Supernatural

I wasn’t really planning on swimming today. The surf forecast had made this day look like it was going to be victory at sea. This didn’t make sense to me because the actual wind velocity numbers didn’t match up. The narrative of the report was calling for strong NW winds to cause significant upwelling but the actual wind numbers were actually only 5 knots from the south. My guess is that this wind is further offshore while the wind at the beach is calm. At any rate, while the water certainly looked to have a lot of wobble to it from the webcams, it was relatively nice conditions. So lets go for a swim!

I left at 11:15 with a cloudless sky but much cooler air than we have had all Fall. It’s 61 when I leave and not supposed to surpass 62. On one level if feels ridiculous to be talking about the 60’s as cool having lived in Washington for 10 years and returning 4 years ago. But whatever - I felt cold.

I drive to the beach in my car that has been sitting in the sun all morning and the cab feels warm and delightful. Then I descend the stairs and it is cool but not much cooler than it was on my Monday/Tuesday swims earlier this week.

When I reach the sand there is a one foot drop in the shore at the edge of the ramp that must be the high tide mark. There is a steady stream of medium sized waves coming to shore. The water is super bouncy. These waves are low powered and create an environment that feels like a post storm situation. We did see some very light rain yesterday morning but it’s been calm and nice mostly.

While the conditions might not be great if I were surfing, I’m eager to get in the water and swim. There is a desent sized pack of surfers at the main break so it can’t be so bad.

I get in the water and begin to walk and then pretty quickly dive under an oncoming wave and continue to swim out. It’s cool but relatively nice. Maybe a little cooler than Wednesday but no need for booties as the water temperature forecast threatened on Monday. It’s solidly still in the 60’s. Not too shabby for December.

I swim south and it is just a great swim. The water is totally alive and I can feel the wind swell from the north west pushing me. Water visibility is not great at all. I can see waves near the cliffs washing up against the rocks. I’m cautious and trying to be extra mindful of my surroundings as I get further south but it is nothing like tumultuous Monday and I feel safe.

I pause at the southern end and I watch as the ocean surface rises and falls. The waves here look large but they lack the umf to actually break. I enjoy experiencing this energy. I can feel my body rise and fall over the peaks that come in an endless stream. There is a dynamic here that is utterly real-time and foreign to my land based life. I can experience this reality here that is so utterly different and almost incomprehensible to a land locked perspective yet it is so utterly real. It’s not like I am making this experience up. It is really happening. For the next hour I am immersed in a life that is supernatural because it is so utterly super and entirely natural.