Twelfth Swim - December 2014 - Esquimalt Lagoon

Beach: Esquimalt Lagoon
Water Temperature: 8.6 C
Sand Temperature: N/A
Waterkeeper Rating: Not monitored at this time of year.
Outside Temperature: 7 Celsius
Weather Conditions: Wind: White caps, windy and rainy
Water Conditions: A few sticks
Tide: Almost all the way in
Time: 10:20 AM

This was by far my coldest swim of the year and my last swim of the year. It was super windy and my towel almost blew away. I tried to swim the Sunday before but there were too many logs in the water from a storm the day before. The waves were very strong and I was lucky that I didn’t lose my sunglasses when I dove under and stepped off the shelf of rocks into the deeper water.

My swim did only last for two minutes. I am 19 weeks pregnant and I wonder if our baby with have as high of a cold water tolerance as I do. It looks like the water temperature stays pretty even throughout the year and fluctuates in the 8-9 C mark for spring and fall/winter. In the summer, the water does warm up when the shallow water is heated by the sun.

I am going to miss the Polar bear plunge again next year, but I’ll be enjoying my first swim of 2015 in warm water in Cabo San Lucas.

In between rain showers

Eleventh Swim - November 2014 - Esquimalt Lagoon

Beach: Esquimalt Lagoon
Water Temperature: 9.1
Sand Temperature: N/A
Waterkeeper Rating: Not monitored at this time of year.
Outside Temperature: 7 Celsius
Weather Conditions: Wind: 0 knots of wind and cloudy
Water Conditions: A few weeds
Tide: In most of the way.
Time: 3:00 PM

The last time it was this cold for my swim was in January of this year. However, I don’t really consider 7 C to be cold. I am currently getting a cold, so the salt water helped to burn out my nostrils and throat. At this time of year, the waterkeeper rating on the the Swim Guide app is not updated. As soon as we arrived at the beach, my lucky swim charm greeted me (a harbour seal stuck his heady out of the water. There was a mix of sun and cloud which also made the swim more enjoyable.

I think it is fairly safe to say that the water temperature stays fairly average throughout the year. Today at Esquimalt Lagoon it was 9.1 C, in January and February this year it was also 9. However, the anomaly is in July when it was 14 but this was probably because the water was shallower and the tide was part way out so this water was heating up as it sat in the sun. I will take the temperature in the same spot with the same tide level and the same thermometer next month for my last swim of the year.

9 C

So exhilirating.

I am holding my glasses.

Tenth Swim - October 2014 - Oyster Bay

Beach: Oyster Bay in front of Ocean Resort
Water Temperature: N/A
Sand Temperature: N/A there wasn’t much
Waterkeeper Rating: Green and safe to swim.
Outside Temperature: 17 Celsius
Weather Conditions: Wind: 0 knots of wind and cloudy
Water Conditions: Clear
Tide: In most of the way.
Time: 1:00 PM

I was at a new swim location this weekend (I was there for a yoga and journal writing retreat with Yoga Inner Spirit). I got to enjoy a swim in the calmest water I have swam in on the island yet. It was so still that it was like swimming in a pool instead of the ocean. It was a cool and relaxing swim.

I went for a walk along the beach during low tide and there was a ton of sea life. I saw crabs, sand dollars, purple sea urchins and baby purple starfish. After my swim, I also saw a salmon jump out of the water and a few seals swim by.

Ninth Swim - September 2014 - Cadboro Bay

Beach: Cadboro - Gyro Park
Water Temperature: N/A
Sand Temperature: Somewhat hot
Waterkeeper Rating: Green and safe to swim.
Outside Temperature: 26 Celsius
Weather Conditions: Wind: 5 knots, sunny and clear
Water Conditions: Clear as can be. Very few weeds.
Tide: In
Time: 12:30 PM


One of the items on my summer checklist was Stand up Paddle boarding (SUP), so my husband and I took lessons through the Gyro Beach board shop. The lessons were great and the shop is a short walk from the beach (the boards are placed on wheels so it’s easy to transport them). It didn’t take me long to learn SUP and gain my balance. Although, the first time I went, I did fall off 3 times, (it was a great warm up for swimming). The second time I went I didn’t even fall off once. It was really relaxing to hear the waves rush over the board and my feet while I stared at docked sailboats, houses and bull kelp peaking above the surface.


Cadboro-Gryo park has it all. There are bathrooms, a great playground that was recently expanded and a nice white sandy beach. The water is quite cold. I had goosebumps the second I got out and my body hairs were little razors piercing my skin as I tried to pat myself dry with a towel. It’s tough to get into the water, but once you’re in you don’t want to leave.This is why I highly recommend jumping off your paddle board instead of trying to ease into the water.

Balance

SUPs in training

Seated float

Eighth Swim - August 2014 - Gorge Swim Fest

Beach: Esquimalt Gorge Park

Water Temperature: 24 C
Sand Temperature: The weedy clay was probably the same temperature as the water.
Waterkeeper Rating: Green and safe to swim.
Outside Temperature: 26 Celsius
Weather Conditions: Pure sun, not a cloud in the sky, no wind.
Water Conditions: Can’t see the bottom, slimy, slippery weeds and silt
Tide: In
Time: 3:15 PM

Just because everyone swims in the Ganges doesn’t mean you should too.This is exactly how I feel about swimming in the Gorge. I decided that Swimfest would be the perfect time to jump in with everyone else.

When we first arrived at Swim Fest, there was music playing and people casually swimming laps between the red buoys. It looked like a scene from the 1950s with people frolicking about. Our kids made buttons at the craft table and enjoyed playing at the park.

I decided to keep an open mind and give the gorge a chance. The kids and I slid into the water. The muddy bottom was extremely slippery. My new Keen waterproof shoes have definitely been broken in. If we stopped even for a second, we sunk a few feet down and it was hard to get out of the quick mud. Even in the shallowest places, I couldn’t see my feet or the bottom.. There was goose poop all over the shore and probably in the water too. However, it was very warm and extremely salty. I did get my head wet to confirm and every time my kids splashed my face I could taste it. My son’s feet kept floating back up so we sat in our little chair positions and floated. It took a lot of scrubbing to try to remove the clay from our bodies. My toe nails and the bottom of my feet are still black. I will gladly stick to the colder but clearer bodies of water for swimming.




My Dad accompanied me for some laps.




My daughter.




I didn’t have to break out my meat thermometer.

Seventh Swim - July 2014 - hot sand

Beach: Esquimalt Lagoon
Water Temperature: 14.1 C
Sand Temperature: 20.8 C
Waterkeeper Rating: Green and safe to swim.
Outside Temperature: 17 Celsius
Weather Conditions: Cloudy, windy and looking like it was going to rain.
Water Conditions: Choppy waves and a few weeds.
Tide: Coming in. (medium tide)
Time: 1:00 PM

I finally bought a new meat thermometer but unfortunately I couldn’t find the same brand or model as my old one (it would have helped if I had known the brand or had a picture of what it used to look like). The water has really heated up since my last reading in March. The water is 5.8 C warmer now than it was in March. I had to measure the water temperature in a bucket because the choppy waves were coming too close to drowning my thermometer. Since the sand at Esquimalt Lagoon is usually blistering hot, I decided to check the temperature of the sand too and it was 20.8 C today.

Due to the wind and threat of rain, my son and I were the only two brave swimmers on the entire beach. The wind was warm so I immediately warmed up after my swim. I swam for 10 minutes. I still thought the weather was perfect for swimming. During our two weeks of really hot weather at the beginning of this month, we spent a few evenings going for swims at Esquimalt Lagoon. I have also been swimming in Parksville and Dolphin beach this month. Get out and swim while you can.

Water temperature 

 Sand: Warmer than the water and the air. 

Wave sitters.

The looming clouds and my husband’s Ural.

A tiny blip.

Sixth Swim - June 2014 - first day of summer

Beach: East Sooke Regional Park Aylard Farm and Becher Bay
Water Temperature: Not available yet. I still haven’t been able to find a thermometer that works well enough.
Waterkeeper Rating: Starts this month
Outside Temperature: 20 Celsius
Weather Conditions: Sunny with zero clouds or breeze
Water Conditions: Quite a few weeds..
Tide: Going out. (low tide)
Time: 2:00 PM

For the first weekend of summer, I, of course had to go swimming in the ocean. On Saturday, I visited Becher Bay. There are many beautiful walking trails along this beach. If you hike a little bit above the beach you can admire the azure coloured water. The sand is as fine as white sugar, so be prepared to track it home with you. The water was exceptionally cold which was perfect for me since it was exceptionally hot.

After I finished my swim, I was towelling dry and gazing out across the ocean. A grey seal popped his head above the water and looked right at me. He had missed swimming with me by 1 minute. I wanted to take his picture, but I didn’t bring my zoom camera.

With the kickoff of summer, everyone should be out swimming. The only other swimmers who joined me on the first day of summer were my son, two children in wet suits and numerous dogs. I highly recommend downloading the Swim Guide app to your phone. There are Waterkeepers who monitor the fecal matter in the ocean at popular beaches. Esquimalt Lagoon usually has a green rating (which means it is safe to swim there). Avoid the beaches that have been rated red. I swam in the nice clear waters of Esquimalt Lagoon today and the water felt warmer than Becher Bay. So far this month, I have gone swimming in the ocean 5 times. Happy first weekend of summer everyone!

Our creation

Was here when we arrived

My daughter got wet up to her waste

Fifth Swim - May 2014 with Friends

Beach: Hollydene Park
Water Temperature: Not available yet
Outside Temperature: 24 Celsius
Weather Conditions: Sunny with a few clouds and a slight breeze.
Water Conditions: A few weeds.
Tide: Going out. (low tide)
Time: 2:00 PM

May has been an amazing swimming month. I have been to many beautiful beaches and I have swam at them all. One set of friends from Edmonton visited us for my birthday and another set is visiting this week. Today we went to a great secret beach. A treed path leads down to an amazing turquoise inlet of water. It is quite the hike down steep stairs, so pack light or pack most of the weight on your back. Further down the beach there are many warm tidal pools and my son loved crawling back and forth in them.

The water temperature was fresh but it didn’t take me long to get used to it. (I am going to try to buy a new thermometer for June). This beach often has many neat shells and I’ve found rare colours of sea glass here too (blue and pink). However, there is often lots of glass that is no sea glass yet and is quite sharp. There are also many sharp rocks and boulders in the water so I recommend water shoes (or stay in the sandy areas).

I am so glad it is summer. Happy swimming. Next month, the ocean water quality testing begins.




Soak it up.


Distribute the weight.

Doggy paddle

Fourth Swim - April 2014 with the Whole Family

Beach: Cordova Bay Beach Park

Water Temperature: It’s a long story.
Outside Temperature: 21 Celsius
Weather Conditions: Sunny with no clouds and no breeze.
Water Conditions: Clear. No waves. Few weeds.
Tide: Coming in. (low tide)
Time: 2:00 PM

New swimsuit top from la Vie en Rose Aqua

The sand is so soft.

It would only read the outside temperature and not the water.


I guessed that by the end of April it would be nice enough for my entire family to go swimming and it was. Today was the hottest day of the year yet. We tried to go to a new beach but there were too many barnacles. Next we went to Island View Beach Regional Park but since the tide was out I would have had to wade through weird brown feathery weeds to get deep enough to swim laps. Therefore we went to our tried and true Cordova Bay Beach Park.

Unfortunately, I could not take the temperature of the water because I lost my meat thermometer to customs. It was rather embarrassing and funny at the same time. We went to Edmonton for 2.5 weeks in April and on my way out the door I grabbed my winter coat. I didn’t think to check the pockets. The last time I wore the coat was for my last swim in March. I had a seashell, sea glass and a meat thermometer in my pocket.

It is ideal to swim at Cordova Bay Beach Park while the tide is out because the water is super warm. My son crawled in and out of the water for 30 minutes. My daughter and I ventured out to a tiny sand bar island that has the waves come in from both directions. We had to fight the sea gulls for the island but enjoyed building sandcastles and watching them disappear. My husband even got we up to his knees and he stayed in with my son. There is a nice little playground at this beach too.

Third Swim - March 2014 with Special Guests

Beach: Dolphin Beach in Nanoose Bay

Water Temperature: 8.5 Celsius
Outside Temperature: 12.4 Celsius
Weather Conditions: Sunny with a few clouds and a light breeze.
Water Conditions: Clear. No waves. No weeds.
Tide: All the way out (low tide)
Time: 1:30 PM

Esquimalt Lagoon Water Temperature on Friday, March 28, 2014 at 11:30 AM: 8.4 Celsius

We drove up island for the weekend (it sounds so cool to say that we were “up island.”) to visit the grandparents. They held an amazing Princess themed 3rd birthday party for our daughter. I love swimming in the water at Dolphin Beach, so I decided to save my swim for this weekend. However, I still checked the water temperature at Esquimalt Lagoon and I will continue to for comparison throughout the year (8.4 C).

My brother-in-law, his girlfriend and their pitbull Sophie were visiting from Alberta, so I invited them to join me for a swim. Christian didn’t make it too far in but Paige and I did a lap. Sophie did a few more laps than us but I joined her for one of her laps. It was nice to have special guests join me for my swim. I think next month my son will want to join me. He had fun suntanning with me before my swim. I dipped his hands in the water and he didn’t mind at all.

While I played Barbie’s with my daughter in the tidal pools, we checked the water temperature of the tidal pool and it was 10 Celsius. We bought a new meat thermometer so I am using our old meat thermometer to check the temperature It is more reliable and accurate than my plastic ducky thermometer that I used in January and February.



Suntanning

When Paige and I surfaced from the water, it was a bit hard to breathe as you can tell from our open mouths.

Swim Competitors

Second Swim - February 2014 - Why don't locals swim in the winter?

Beach: Esquimalt Lagoon
Water Temperature: 9 Celsius
Outside Temperature: 8 Celsius
Weather Conditions: Sunny with no clouds and a light breeze.
Water Conditions: Clear. No weeds. Tiny waves.
Tide: Three quarters of the way up the beach (almost all in)
Time: 12 PM

We were on this beach on Saturday, February 22, 2014 and even though it was snowing the water was calm enough for me to go in. However, I had a really bad cold and decided to wait for a sunnier less snowy day like today. Although the pictures would have been neat with the snow.

Originally, I was planning to visit a different beach each month. However, I want to see how much the water temperature changes each month throughout the year. Therefore, I thought for comparison it might be best to visit the same beach. I didn’t see any sea lions in the water today. However, my 2.5 year old daughter did get her feet wet with me. She said it was way too cold and immediately wanted her socks on. I suppose this is probably why locals don’t swim at this time of year (unless they have a wet suit).

Speaking of locals, a lady who was out walking her dog (also from Alberta) chatted with me as I was getting out of the water. She thought that I was a local and that perhaps locals really do swim here all year round. I assured her that I haven’t seen any other swimmers when I frequent the Esquimalt Lagoon.

After my swim today, it took me less time to warm up (the sun helped) than after my January swim. I think it helped that I went for a 20 min run before my swim today too.

Pre-swim run.

Same water temperature as in January.


Kids make great towel holders.

First Swim of 2014 - January

Beach: Esquimalt Lagoon

Water Temperature: 9 Celsius
Outside Temperature: 7 Celsius
Weather Conditions: Sunny with a few clouds and no wind.
Water Conditions: Clear. No weeds. Tiny waves.Tide: Out
Time: 3 PM



It was super foggy this morning and a bit frosty, but the sun burned through, the fog lifted and I decided it was a perfect day for my first swim of the year. It was also humid enough to make my usually flat hair have a little wave in it. The air was definitely fresh and crisp and smelled of a hint of pine and musty leaves. Oh wait... that musty part may just have been the salt water residue left on my Tevas from my last swim in the ocean in October 2013.

After hiking around Witty's Lagoon, viewing the Sitting lady waterfalls, I was warmed up and ready for a sunny beach walk at the Esquimalt Lagoon. I received various shocked looks from passer-bys as I stripped down, threw my towel in the sand and strolled into the ocean. My daughter said the water was too cold as she stood and watched in her toque and mitts. My son doesn't mind the cold water at all and he smiled at me as I came back out of the water.

I was quite the sight sitting in the car in my swimsuit and towel as we went through the Tim Horton's drive thru for a hot chocolate. After we got home and I showered the only part of my body that was still cold was my feet. After putting on a pair of fuzzy socks and sitting in front of the fireplace in the sun, they warmed up.

Who is swimming with me on the far left? -bird, sea lion, dolphin?

Westshore Swim a Month for the Year of 2014

As a prairie girl from Alberta, I have always wanted to live near the ocean, a waterfall or lake. My favourite place to swim is in the turquoise warm waters of the Aegean sea in Greece. However, for cold water, I love visiting Jasper at any time of the year to plunge off the cliffs into the freezing cold water of Horseshoe Lake.

Since my husband and I are both lucky enough to work from home, we decided to make a huge change and move our family to Victoria, BC so we can be near the ocean, enjoy warm weather and have outdoor adventures year round. We stayed with my in-laws from Sept-November while we house hunted. We purchased a home in November and then went back to Edmonton for Christmas and New Years. Therefore, I missed the polar bear plunge on January 01, but I am definitely going to participate next year.

Since I am finally near the ocean and it is nice enough to enjoy it all year round, I decided that a monthly swim in the ocean is in order. Therefore, at least once a month for the year of 2014, I will swim in the ocean and blog about it.

My swimming rules:

1. I must go under the water for at least a few seconds.
2. I must be in water that is waist deep.
3. I must be in the water swimming for at least 2 minutes.

Now that I have set this goal, I decided it would be a good idea to research the quality of the water where I will be swimming. I am assuming that it is safe to swim in the ocean year round (this is not the case for lakes in Alberta due to summer algae blooms and the fact that the lake freezes). Since it is the winter, the water hasn't been tested since October, but I will definitely be using this great app in the summer: https://www.theswimguide.org/guide/get-the-app/ This is the beach where I will try to do all my swims for the year and the water quality is often great: https://www.theswimguide.org/beach/1144