Sunday, September 25, 2016

It was warm and sunny and was going to get hot at Avila Beach on Sunday. There was very little wind and no sign of birds or sea life. There were a couple of Jet Skis jumping the waves near Fossil Point so we decided to swim in the other direction. The route was out to the first buoy, under the pier and on to the last buoy near the creek mouth. Then over to the Cal Poly Pier and back along the same route. This should be about a mile swim. Doing their own rout today were Peter, Sylvia, Claudia and Gerry Gross. In the other group were Niel, Duke, Rick, Heidi, Goffrey, Ben, Tom, Kim and Michael.  The water had been warm the last few weeks, hanging around 60 degrees but it had fallen back to something like 57 today with a couple of cold spots that felt like 55. 

An Update on the Avila Pier; With the pier closed due to safety concerns since early last summer at this time the Harbor District is working to determine who they will hire to do the feasibility study for the fundraising campaign to raise funds to repair and rebuild the Avila Pier, so, having a functioning pier (and a spot where I can once again take a water temperature) is many years in the future. In the meantime we will be relying on our toes to tell us what the water temperature is.

Heidi and Kim at the first buoy getting started

Michael, Goffrey and Ben at the creek buoy

Tom, Duke, Kim, Ben, Rick, Michael, Goffrey and Heidi at the Cal Poly Pier.
From this point a swim out to the end of the pier and back will add .8 of a mile to your swim.

Duke, Tom and Rick at the finish.

niel

Sunday, September 18, 2016

This week's post was written by John Hampsey;

Swimming today were sisters Sam and Sydney, along with Pete, Sylvia, Heidi, Ben, Geoffrey, John, and Michael (without a wetsuit). Pete and Sylvia did their own thing, the other seven of us started out doing the buoy line south. At 11am the sea was calm and glassy and the water temperature was a warm 61 degrees, just terrific swimming conditions. After we reached the last buoy, Ben and Geoffrey decided to return along the buoy line and the other five of us took off to the end of Avila pier. Along the way the wind started to increase and the water picked up some chop. After gathering at the end of the pier, we headed to the 3^rd buoy on the north side of Avila. We then did a buoy-sprint between the 3^rd and 2^nd buoy that exhausted all of us, followed by a relaxing swim back under the pier and into the beach. Our swim distance as measured on Sydney’s gps was 1.15 miles. Near the shore we re-united with Ben and Geoffrey who were playing in the 3-4 foot breaking waves. It was noon, and still the beach was not crowded. The weather was warm and sunny, the vibe peaceful. Meanwhile, in another dimension up on the promenade, the annual apple festival was festive and happening.

--John Hampsey   Sept 18, 2016

Sunday, September 11, 2016

This Sunday started out gray and cool. I was wrapped up in fleece and Uggs to stay warm o the beach. The water temperature was posted as a balmy 60 degrees, which would swim 3 degrees or so colder because of the lack of sun. There was no wind and 1 to 2 3 foot waves. Swimming today were Niel, Jim, Duke, Sammy, Sydney and Peter. Sylvia held down the beach for us. We did the triangle counterclockwise. Several people on the beach reported that we had 4 dolphins swimming along with us on the last leg back to the pier, but nobody in the water was fortunate enough to see them. 

Next time I'm going to try some anti-fog on the camera lens to see if I can keep the water drops from hanging onto the lense.  

Jim, Sammy, Duke and Sydney at the first buoy before we swam under the pier

Jim, Duke Sydney and Sammy at the buoy at the creek mouth.

Sydney, Duke, Sammy and Jim at the end of the Avila Pier.

Duke, Jim Sydney and Sammy at the last buoy on the left (east) of the pier.

niel

Sunday, September 4, 2016

We had a beautiful day for a holiday weekend swim. Avila Beach was surprisingly fog free, sunny and warm. The water was 59 degrees and flat at 10:15 when I arrived. There were small waves and a pod of whales moving from near the rock off of Fossil Point west towards the port. There were no close encounters this time. Swimming today were Niel, Heidi, David, Don, Jeff, Peter, Sydney, Sammy and Vanie. We swam the buoy line except for Peter who always does his own swim. We started out going left to the last buoy and returned to the pier. The wind was picking up and some chop was developing. Heidi was getting cold so she got out and the rest of us continued to the last buoy on the right side of the pier near the creek mouth. The right side was more exposed to the wind so there was more chop. At the creek David, Don and Jeff went to the Cal Poly Pier while Niel, Sydney, Sammy and Vanie returned along the buoy line.  Our swim was .9 mile.  David, Don and Jeff had a real ocean swim through white capped chop over to the Cal Poly Pier and had swum 1.4 miles buy the time they returned to the beach. 

Getting formed up for the start at the first buoy. 

Heidi at the last buoy on the left.
Not choppy yet but the wind is picking up.

Sydney, Jeff, Don and maybe Sammy at the last buoy on the left. 

niel