands and Salt Creek have not been responding all that significantly. Trestles is overhead. So there is some surf but pretty small stuff.

Once I am past the surf and I begin to swim south, it feels like the temperature has definitely come up a notch, maybe two. I mean it is not decadent but it is nice. I mostly do not feel cold…mostly. This is good.

The water is MUCH more clear than Sunday. No yucky algae bloom. The water is blue and there are lots of spots where I can see the bottom.

It’s a great swim - definitely one that has exceeded expectations.

There is a pretty good current in the water. It seems to be predominately south bound.

It just feels good to be out here. There is such an open and expansive sense of freedom in this water. It’s just me and the ocean. I let myself relax into every stroke and lose myself in my breath.

The light seems to dim and to intensify back and forth over the course of the swim. The wispy and hazy clouds accumulate and then dissipate. I have full motor control over all fingers throughout the entire swim. My right pinky finger gets a little numb in the final 10 minutes but that’s it. This is definitely the most comfortable swim I have had since early November.

I finish up and return to my pack. I towel off but don’t bother adding any layers for the walk back to the parking lot. The sun feels great.

As I walk by the lifeguard hut, I see they have posted the day’s stats. Water temperature: 57. What?! Ok I feel pretty sure it is NOT 57 degrees. They posted 58 last weekend and it is absolutely warmer. What is happening here? I want to ask where they get their readings but I’m nervous I might appear like I am interrogating them. I do wonder if the lifeguard on duty just sticks his finger in the water, and thinks to himself, “yep. I’d say it’s about 57.” I’m just gonna let this one go. It was 60 and I don’t need any sign to tell me otherwise.