Saturday, April 30, 2016 - Escape to Smith Rock Swim

Tom and Brian and Niel and Russell's Fabulous Adventure

This morning Tom and Niel swam from the base of the Avila Pier to and around Smith Rock and got out at the base of the Harford Pier. 

The route was 2.43 miles. It was sunny and calm with very good swimming conditions.

The water temperature was 51 degrees. Niel was accompanied by Russell on his paddleboard and Tom had Brain with him in a kayak.  Tom finished in one hour, Niel finished in 1:17:39.

Russell, Niel, Brian and Tom

Our destination.  Smith Rock is to the west of the Harford Pier, inside of the breakwater. It is the white poop covered rock. The larger rock in the background that is part of the breakwater is Whaler's Rock.
                                              

Around 1900 there were 3 or 4 families living on Smith Rock

 Getting started just before 9 o'clock. 

 Tom and Brian

Tom Says 'The water feels just like Maui!'

Russell and Brian

I'm at the end of the Cal Poly Pier

Russell

 Leslie took this one from the Harford Pier. That is Brian having just passed a buoy. 

Tom is there somewhere. 

Russell and I at Smith Rock.

 Tom bringing it home. 

 Russell and Niel at the finish

The swimming conditions were flat and windless with clean but cold water.  I didn't notice any change in the water temperature during the swim.  During the last leg from Smith Rock to the get out we had some counter currents, surge and swell from the waves that were rebounding off of the cliff face to our left. The wind started to pick up shortly after we got out.

Thanks go to Tom for mothering this swim into reality and to Leslie for shlepping our stuff over to the port and for taking a bunch of pictures.

niel