The Sand Always Comes Back

Another beautiful Fall morning here in Dana Point. I left for the beach at 9:30 and it was sunny and mild.

When I get to the parking lot, it’s pristine conditions: warm, no wind, and beautiful.

It’s a very pleasant walk down the stairs. I can see small bumps making their way along the water to shore. There are a few others heading down as well.

When I get almost to the sand, there is a young girl walking her dog with her mom. There are no dogs allowed on the beach here. The mom tells her daughter that they are not supposed to bring their dog on the beach but that they will just try to look like tourists that are not aware of the rules. I tell the mom that I think that sounds like a pretty good strategy.

There really is no surf to speak of here. It is indeed a very different scene from last Sunday morning. There are just a few surfers catching the beach breaks. Up at Salt Creek conditions look much more favorable and there is a pretty good crowd there.

I get in the water and it is basically just what I expect. According to the Salt Creek lifeguard tower, it’s 67-68. No complaints here.

I start swimming south and it is just so pleasant. Water is pretty clear again today and it is super smooth and glassy.

There are a lot of fish that I see in the water today. I see several schools of Corbina. I have been noticing that they don’t seem at all concerned by my presence. Sometimes it seems like they are following me and encircling me. They travel in large packs.

When I get to the south end I make my way over to a cluster of large rocks that, given the current tide (high), I expect to be submerged below a couple feet of water. On the south side of the rocks are several Garibaldi and on the other side there is a huge school of (maybe) Corbina but they look small.

As I swim back up north I pass a couple boats and a couple others pass me. Lots of boats out today. I’m guessing, but not at all sure, that they are checking on lobster.

Just can’t get over how nice out it is. The water is calm and beautiful. It grows more cloudy (the water and not the sky) as I go north.

The last few swims my mind feels particularly clear. I am just swimming and feeling the cool of the water on my body. I am relishing the power an magnificence of not only the water but this entire environment. What a privilege it is to be a citizen of this lovely beach town and get to enjoy almost daily what others plan as an annual event.

As I approach the shore I can see my dad waiting for me. We walk down to the Salt Creek lifeguard tower and then back to the southern cove - almost a land version of my swim. There are a lot more people on the land.

Once you pass the little lifeguard hut heading south, there is not a lot of sand on the beach - typical Fall landscape. The sand is always shifting here. Some years there might not be any sand at all on this beach for a couple weeks. My dad likes to tell the story of when he was in 5th grade and his family just started visiting. He came to the beach and all the sand was gone and he was crushed thinking this was gonna be how it was gonna be forever and ever.

Fortunately, the sand always comes back.