The Ocean Demands my Attendance

I wasn’t sure I was going to swim today. I put my swim trunks on this morning more out of laziness than intention. My dog needed an early (4:15) walk and they were the easiest things to slip on.

As the morning progressed, it became clear that the beach was calling my name. I’m staring at the web cams and the water is still and the sky is sunny and it is in the 70’s out. The Friday forecast, which is my next swim window, looks like the opposite of today’s conditions: cloudy, colder, possible rain and lots of wind.

I can’t seem to pull myself away from work until after noon. I take one more look at the Strands and Salt Creek web cams and it is obvious that the ocean demands my immediate attendance.

I get to the parking lot and Catalina is in plain sight surrounded by smooth water. There are several boats out in the water and as I head down the stairs, the water looks like it could be quite clear. There is almost no surf to stir up the sand.

The tide is on the lower side and rising. It may be the day before Thanksgiving but it feels like I am walking on a tropical shore. The shallow water here is crystal clear and the air and sand are warm.

As I walk into the water, I can see the bottom as though there is nothing obstructing its detail. I soon dive in and head south. It is indeed clear and beautiful.

Throughout the entire southbound swim, whenever I pause I can hear what sounds like hovering helicopters off in the distance towards the horizon. However I can’t actually see anything except what looks like dust on the surface of the water which I am sure is actually mist perhaps from the breeze generated by the helicopters if that is what is out there.

Finally, on my way back up the beach, I actually do see helicopters hovering probably 50 feet over the water. I wonder what is going on out there. This has gone on for a good 45 minutes. Soon after I make out the aircraft, they are gone and silence is restored. Fortunately I can not hear this racket at all while I am swimming thanks to my own racket.

The water might be a bit colder than it was Monday. It’s definitely not warmer however it is still not seasonably cold which is a welcome relief. For all I know this could be the last swim like this of the year. Or not!

I finish the swim and talk to a gentleman at the shore for a while who is also a regular ocean swimmer. He is from Vancouver and mentions that when he moved down here, he couldn’t believe how pleasant December can be.

I walk back up the stairs and take another look at the horizon when I get to the top. It’s absolutely magnificent today.