Wednesday, August 24, 2011

La Jolla Cove - Sea Lion Encounter

by Rachel



When I go to La Jolla Cove, it's because I know that I'm more than my fears - there is such a big world out there, and we will never experience it if we hold on to the fears that our mind blares at us...

I'm getting more comfortable swimming at the cove - I'm really beginning to enjoy it! Every time I'm there, I see wildlife - little neon orange fishies, many other kinds of fish, lots of sea plants, giant kelp plants, osprey, pelicans, cormorants?, and sea lions!

It's really very very beautiful there - and there's always snorkelers, divers, swimmers, kayakers, paddleboarders - lots of people out enjoying the beauty of it - lots of people just watching and enjoying from land too!

Yesterday I went out for a swim around 6pm - the water was choppy, and around 66 degrees. I planned to go swim out to the 1/4 mile buoy. I swam out, and as I got about halfway to the buoy, I started seeing deep yellow suds on top of the water - not a ton, but enough to make me a little nervous about swimming through it... so I decided to turn back before I got to the buoy. (I learned later that this was likely algae - it was not tons and you couldn't see it from shore - I did report it but the lifeguard didn't seem concerned)

So, while I'm swimming back, I'm looking down into the water, and I notice some movement... to the side for a breath, and when I look back down, I see a sea lion under me! 3 more strokes, to the side for another breath, and the sea lion is still there, swimming along with me and then it looks up at me - swimming with me...

I mean really - that was so cool/awesome/crazy/weird/make-you-stop-and-think and when I watch nature documentaries I think that kind of thing is so cool - but ALWAYS from a spectator point-of-view. I never thought that I would experience something like that - swimming and hanging out like that with a wild animal...

It only lasted for a few seconds - then it was off to check out some other swimmers - but it's hard to put into words what that was like. I just loved it, and I will be swimming at LJCove for years to come and I love that place!

2 comments:

  1. I have never had the opportunity to swim there, but it's one of my favorite places to visit/take a run. What a great story! Thanks for sharing!

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  2. I've visited thtere, too. But, wow! What an incredible experience! I went SCUBA diving in Hawaii once & got to touc a sea turtle. Amazing nature experience! Thanks for sharing.

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