I left the house just a little after 8:00. It’s a little foggy in my neighborhood but all the beach cams look clear.

As I am driving away from Capo Beach toward Doheny the fog gives way but I still see patchy fog up toward Laguna Niguel. Whatever…I’m not going to think about it.

I park and conditions look pleasant. It is mostly sunny and the water looks smooth. There are clouds out on the horizon and fog floating east of Salt Creek and over the hills of Laguna. Temperature is mild. I feel coolish coming down the stairs but mostly comfortable.

Surfline still has not come out with a new water temperature forecast, but the nearby buoy data has not really moved at all so I anticipate that the water will feel pretty good.

Once I get a view of the beach, there is a good solid set of waves coming in. It’s not huge but larger than I have seen in a couple weeks. It’s overhead and clean and nicely shaped right here at the Strand.

Looking north towards the point at Salt Creek, it looks bigger and breaking way outside. I was planning on swimming north but now I’m thinking south might be a better option.

The tide is high and the water rolls all the way up and over the ramp. We are about 45 minutes shy of the 5.5 foot peak. A bit further down the beach, the waves are breaking right on the shore.

I find a lull between the waves and walk into the water. Hmm. Not bad at all. It’s not 70 but by no means cold. It is all very pleasant. I swim and make quick progress getting out past the surf and then I veer to the left and make my way down the beach.

I pass a couple packs of surfers as I move south and occasionally watch the waves break and bounce inshore. About half way down the beach, I feel the incoming wakes from the surging water rushing in from the high tide.

It is such a pleasant morning and the water is so palatable. It always surprises me how nice October can be. The first year I started swimming here, I just assumed that the water temperature would plummet around mid-September but It’s mostly nice up into early November.

I turn around at the south end of the beach and head north. I can feel the intensity of the sun increase and it’s pretty great. Lots of lobster trap buoys. It really seems like there are more this year than the previous few years. I see a boat motoring along well inshore from where I am swimming probably checking its traps.

Looking north to the Salt Creek area, the surf seems much more mellow than it did when I got to the beach. I’m also way way further out than I really need to be. I think I’m going to go a little further than my usual bathroom turnaround point. I end up swimming just a little bit past the lifeguard tower.

When I turn around I aim myself on an inward trajectory toward the beach. Eventually I can feel and see the waves break just to my left and soon I veer west to correct myself. It’s time to come in to the beech and I watch a larger wave coming my way. I am right at the spot where I just can’t tell if it is going to pass me, break right on me or just ahead of me. Yep, there is goes. I dive down to the floor and move under it just in time.

I wait one more wave out and then it looks clear and I swim right through the turbulent white water and soon I am on my feet in shin deep water. It is a magnificent morning here and I cherish the sun on each and every step up the stairs.