Chasing the Sun
For the first morning in a couple weeks at least, we have sunshine. I had to squint my eyes to make sure what I was seeing was real. Do I really see blue sky and feel the warmth of direct sunlight on my skin? What is this feeling? I like it.
As the morning continues, there are some clouds coalescing along the coast mostly from the south and it looks like it could be fog. Oh no. NO! I’m in meetings and I am keeping my eye on the surfline cams and the beach still looks clear. After my last meeting at 8:30 I practically run upstairs to put on my swim trunks and go. That fog could roll in and cover everything in a matter of minutes so I want to get out of here while the getting is good.
On the drive up, it’s looking like this is just low hanging louds and not thick patchy fog. Whew. From the parking lot at Strands, I can see out to the horizon and I don’t anticipate any threat from the fog. Jr. lifeguards started this week so the area is teaming with kids heading down the stairs and towards the north end of the beach. There are two boys who look to be about 7 years old discussing which buoy they are going to swim or paddle to. One says he thought he saw a seal yesterday and almost freaked out. They look out toward the buoys and conjecture that they must be at least a half mile offshore. One mentions that there used to be a buoy called the Green Monster and they wonder if it was actually green. This is where I chime in tell them that indeed it was. May it rest in peace.
I had been planning to swim south today but as I look out on to the water and along both ends of coastline, clearly the sun is shining most predominately on the north side of the point. This definitely alters my course plans and I decide to go north to chase the sun.
The water feels great. I’d say the temperature has come up another notch and I’m going to say it was probably about 67 degrees. Not too shabby. I swim towards that sun and I am quite comfortable here. I try to just immerse my heart and mind in the feeling that the water evokes. Despite those clouds to the south, this all feels like summer. We are just two and a half days away from Summer solstice. Look at us. We made it!
I swim all the way up to somewhere in between the northernmost Salt Creek restrooms and the Monarch Beach Club. The cloud cover seems to be shifting as if things are clearing up in the south and starting to gather up to the north. It’s all the same from my vantage point. I’m facing the shore as I head back south and I see a nice mix of clouds and blue sky and kelp and water. I’m just trying to settle myself into this moment and nestle my mind between the wakes on the surface.
There are several more jr. guard buoys out today. As I cross back over the point I see a buoy further offshore and while I would usually begin to veer towards the beach at this point, I decide instead to checkout the buoys further out. I swim by Big Bob and then Big Bertha and then I aim towards my usual finishing spot. By now it really does look like the clouds have switched sides. I thought I was chasing the sun but maybe the sun is chasing me.
