Saturday, January 10th, 2026

Niel's Saturday Morning Swim Report -

Tom taking before photos

January is when the Central Coast gets it clear and cold days. This morning in Avila Beach the air temperature was 33°, the water was 58° to 59° and there was talk between Niel, Jodi, Tom and Paula about the advantages of putting on your wetsuit at home (Jodi and Niel) instead of changing at the beach (Tom and Paula). We were all hoping that we'd feel warmer in the water.  The ocean was pretty flat, there was an offshore wind and the surf was 1 to 3 foot. Water samples collected athe the SL Creek Mouth and at the beach by the Blue Water Task Force on Thursday tested at low levels for bacteria so the water had cleaned up since the last rainstorm and we would not need to worry about bringing something extra home.

Getting in, the water felt comfortable. We grouped up about where the buoy line would be and waited for a Harbor Patrol boat to cruise down the beach towards us and to head out to sea before continuing to the end of the pier. 

Niel, Tom, Paula and Jodi meeting the sunrise the the 'buoy line'. 

We decided to swim to the end of the Poly Pier and to come in along the pier.  At the second crossbars we swam to the end of the Avila Pier and came in to the beach from there. 

The area around the showers was all in shadow. The concrete was the same temperature as the air and not kind to bare feet so changing was done as quickly as possible.

Tom's birthday is Monday so there were brownies after the swim. Tom will be 66, but there was only one candle in the package of two so he may get to negotiate a do over next year. 

I'll swim Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday next week.

niel
 

   

Friday, JAnuary 9th, 2026

Tom's Friday Morning Swim Report - 

Beautiful blue skies and wispy clouds, slight offshore breeze and a 3 foot plus wave rolling in. The air temperature was low 50s and the water temperature was high 50s. The swimming was excellent. 

Thursday, January 8th, 2026

Niel's Thursday Morning Swim Report -

I followed in Tom's strokes today by swimming around the rock. Conditions were beautiful, at 7AM it was sunny with scattered clouds and 45°.  The surf was 1 - 2 foot

and the wind hadn't yet come up in Avila so the water just was rippled.    

The sun was coming up just to the right of the Avila Rock which made my navigation easy. The water was about 58° inside the Avila Pier and out at the rock but 56° - 57° in between.   

After being out of the water for a week this was a very nice day back.

The Saturday group will swim at 7:30.  

niel

Wednesday, January 7th, 2026

Tom's Wednesday Morning Swim Report - 

Around the rock Wednesday.  Beautiful morning at Avila. Blue skies, scattered thin clouds, and a slight breeze blowing offshore. The air temperature was mid 50s and the water was slightly warmer. The water was pretty much cleaned up from the storm and the swimming was excellent.

Tuesday, January 6th, 2026

Tom's Tuesday Morning Swim Report - 

Blue skies, scattered clouds, and a lot of debris washed up on shore.  There was a mixed up swell rolling in and the tide was up at 5.6. Air temperature was low 60s and the water was high 50s.  The water was still a little murky from the storms, but not so bad that it kept me out of the water today. I can only stay out so long. It was a good far east Swim.  

Friday, January 2nd, 2026

Tom's Friday Morning Swim Report - 

King tide, gusty winds, and rough water swimming.  The wind brought a heavy chop on the water and it was pushing hard from the southeast. There was a very cool cloud cover with blue sky showing through in spots. It was a wild morning Swim. 

New Years Day 2026

Niel and Tom's Thursday Morning Swim Report -

Tom Israel and NieI got in the water at 8AM. The water and air temperatures were 58°. The wind was out of the SE, it felt like rain but wash't at the moment, there was a +6.86 king high tide and the water was stormy.   

The surf was 3 foot with a 2 foot chop on top. It was high tide so the waves and chop were pushing towards the beach.  

We decided to swim out until we were even with the barrier on the Avila Pier, turn left and swim to Fossil Point, swim back to the end of the Avila Pier and to come in from there.  

The water temperature was comfortable but the swimming conditions were 'combative'. Swimming out ment being constantly hit by the chop and the waves. I began thinking how swimming across the swell would surley be easier.  It was easier, but I never found a rythym that worked with the waters tempo so I just swam and embraced the washing machineness of the swimming. It was hard to keep track of each other. It took a minuite or more of looking before I would see an arm and know where Tom was.         

At Fossil Point

Tom and I had fun and felt like we had accomplished something in just 2,100M. 

It looks like the rain will be light so the Saturday group will swim at 7. 

niel
 

Wednesday, December 31st, 2025

Tom's Wednesday Morning Swim Report -

No sunscreen needed – heavy cloud cover and on and off light rain.  High 50s air and water temperature.  The water was flat, calm and clear. The last Swim of the year was excellent.  

Tuesday, December 30th, 2025

Niel's Tuesday Morning Swim Report -

The ocean was very flat and calm this morning. There was no wind, the surf was 1 foot and the surface of the water was glassy.  There was thick overcast which made for a slow sunrise. The air was 50°. The water on the east side of the Avila Pier was in the 58° and 56°- 57°on the west side. 

I swam out to where the swim buoys would be, turned right, went under the pier, on to the second crossbars on the Poy Pier. From there to the end of the Avila Pier, to the mooring mast on the Poly Pier, to the end of the pier, to the end of the Avila Pier and in. It was nice and smooth the whole way. 

NOAA is predicting up to two inches of rain between now and New Years morning so our swim on Thursday morning may be washed out, and possibly Saturday too if it continues to rain.

niel  

   

Sunday, December 28th, 2025

 Tom's Sunday Morning Swim Report - 

Gorgeous winter day at Avila. Deep blue skies, wispy clouds, and flat calm water. The water and air temperatures were high 50s. It was a beautiful morning swim.  

Saturday, December 27th, 2025

The Saturday Groups Not Swimming Today Report -

Water samples collected at the mouth of SLO Creek on Wednesday morning before the rain started were 10X the safe level for bacteria. Since then San Luis Obispo received more than three inches of rain so I'm staying out of the water until Tuesday. 

Niel, Jodi, Paula and Tom met at the beach to catch up and enjoy being at the ocean. WE had a long visit until Jodi needed to do a 11 mile run, Paula needed to go to work and Tom and I had chores waiting at home. 

niel

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025

Niel's Tuesday Morning Swim Report -

This morning at 7:15 the ocean looked like a storm was coming.  The waves were small but pushed together and the surface of the water had a number of different chops and swells from the SW.   The water and air temperatures were 58° and the wind was from the SE.  

The swimming was bumpy but reasonable until I got far enough east to be out of the shadow of the Avila Pier and was exposed to the full effect. The swimming was physical and became rougher durning my swim but didn't get past a 7 on my scale of challenge. Tom Lorish swam between 10 and 11 and it was more like an 8+ then. 

(I'm using my own personal scale where 10 is where I'll not consider getting into the water). 

I will not be swimming on Thurday and may not on Saturday if I think that Avila Creek is still dirty from the rain. 

I wish to send my thoughts and support to the friends and family of Erica Fox who was lost to the ocean on Sunday while swimming with the Kelp Crawlers in Pacific Grove. 

 

niel

Sunday, December 21st, 2025

Tom Lorish's Sunday Swim Report - 

It was a beautiful around the Rock winter solstice Swim. Glassy calm water and a high marine layer.  The sun was working hard to burn through but couldn't quite do it.  The water temperature continues to be high 50s. It was an excellent winter solstice Swim.  

Friday, December 19th, 2025

 Tom' s Friday Swim Report - 

Beautiful conditions all around.  Blue skies, wispy clouds, and glassy water.  Gorgeous morning Swim.  

Wednesday, December 18th, 2025

 Tom Lorish's Wednesday Morning Swim Report - 

Beautiful conditions all around.  Blue skies, wispy clouds, and glassy water.  Gorgeous morning Swim.