May 31, 2015

We had 10 swimmers do the buoy line today.  There were thick gray clouds down to the horizon, no wind, 2' surf and 55 degree water.  It did not look warm and everybody was feeling cold before we got in. Swimming to day were Sylvia, Niel, Amy, Rick, Tom, Leslie, their friend Brian, Stephanie, John Hampsey and Jess. Jess was visiting the area, lives in Oakland and swims in the northern part of San Francisco Bay and at the Aquatic Park.  IF felt colder than 55 to me getting in and it wasn't until I got to the end of the buoy line that I began to feel comfortable. The water was flat and clean and made for great swimming.  

The buoys have not been moved but my Garmin 910 read only .72 miles at the end, which is about .3 miles short of usual......... The only thing that was different was that I was stopping the tracking when we stopped in order to  time only my swimming.  It is just another mystery.

Stephanie and Rick at the start

 Amy and Brian at the start

Tom and Leslie at the last buoy towards the point

Jess and Rick at the same spot 

Tom, Jess, Rick and Leslie before heading under the pier for the second half of the route

The Fourth of July Not Duke's Birthday Port to Avila Swim

Duke's birthday is not on the 4th of July but it is close enough that I'm naming this swim after him. Besides, it was his idea.  The route starts at the little beach at the foot of the Harford Pier, goes to the end of the pier, to the end of the Cal Poly Pier, to the end of the Avila Pier and in to the beach, where we will have a potluck post swim feed. This is a 1.75 mile swim with a long stretch of the course a 1/2 mile offshore.  I'd like to have three support paddlers; front (navigate), a middle rover and a sweep at the rear.  Mark has stepped up with his SUP, so we need two more.  If anyone has a friend or spouse that would like to support this swim it would be much appreciated. We also will need to organise rides over to the port or alternately rides back to pick up the cars afterwards.  Let me know if you are intending to do this swim so I can give the lifeguards a head count.  I want to start this swim (in the water) around 9:30. That will make parking easier and have us back on the beach before it gets too crazy at Avila.

Be advised, several of our swimmers have done this swim successfully but the water quality at the Harford can be kind'a 'industrial' and there are a lot of seals and sea lions there.

niel