Cold Rain

Forecast...Cold Rain

La Jolla Shores Photo by Scott Lawson

A Shores swim is scheduled with Davina, Alayne and hopefully Claudia, Laura N and Kathy and others if they can make it.  Will it be short or long?  Who will show?  Hey don't I know you?  There's Ralph coming up the lawn.  Haven't I seen some of these gear bags before?  Davina, Alayne and her friend Robert are waving in the distance.  The wind begins to blow.

No news from Kathy or Laura but Claudia is resting at home trying to get well, and the sun is shining one minute and dark, gloomy and foreboding the next...best get going.  Best to get to swimming.  People bustling everywhere.  A surfing contest is taking place North of the Tower.  Which direction shall we go?  I've always wanted to see this side of the Pier before.

The conditions today worsen as the day progresses (*)...but no one knows my goal, my private plan for today.  I have these thoughts...this drive.  Why am I driven so?  To what end?  I wish I knew.

We aim for the Pier watching the surf competition as we breathe each stroke...nice view from the back.  Seals hanging around playing in the surf.  We see some very large orangey-red sea stars clinging to the pylons as the water laps up on them.  There are  folks on the Pier cheering and waving us on as we turn and swim back to shore.  In the shallows, in front of the tower, bat rays slide across the ocean floor...I thought it was too early for them.  We walk up the beach.  I guess that ends the group swim...people want to head home.  Davina is leaving for Texas next week.  She thought there would be more, but must move...hopes for work here stained. But she'll be back.  Her love lives here.  We share some tea and granola bars and say our good-byes.  I, too, must move on.

The sky looms with gray.  The winds pick up.  I look to the Cove.  Perhaps a smile awaits me there.

The water texture has increased and the storm is moving in.  The water laps against my face...here comes the rain.  People heading home.  Alone in this ocean, I think of things and of nothing all at once.  I am amazed at how smoothly I move through the waves against this building current.  The sun peeks out a bit once I round the corner to the Cove.  Damn negative tide and the shallow, sharp rocks cutting my numb feet.  Up the stairs, I peek in the  box...but no.  The Jacuzzi at the Aquatic Club will have to supply the warmth I need to get me back.  Then I see Dana and Kathy waving up at me, wrapping me up in their towels and pouring tea...that's the ticket.  After saying our mermaid farewell, I let the life guard on duty (Lonnie, I think) know I'm heading back and I wade in to the churning sea.  The swim home seems quicker...it should, I'm going with the current this time (yea!).  A flotilla of kayakers are out pointing at something.  Turns out it's me!  As I lift my head, I see dolphin coming toward me from the opposite direction and point them out to the lucky tourists.  Seems I get an escort back to the Tower now; the dolphin appear to be going my way (or am I going theirs?).  A ride on a few waves, more bat rays and I'm back on the beach...and just as I start to focus on where I left my gear, I hear over the loudspeaker, "Marta.  Welcome back!"  Too cool for school!  I smile and wave to the life guards in the Tower.

Well...I did my 1st 3+mi swim!!!!  Today was it, cold or not, chop or not, friends or not.  It was a broken 3.35mi, with friends swimming on part of it and other friends offering tea in between another part.  It was broken up, but I did it!  Next goal is to work toward a nonstop trip.

I love our guards...I know they've got my back.  Must remember to bake some brownies or something just as sweet as they are.

...And here comes the rain, the Cold Rain down on my face.  And now I'm heading home.

* Water temp 57-ish.  Waves 3' out of the West @ 13sec intervals.  Wind 15kts WSW cross-on and a negative low tide again.