Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.
The Sea Monkeys took their first swim of the year yesterday at Seal Beach. Their moves were typical of ocean swimming pods.
…the buzz onshore and slow walk towards the shoreline…
…the hesitation at the water’s edge…
…the definitive stop once the water gets past the ankles…
…the group commitment to start swimming in a pack…
…the slow warm-up swim out from shore…
…getting into the groove as they pick up their pace…[with Catalina Island in the background]
…swimming back in towards shore…
…and the occasional lone butterflyer…
…the slow and satisfying walk up the beach…
…the talkative shuffle towards the showers and home…
The Japanese call this first swim of the year, hatsu-oyogi (初泳ぎ). English-speakers call it a New Year’s Day swim.
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